Though 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas has become an indelible classic and holiday season staple since its premiere 25 years ago, the Ron Howard -directed and Jim Carrey -starring irreverent family comedy was nothing short of a Christmas miracle.

In a sprawling oral history for Vulture timed to the film’s anniversary, above- and below-the-line talent recalled the grueling production process and difficulty of adapting the Dr. Seuss material into a live-action, minimal CG-using movie, which required Carrey to be in painful and claustrophobic special effects makeup, prosthetics and costuming.

“The suit was made of unnervingly itchy yak hair that drove me insane all day long. I had 10-inch-long fingers, so I couldn’t scratch myself or touch my face or do anything. I had tee

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