Grand Theft Auto/Eat My Dust
DVD $19.93
Ron Howard began his career as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show and went on to become the award-winning director of more than 30 movies, including Splash, Backdraft, The Da Vinci Code and Frost/Nixon.
See how he made his transition from one side of the camera to the other with these two PG-rated ’70s drive-in cheapies, now considered cult classics, which capitalized on Howard’s then-current Happy Days TV-star status. Both are now included in a new double feature DVD from Shout! Factory.
Fun Facts about Ron Howard
The young actor, 22 at the time and itching to make his debut as a director, made a deal with producer Roger Corman: He’d star in Corman’s Eat My Dust, a goofy, tire-squealing, fender-bending crash fest, if Corman would let him direct Corman’s next project, a pedal-down, car-chase action comedy that became Grand Theft Auto.
Corman agreed, but made Howard agree to star, as well as direct, the second movie.
Both movies also featured appearances by Howard’s brother, Clint, and their father, Rance. And watch for Howard’s Happy Days co-star, Marion Ross (Mrs. Cunningham), in Grand Theft Auto.
DVD extras include interviews with Howard and Roger Corman, a making-of documentary, commentary, and a visit with Ron’s brother and dad.
