Director
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Born 11 February 1909 · Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA — died 5 February 1993
Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909–1993) was an American writer-director and producer, admired for literate, witty dialogue and for his use of narration and flashbacks. He directed actors to some of their finest performances. His work at Twentieth Century-Fox, especially A Letter to Three Wives and All About Eve, made him a central Hollywood voice of the postwar era.
Key films
A Letter to Three Wives (1949)
Sharp, flashback-driven comedy-drama that earned him his first Oscars for directing and screenplay.
All About Eve (1950)
His masterpiece: a razor-sharp backstage drama that won him Oscars for directing and writing, and Best Picture.
No Way Out (1950)
Early, daring drama about racism, notable as Sidney Poitier's film debut.
Julius Caesar (1953)
Acclaimed Shakespeare adaptation with Marlon Brando, showing his skill with literary material and star casts.
Sleuth (1972)
His final feature: a two-man battle of wits between Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine.
Key awards
- 1950 Academy Awards: Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, A Letter to Three Wives
- 1951 Academy Awards: Best Director and Best Screenplay, All About Eve
- 1951 Cannes Film Festival: Grand Prix nominee is not listed; no further major honours are included here
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 35
- 1929Woman Trap · as Reporter (as Joseph Mankiewicz)Actor
- 1946DragonwyckDirector
- 1946Somewhere in the NightDirector
- 1947The Ghost and Mrs. MuirDirector
- 1947The Late George ApleyDirector
- 1948EscapeDirector
- 1949A Letter to Three WivesDirector
- 1949House of StrangersDirector
- 1950All About EveDirector
- 1950No Way OutDirector
- 1951People Will TalkDirector
- 1951The Screen Director · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 19525 FingersDirector
- 1953Julius CaesarDirector
- 1954The Barefoot ContessaDirector
- 1955Guys and DollsDirector
- 1958The Quiet AmericanDirector
- 1959Suddenly, Last SummerDirector
- 1963CleopatraDirector
- 1964Carol for Another ChristmasDirector
- 1967The Honey PotDirector
- 1970There Was a Crooked Man...Director
- 1970King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisDirector
- 1972SleuthDirector
- 1983Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano · as SelfActor
- 1983All About Mankiewicz · as SelfActor
- 1985George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey · as SelfActor
- 1986The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn · as SelfActor
- 1986W.C. Fields: Straight Up · as SelfActor
- 1988In from the Cold? A Portrait of Richard Burton · as SelfActor
- 1988Hello Actors Studio · as SelfActor
- 1990Night of 100 Stars III · as SelfActor
- 1991Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker · as SelfActor
- 2000Backstory: 'All About Eve' · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2006Stardust: The Bette Davis Story · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.