Joseph Leo Mankiewicz (1909–93) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer, known for his witty dialogue, narrative flashbacks, and actor-focused direction. He won four Academy Awards, securing his place in Hollywood history.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Mankiewicz studied at Columbia University before working as a foreign correspondent in Berlin. He began as a screenwriter at Paramount Pictures, later moving to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM,) where he produced The Philadelphia Story (1940) and Woman of the Year (1942.)
Transitioning to directing at Twentieth Century-Fox, he won consecutive Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay for A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and All About Eve (1950.) His later films include The Barefoot Contessa (1954,) Guys and Dolls (1955,) The Quiet American (1958,) and Cleopatra (1963,) the year’s highest-grossing film despite production challenges.
His memoir, Conversations with Mankiewicz (1983,) reflects on his career.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
The difference between life and the movies is that a script has to make sense, and life doesn’t.
—Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Topics: Life and Living
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