My Life as a Mankiewicz: An Insider’s Journey through Hollywood

by Tom Mankiewicz, Robert Crane

The son of famed director and screenwriter Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve [1950], Guys and Dolls [1955], Cleopatra [1963]) and the nephew of Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, Tom Mankiewicz was genuine Hollywood royalty. He grew up in Beverly Hills and New York, spent summers on his dad's film sets, had his first drink with Humphrey Bogart, dined with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, went to the theater with Ava Gardner, and traveled the world writing for Brando, Sinatra, and Connery. Although his family connections led him to show business, Tom "Mank" Mankiewicz forged a career of his own, becoming a renowned screenwriter, director, and producer of acclaimed films and television shows. He wrote screenplays for three James Bond films—Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Live and Let Die (1973), and The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)—and made his directorial debut with the hit TV series Hart to Hart (1979–1984). My Life as a Mankiewicz is a fascinating look at the life of an individual whose creativity and work ethic established him as a member of the Hollywood writing elite. Mankiewicz details his journey through the inner world of the television and film industries, beginning with his first job as production assistant on The Comancheros (1961), starring John Wayne. My Life as a Mankiewicz illuminates his professional development as a writer and director, detailing his friendships and romantic relationships with some of Hollywood's biggest stars as well as his struggle with alcohol and drugs. With the assistance of Robert Crane, Mankiewicz tells a story of personal achievement and offers an insider's view of the glamorous world of Hollywood during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Genres: Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Film

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleopatra led me to this memoir. The DVD of the 1963 film. Its commentary. ~in which Tom Mankiewicz participates - telling such stories as... in his capacity as one of many assistants to his dad - writer / director Joseph L. Mankiewicz - he went on a 'date' with Elizabeth Taylor. At age 20.

In the first half of this autobio, Tom writes a lot about his dad, some of his dad's projects - and his peripheral involvement in them. Much of that is interesting because his dad (the mastermind of 'All About Eve', etc.) had a fascinating career. (In retrospect, I should have read Joseph L.'s memoir - but he didn't write one.)

Being the son of Hollywood royalty, Tom had an easier time getting his foot inside various doors. Like his dad, he wanted to be a writer / director. He tells us what he learned early on: when it comes to being a writer / director, it doesn't matter so much if you had a multi-Oscar-winning dad; you have to be able to deliver considerably on both counts of the goods.

Elsewhere, his dad would eventually state:

The point is, Tom sold his stuff. Now I happen to think he's better than that. Tom found it a little too easy. Instead of shooting the fourth draft of his screenplay, they shot the second. I have said to him, 'I don't think the second draft is good enough, Tom. You can do better.' But he didn't have to do better, and that was a pity. You see, Tom didn't have sitting on his tail half a dozen very good producers.

Joseph L. became famous during Hollywood's Golden Era - an era which was falling apart while he made 'Cleopatra'. His son attempted to make his own mark as Hollywood had moved more into freefall. ~which, in part, explains his involvement with such commercial projects as some of the Superman and James Bond films (which don't appeal to me personally). He never had anything remotely resembling his dad's career - but... he did have a knack for dialogue - and managed to have a somewhat lucrative career as both a screenwriter and a script doctor.

He learned a lot from his dad - specifically how to be a gentleman, in an industry that always needs a lot more of them - but, as he details in a rather moving closing chapter, he grew increasingly frustrated, annoyed and disillusioned watching the business he was in deteriorating. Not only the business itself, but the people in it. (Tom refers to the many people who were assholes, drunks or "nuts"... including the women he tended to be drawn to, who were often rather like his mentally disturbed mother - who committed suicide. Tom never married.)

Overall, if you're a film nut and you have a hunger for cinema history (as I do), this makes for a breezy-enough beach book (esp. the first half). He did cross paths with a lot of 'biggies'. And it's refreshing that Tom remained true to his gentlemanly ways (which gained him a lot of respect and a lot of loyal friends). But I wish his dad had written a memoir.

