Director of “All About Eve”
Director of “Cleopatra”
Producer of “The Philadelphia Story”
Producer of “Woman of the Year” and the man who introduced Katherine Hepburn to Spencer Tracy
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s boss at MGM
The younger brother of Herman “Hank” J. Mankiewicz,” an alcoholic, legendary raconteur, and the co-writer of “Citizen Kane.”
ALL ABOUT EVE (1950) A+
One masterpiece from one of the greatest screenplays ever written (by Mankiewicz from Mary Orr’s short story “The Wisdom of Eve”). Highlighting the greatest, the most cherished, the most quoted, and the most imitated performance by Hollywood’s most outstanding actress, Bette Davis, as Margo Channing. Fourteen Oscar nominations – a record that stands to this day. Winner: Best Picture, Best Director, Best adapted screenplay – another Mankiewicz double , Best Sound, Best Costume Design (Black-and -White) and Best Supporting Actor (George Sanders). Davis and Anne Baxter, both nominated for Best Actress (a first) lost out to Judy Holliday in “Born Yesterday”, while in the supporting category, Thelma Ritter and Celeste Holm lost out to Josephine Hull in “Harvey”
NO WAY OUT (1950) B+
One efficient Fox Noir that marked the debut of Sidney Poitier (and both Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis in minor roles). 1950 was definitely Mankiewicz’s year. With Richard Widmark, who liked to push old ladies in wheelchairs down stairs at this stage of his career.
THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN (1970) B+
One very clever Western features Hollywood’s first well-adjusted gay couple (well-adjusted to a jail in the Arizona territory circa 1883). They are beautifully played by Hume Cronyn and John Randolph, taking over from Bette Davis and Thelma Ritter in “All About Eve.” Starring Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) B+
Fox movie that is regarded by some (especially Gene Tierney fans) with affection, and there is a memorable score by Bernard Herrmann.
THE FIVE FINGERS (1952) B+
Effective Fox espionage thriller starring James Mason. One of Mankiewicz’s better films -it deserves be seen more today. His third Best Director Oscar nomination. Adapted screenplay by the newly black-listed Michael Wilson. Available for streaming at Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and the Internet Archive.
JULIUS CAESAR (1953) B-
A solid but hardly triumphant adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” with Marlon Brando as Anthony and James Mason as Brutus. Louis Calhern has the title role.
THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA (1954) B–
One beautifully photographed movie (Jack Cardiff) lacking in style, but presenting Ava Gardner at her most radiant. With Oscar-winner Edmund O’Brien, Rossano Brazzi and Valentina Cortese.
GUYS AND DOLLS (1955) B-
A solid but hardly triumphant adaptation of the Frank Loesser musical. With Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons. The songs carry it. A Sam Goldwyn production.
A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949) C+
His double writer/director Oscar winner, “A Letter to Three Wives,” still looks great. However, what seemed innovative at the time – the letter being read by Celeste Holm informing Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, and Ann Sothern that she has just run away with one of their husbands – today feels like a rejection from a daytime soap. C+
HOUSE OF STRANGERS (1949) C+
A compelling Fox film noir starring Edward G. Robinson, Susan Hayward, and Richard Conte. Remade as “Broken Arrow” in 1954 with Spencer Tracy.
SLEUTH (1972) C+
Not the sophisticated concoction it was in ‘72; however, it still has its moments. Mankiewicz’s fourth Best Director Oscar nomination.
THE QUIET AMERICAN (1958) C-
A solid but hardly imaginative and certainly not triumphant adaptation of the Graham Greene’s novel. With Michael Redgrave.
CLEOPATRA (1963) C-
Then, of course, there is “Cleopatra”. Taking over from Rouben Mamoulian, the result was a artistic disaster of enormous proportions although it was a modest hit with audiences – it could not recoup its costs at the time because of its enormous production expenditure. However, it is now in the black. I remember the terrible acting and dialogue (a lot of it written on the fly by Mankiewicz), the colossal sets, the silly costumes, and Roddy McDowell making a brave attempt as Octavian. It can be enjoyed, in small portions, as camp.
THE HONEY POT (1967) C-
“The Honey Pot” boasts an excellent performance by Maggie Smith but not much else.
SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER (1959) C-
This unfortunate and out-of-control Tennessee Williams adaptation (with Gore Vidal) of his titular stage play features a visibly ill Montgomery Clift and a poorly directed Elizabeth Taylor who delivers one of Hollywood’s most hysterical (and funny) monologues.
| Year | Film | Distributor | My Rating |
| 1946 | Dragonwyck | 20th Century Fox | D+ |
| 1946 | Somewhere in the Night | 20th Century Fox | D+ |
| 1947 | The Late George Apley | 20th Century Fox | F |
| 1947 | The Ghost and Mrs. Muir | 20th Century Fox | B+ |
| 1948 | Escape | 20th Century Fox | D+ |
| 1949 | A Letter to Three Wives | 20th Century Fox | C+ |
| 1949 | House of Strangers | 20th Century Fox | C+ |
| 1950 | No Way Out | 20th Century Fox | B+ |
| 1950 | All About Eve | 20th Century Fox | A+ |
| 1951 | People Will Talk | 20th Century Fox | D |
| 1952 | 5 Fingers | 20th Century Fox | B+ |
| 1953 | Julius Caesar | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | B- |
| 1954 | The Barefoot Contessa | Figaro/United Artists | B- |
| 1955 | Guys and Dolls | Samuel Goldwyn/ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | B- |
| 1958 | The Quiet American | Figaro/United Artists | C- |
| 1959 | Suddenly, Last Summer | Columbia | C- |
| 1963 | Cleopatra | 20th Century Fox | C- |
| 1967 | The Honey Pot | Famous Artists Productions | C- |
| 1970 | There Was a Crooked Man | Warner Bros. | B+ |
| 1972 | Sleuth | Palomar Pictures | C+ |
Classic Film Noir At Twentieth Century Fox – TheBrownees
Suddenly Last Summer (1959) Film Review C- TheBrownees
