History Creator / JosephLMankiewicz

He started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-'30s, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' In the mid-'40s, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early '50s, he left Fox and became independent, and later directed the infamously troubled ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}'' in 1963. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

* ''Theatre/{{Sleuth}}'' (1972)

Younger brother of Herman Mankiewicz (best known for co-writing ''Film/CitizenKane''), father of Tom Mankiewicz (who wrote several ''Film/JamesBond'' films), and great-uncle of Creator/TurnerClassicMovies host Ben Mankiewicz.

He started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-'30s, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' In the mid-'40s, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early '50s, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joseph_l_mankiewicz.jpg]]

* ''Theatre/JuliusCaesar'' (1953) – featuring Creator/MarlonBrando as Mark Antony.

-> '''Michel Ciment''': Were you ever disillusioned with Hollywood?\\
'''Creator/JosephLMankiewicz''': You can't fall in with a band of thieves and then complain about losing your virginity. I was never ''illusioned'' with Hollywood.

-> '''Michel Ciment''': "Were you ever disillusioned with Hollywood?"\\
'''Creator/JosephLMankiewicz''': "You can't fall in with a band of thieves and then complain about losing your virginity. I was never ''illusioned'' with Hollywood."

He started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-30's, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' In the mid-40s, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early 50s, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joseph_l_mankiewicz.jpg]]

Joseph Leo Mankiewicz (February 11, 1909 – February 5, 1993) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-30's, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' In the mid-40s, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early 50s, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joseph_l_mankiewicz.jpg]]

Younger brother of Herman Mankiewicz (best known for co-writing ''Film/CitizenKane''), cousin of Tom Mankiewicz (who wrote several ''Film/JamesBond'' films), and great-uncle of Creator/TurnerClassicMovies host Ben Mankiewicz.

'''Joseph L. Mankiewicz''' (1909–1993) started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-30's, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' In the mid-40s, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early 50s, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

Younger brother of Herman Mankiewicz (best known for co-writing ''Film/CitizenKane''), cousin of Tom Mankiewicz (who wrote several Franchise/JamesBond films), and great-uncle of Creator/TurnerClassicMovies host Ben Mankiewicz.

!!Films directed by Mankiewicz include:

* ''Dragonwyck'' (1946)
* ''Somewhere In The Night'' (1946)

* ''House Of Strangers'' (1949)
* ''No Way Out'' (1950) - not to be confused with the [[Film/NoWayOut Kevin Costner Cold War thriller]].
* ''Film/AllAboutEve'' (1950) - his signature film.
* ''People Will Talk'' (1951)
* ''5 Fingers'' (1952)
* ''Theatre/JuliusCaesar'' (1953) - featuring Creator/MarlonBrando as Mark Antony.

* ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}'' (1963) - the film that nearly broke a studio.
* ''The Honey Pot'' (1967)
* ''There Was a Crooked Man...'' (1970)

Mankiewicz's films include the following tropes:

* UsefulNotes/AcademyAward: To date, the only writer/director to win the Oscar for Best Screenplay and Best Director two years in a row, for ''A Letter to Three Wives'' and ''All About Eve''.
* DeadpanSnarker: One of the trademarks of his films, [[Film/AllAboutEve Addison [=DeWitt=] ]]being the most notable example.

* WriterOnBoard: One of the main criticisms of his work was his overuse of this trope.

Films directed by Mankiewicz include:

* ''The Barefoot Contessa'' (1954)

'''Joseph L. Mankiewicz''' (1909-1993) started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-30's, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' In the mid-40s, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early 50s, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909-1993) started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-30's, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Film/WomanOfTheYear.'' In the mid-40s, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early 50s, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

Younger brother of Herman Mankiewicz, who was best known for co-writing ''Film/CitizenKane''.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909-1993) started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-30's, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Woman of the Year''. In the mid-40's, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early 50's, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

* AcademyAward: To date, the only writer/director to win the Oscar for Best Screenplay and Best Director two years in a row, for ''A Letter to Three Wives'' and ''All About Eve''.

* ''Film/{{Sleuth}}'' (1972)

* ''Film/5Fingers1952'' (1952)

Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909-1993) started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-30's, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory'' and ''Woman of the Year''. In the mid-40's, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early 50's, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909-1993) started out as a writer at Paramount for movies featuring, among others, Jack Oakie and Creator/WCFields. When he moved to MGM in the mid-30's, he became a producer, producing such well-known works as ''Film/ThePhiladephiaStory'' and ''Woman of the Year''. In the mid-40's, he moved to 20th Century Fox and became a director, best known for such films as ''Film/ALetterToThreeWives'' and ''Film/AllAboutEve''. In the early 50's, he left Fox and became independent, and later became infamous as the director of the Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton version of ''Film/{{Cleopatra}}''. His final film was 1972's ''Film/{{Sleuth}}''.