Ron Howard Biography

Ron Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma on March 1, 1954. Both of Howard's parents were well-known artists: his father Rance worked as an actor, writer, and director while his mother Jean was an actress. Howard's father's surname was Beckenholdt, but he took the stage name...

Five Popular "American Graffiti" Quotes

When "American Graffiti" came out in 1973, not only was it a huge critical and box-office hit but it also became an instant classic. Critics marveled over how perfectly director George Lucas captured the era of the film's action, which is set in 1962. It made Lucas an ...

How "American Graffiti" Showcases Americana

Many coming-of-age films are set in the heyday of their writers and directors. "American Graffiti" takes viewers back to the very start of the 1960s, when California's counterculture was in full swing and Vietnam wasn't yet a country many Americans could find on a map. The...

Actor Turned Director: Redefining a Career

Acting is often seen as one of the most glamorous roles in a film. Actors and actresses seem to get all of the attention, while other roles are often forgotten. Still, some actors and actresses long for more creative freedom in their work. It's usually for this reason than...

Epic Lensman

When I was 16, my father gave me a book called Triplanetary by EE Smith. It would be the first science-fiction book I'd read but most certainly not the last .. Much later, a university friend would introduce fantasy to me.. It was Elric of Melnibone.. At some point, which...