Joseph L. Mankiewicz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
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| Born |
Joseph Leo Mankiewicz
February 11, 1909 |
| Died | February 5, 1993 (aged 83) Bedford, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Writer, director, producer |
| Years active | 1929–1972 |
| Spouse(s) |
Elizabeth Young
(1934–1937)Rose Stradner
(m. 1939; Rosemary Matthews
(m. 1962; |
| Children | 4, including Tom Mankiewicz |
| Relatives | Herman J. Mankiewicz (brother) See Mankiewicz family |
Joseph L. Mankiewicz was a famous American film director, writer, and producer. He was born on February 11, 1909, and passed away on February 5, 1993. He had a very long career in Hollywood, making many popular movies.
Mankiewicz won two Academy Awards (also known as Oscars) for Best Director and Best Screenplay. He won these awards for two of his most famous films: A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and All About Eve (1950). All About Eve was a huge success, getting 14 Oscar nominations and winning six!
He was known for writing smart and witty movie scripts. He also helped actors give amazing performances. Before becoming a director, he worked for 17 years as a writer for Paramount Pictures. He also produced films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He directed 11 films for 20th Century Fox in just six years.
During his career, Mankiewicz wrote 48 screenplays. He also produced more than 20 films. One of his well-known films as a producer was The Philadelphia Story (1940). This movie was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Contents
Early Life and First Jobs
Joseph L. Mankiewicz was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His parents, Franz and Johanna Mankiewicz, were Jewish immigrants from Germany. He had an older sister, Erna, and an older brother, Herman J. Mankiewicz. Herman also became a successful screenwriter and won an Oscar for co-writing Citizen Kane (1941).
When Joseph was four, his family moved to New York City. He finished high school at Stuyvesant High School in 1924. His first job in the film industry was at the UFA film studio. He translated movie titles from German to English.
Hollywood Career Beginnings
In 1928, Joseph Mankiewicz got a job as a writer at Paramount Pictures. His brother Herman helped him get this opportunity. Joseph started by writing titles for silent films like The Dummy (1929). He then began getting credit for writing screenplays. Some of his early credited films include Fast Company (1929) and Slightly Scarlet (1930).
He wrote many scripts during this time. These included Skippy (1931) and its sequel Sooky (1931). He also worked on Million Dollar Legs (1932) with W. C. Fields. He even worked on the all-star film Alice in Wonderland (1933).
Working at MGM
Mankiewicz then signed a long contract with MGM. He wrote Manhattan Melodrama (1934), which was a big hit. He also did uncredited writing on many other films.
MGM promoted him to a producer in 1936. His first film as a producer was Three Godfathers (1936). He often helped with the script on the films he produced, even if he wasn't officially credited. He had a big success with Fury (1936), directed by Fritz Lang.
He produced several films starring Joan Crawford, such as The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) and Mannequin (1937). He also produced The Philadelphia Story (1940). This movie starred Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart. It was a huge success. Another big hit he produced was Woman of the Year (1942). This film was the first time Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy worked together.
Directing at 20th Century Fox
Mankiewicz received an exciting offer from 20th Century Fox. This new job included the chance to direct films himself. His first film for Fox was The Keys of the Kingdom (1944). He wrote and produced this film.
He made his directing debut with Dragonwyck (1946), which he also wrote. He then directed films like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1948) and Escape (1948).
Mankiewicz had a massive success with A Letter to Three Wives (1949). He wrote and directed this film, winning Oscars for both roles. He then wrote and directed No Way Out (1950). This film helped start the career of the famous actor Sidney Poitier. His next film was All About Eve (1950), which quickly became a classic movie.
Independent Films and Cleopatra
In 1951, Mankiewicz left Fox and moved to New York. He wanted to write for the Broadway stage. While that dream didn't fully happen, he continued to make movies. He often explored themes like people trying to control their own lives.
In 1953, he directed Julius Caesar for MGM. This was a film version of William Shakespeare's famous play. It received great reviews. The film is also special because it's the only time Marlon Brando played a Shakespearean role.
His Own Company: Figaro
Mankiewicz started his own film company called Figaro. Their first movie was The Barefoot Contessa (1954). Mankiewicz wrote, produced, and directed this film. He was also hired to write and direct the musical film Guys and Dolls (1955). This movie was a huge hit.
In 1958, Mankiewicz wrote and directed The Quiet American for Figaro. This film was based on a book by Graham Greene. It was about early American involvement in what became the Vietnam War. The film was not as successful as his earlier works.
He then directed Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). This film starred Elizabeth Taylor and Katharine Hepburn and was a big success.
The Cleopatra Challenge
20th Century Fox needed a director for their huge movie Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor would only agree to work with two directors, and Mankiewicz was one of them. He took the job, but it became a very difficult project.
The film took two years of Mankiewicz's life. It also caused big financial problems for the studio. The studio didn't fully recover until The Sound of Music was released two years later.
Later Career and Legacy
After Cleopatra, Mankiewicz continued to work. He produced and directed Carol for Another Christmas (1964) for television. He also wrote and directed The Honey Pot (1967).
His final directing effort was Sleuth (1972). This movie starred Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Mankiewicz received another Oscar nomination for Best Direction for this film.
In 1983, he was a judge at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival.
Family Connections
Joseph L. Mankiewicz was the younger brother of Herman J. Mankiewicz. Joseph had four children: Eric Reynal, the late writer/director Tom Mankiewicz, producer Christopher Mankiewicz, and a daughter named Alex Mankiewicz.
His great-nephew is Ben Mankiewicz, who is a well-known radio and television personality. Ben can often be seen on TCM. Joseph was also the uncle of Frank Mankiewicz, who was a political campaign manager. Frank announced the death of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.
Death
Joseph L. Mankiewicz passed away from a heart attack on February 5, 1993. He was almost 84 years old. He is buried in the Saint Matthew's Episcopal Churchyard cemetery in Bedford, New York.
See also
In Spanish: Joseph L. Mankiewicz para niños
