Although the 2000s How the Grinch Stole Christmas has become an indelible classic and holiday season staple since its premiere 25 years ago. Ron Howard-directed and Jim CarreyThe irreverent family comedy starring the cast was nothing short of a Christmas miracle.
In extensive oral history for Vulture Marking the film's anniversary, the cast's most talented and accomplished cast members recalled the grueling production process and the challenges of adapting Dr. Seuss material into a live-action film with minimal use of CGI, which required Carrey to undergo painful and claustrophobic special effects makeup, prosthetics and costumes.
“The suit was made of annoyingly itchy yak hair that drove me crazy all day. I had 10-inch fingers so I couldn't scratch myself or touch my face or do anything. I had teeth that I had to talk with and I had full contact lenses that covered my entire eyeball and I could only see a tiny tunnel in front of me,” the comedian recalled, adding that he “breathed through my mouth throughout the entire film” due to a prosthetic nose.
While producer Brian Grazer noted that Carrey's green contact lenses could be added digitally: “He didn't want to do that. He wanted green eyes. They were like frisbees in his eyes. He was in so much pain.”
The result was so disastrous that Howard said that wild wild The alum “started having panic attacks. I saw him lying on the floor between shoots with a brown paper bag. Literally on the floor. He was miserable.”
Although the makeup application process was eventually cut down to around three hours, Kerry's first experience in the chair lasted over eight. “I walked into the trailer and asked Ron and Brian to come in and I told them I couldn’t do the movie and I was leaving.” The duo confirmed this Mask the star was “willing” to not only give up her $20 million salary, but also “pay the interest.”
Carrey was so adamant about his desire to leave that Grazer hired a special operations trainer, who founded SEAL Team Six and instructed officers on how to endure torture to help the actor get used to the special makeup.
“Richard Marcinko was a gentleman who taught CIA officers and Special Forces officers how to endure torture,” Kerry recalled. “He gave me a whole range of things I could do when I started spiraling. Like hit myself in the leg as hard as I can. Get a friend I trust and hit him in the arm. Eat everything in sight. Change the patterns in the room. If there is a TV, when you start spiraling, turn it off and turn on the radio. Smoking cigarettes as much as possible. There are photos of me in character The Grinch is sitting in the director's chair with a long cigarette holder. I needed a cigarette holder because the yak's hair would catch fire if they got too close.”
Howard, who also continued to do Beautiful Mind with Grazer, also reported that the crew made “concessions” in the schedule to accommodate Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind an actor who couldn't wear makeup for too many days in a row because it “destroyed” his skin. At one point, Howard also donned makeup in solidarity with Carrey, leading the costumes all day.
Given the possibility of re-watching the film, Howard admitted that he “has an option that Jim would enjoy” regarding a sequel, although “none of us are sure we really want to go back to it again.” The director noted that if there is a second workaround, they will rely more on digital improvements.
Carrey concluded: “Even though it's been a struggle, I'm honored to be such a character. It's just the most beautiful story in the world about how much we need people to open their hearts. It will always get to you. A lot of us are walking around with a shriveled heart right now.”