[Mrs. Lynn Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm lowering a star only because of the profusion of foul language, both from Mr. Mankiewicz and his (mostly) Hollywood friends.

It's a fascinating read - here's a man who was told by John Wayne, "just call me Duke", and who not only worked with Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers (two of my favorites), but was very good friends with Natalie Wood (just friends), and worked with dozens of yesterday's stars, and many of today's. Overall, he had a sad life - a mother who committed suicide, then driven to relationships with unhealthy women (Kate Jackson, Tuesday Weld, Margot Kidder), never married nor had children, and more than likely died alone, due to pancreatic cancer, which very possibly was caused by his excessive drinking. If you're a Hollywood enthusiast, find an inexpensive used copy, and dive into a different universe.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to hear a true Hollywood veteran just dish dish dish, this is the book. Despite his famous family name, this Mank made his own mark on Hollywood including things he was never credited on. He details not only every industry relationship but also every encounter. The chapters on Bond and Superman were chiefly my reasons for reading this and he didn’t disappoint. His relationship with Natalie Wood was fascinating and reminded me how tragic her death was. Anyone with an interest in Hollywood in the 70s and 80s should check this out.

[Mediaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly long and ridiculously repetitive, this memoir of strung-together anecdotes from a dead screenwriter is meant as a tribute but is so poorly edited and written that you'll conclude the guy was just a blowhard. Like so many others in Hollywood.

Tom Mankiewicz was dead for a couple years when his friend Robert Crane pieced this together. It has no real consistent narrative and is mostly quips (short and long) with punchlines that are episodic and inconsistent. A couple of paragraphs about a starlet he slept with or studio head trying to wreck his screenplay mixed with dozens of pages on Superman, James Bond, and what he calls the "big hit" Dragnet.

Namely there are really two books here--one that is a long list of famous people he knew, banged, or worked with, the other being specifics about his productions such as the Bond movies. The two don't belong in the same book together because there are too many dull gossipy rants about relationships. Most he overpraises while a few others get slammed.

Some of his "facts" are misstated incorrect opinions, and he uses a lot of wasted space to "quote" two people when he was not there personally (usually about wanting to hire him!). Mankiewicz constantly tells us about others thinking how great he is, even calling himself handsome but based on the photos he was not even close. So I don't trust this author to be very accurate and filter his stories as more impressionistic ego-stroking.

There are a few good insights into how films or TV shows are made. But it would have been much more satisfying if the book were trimmed by over one hundred pages to focus either on how his films were made or his private life. After reading this I think his reputations as a writer and playboy were undeserved. Anyone who brags about scripting Superman or Dragnet can't be taken seriously as a good writer.

[Tim Pinckney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because Ben Mankiewicz mentioned it during the recent TCM podcast About Cleopatra, directed by Joe Mankiewicz. Joe was Tom's father.
Tom had a strong, respectable career of his own - writing James Bond movies, the original Superman and The TV series Hart to Hart. TBH, I didn't find much of this very interesting. It's very name droopy and it seems almost everyone working in Hollywood was a close friend. There are some good stories in here. Each "chapter" is quite short so you keep going.

I need to find a good book about his father as I think his career holds more interest for me personally.

[Risingson Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very amusing almost vernicular collection of stories regarding different people in Hollywood, as if you had Tom Mank talking to you with a big glass of bourbon in his hand. I believe, let's say, most of what he puts in here but knowing how he embellished the dialogues of the films he worked on, pretty sure there is a lot of "print the legend" here. It is a very amusing legend anyway, one I could not put down.

I just, maybe, expected to get more about the family than about his views on Hollywood and how most of them were Very Good Friends.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compendium of Hollywood legends and tall tale from one of the great writers who was there to witness it through 40s-90s. Mankiewicz, as he did in his screenplays, has a sharp ear for dialogue and a wicked sense of humor that makes this read fun as heck.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting journey as the scion of a famous father and uncle, not afraid to share intimate details, what you want in a autobiography

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an honest if outdated look at Hollywood and it's movies. From a filmmaker's perspective it held a ton of actionable and helpful material.