Joseph L. Mankiewicz, an acclaimed American screenwriter, producer, and film director, is renowned for his classic films of the 1940s and 1950s. With a career spanning only 20 films, Mankiewicz’s work left a lasting impact on audiences, earning him multiple ‘Academy Awards’. Known for his experimentation with various genres, he skillfully combined elements to create a unique and independent style of directing. His films delved deep into the analysis of each character, emphasizing the inner beings and conflicts that arise in everyday life. Unlike his contemporaries, Mankiewicz favored shots of interior spaces, offering a fresh perspective on storytelling.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Joseph Leo Mankiewicz
- Died At Age: 83
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Elizabeth Young (m. 1934–37), Rose Stradner (m. 1939–58), Rosemary Matthews (m. 1962–93)
- Father: Franz Mankiewicz
- Mother: Johanna Blumenau
- Siblings: Herman J. Mankiewicz (brother)
- Children: Alex Mankiewicz, Christopher Mankiewicz, Eric Reynal, Tom Mankiewicz
- Born Country: United States
- Directors
- Screenwriters
- Died on: February 5, 1993
- Place of death: Bedford, New York, United States
- U.S. State: Pennsylvania
- City: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Childhood & Early Life
Joseph Leo Mankiewicz was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA on February 11, 1909 to German Jewish immigrants Franz Mankiewicz and Johanna Blumenau. He had an older brother, Herman, who later became a successful screenwriter in Hollywood, and a younger sister, Erna. The family moved to New York City when Joseph was four years old. He graduated from Stuvesant High School in 1924 and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in 1928. After completing his bachelor’s degree, his father sent him to Germany to study drama at the University of Berlin, but he ended up working as a translator of movie subtitles instead.
Career
Joseph L. Mankiewicz started his career as a reporter in Berlin and began writing English subtitles for German movies at the UFA Studios. In 1929, he moved to Hollywood, California, where he joined his brother in writing film scripts. He worked as a screenwriter for Paramount Pictures for seventeen years before becoming a producer for MGM in 1934. He produced two films starring Katharine Hepburn, “The Philadelphia Story” in 1940 and “The Woman of the Year” in 1942. In 1943, he joined 20th Century Fox as a screenwriter and producer and worked on the film “The Keys of the Kingdom” in 1944. In 1946, he got his first chance at directing with the film “Dragonwyck.” He achieved success as a director with the film “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” in 1947 and gained recognition for his screenwriting ability with the film “A Letter to Three Wives” in 1949. He went on to direct “All About Eve” in 1950, which received multiple Academy Award nominations and won six of them.
Later Career & Legacy
Joseph L. Mankiewicz served as the President of the Screen Director’s Guild from 1950 to 1951 and had to appear before the HUAC during that time. In 1951, he left 20th Century Fox and moved to New York, where he founded his own independent production company named Figaro. He made several films during this time, including “Julius Caesar” in 1953, “The Barefoot Contessa” in 1954, and “Guys and Dolls” in 1955. His film “The Quiet American” in 1958 was considered controversial and meant for propaganda. He continued to make films, including “Suddenly, Last Summer” in 1959 and “Cleopatra” in 1963, but they were not as successful as his earlier works. His last film, “Sleuth,” released in 1972, was one of his great successes. Joseph L. Mankiewicz served as a member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1983.
Awards & Achievements
Joseph L. Mankiewicz received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture in 1941 for “The Philadelphia Story.” He won two Oscars for Best Direction and Best Screenplay for “A Letter to Three Wives” in 1949, and he won another Academy Award for Best Direction and Best Screenplay for “All About Eve” in 1950.
Personal Life & Legacy
Joseph L. Mankiewicz was married three times. He married Elizabeth Young in 1934 and divorced her in 1937. He had a son named Eric from this marriage. In 1939, he married actress Rose Stradner, who passed away in 1958. He had two sons, Christopher and Tom, with her. He married Rosemary Mathews in 1962, and they remained together until his death. He had a daughter named Alexandra from this marriage. Joseph L. Mankiewicz suffered from a severe dermatological problem brought on by the stress of filmmaking, which caused his fingertips to split open. He wore white gloves while directing his films to hide the disfigurement. He died of heart failure in 1993, a few days before his 84th birthday.
Trivia
Joseph L. Mankiewicz is the only director in the history of Hollywood cinema to have received Oscars for Best Director and Best Screenplay for films in two consecutive years.