RON HOWARD - HOWARD STRUGGLED WITH CROWE'S MOODS

CINDERELLA MAN director RON HOWARD struggled with RUSSELL CROWE's mood swings on the set of the boxing movie.

The movie maker - who directed Crowe in A BEAUTIFUL MIND, which won them both ACADEMY AWARDS - had to schedule his shoot depending on what mood his leading man was in.

But he insists the end result, and Crowe's genius, made the effort worthwhile.

Howard explains, "Directing Russell is like shooting on a tropical island.

"The weather is going to change several times a day, but you're shooting there for a reason. Sometimes those dark clouds are just what you need. And sometimes you wish it would stop raining so you can do the sunny scene."