“Scripting The Movies: The Mankiewicz Brothers in Hollywood”

American movies of the 1930’s and 40’s have a biting, sarcastic and literate tone to them that has never been equaled or surpassed. To a great degree, this reflects the work of two Jewish brothers from New York City, Herman and Joe Mankiewicz. Herman is best known today as the man who co-wrote Citizen Kane with Orson Welles. He was also one of the best script doctors in the business and everyone wanted to hire him. Herman was simultaneously a genius, a drunk and a dedicated gambler. As a result, he always needed money. In this period, script doctors could make more if they refused to take an on-screen credit for their work. Sadly, Herman could never resist the bate. So, most people are unaware that Herman wrote and produced the first two Marx Brothers movies with an always hostile Groucho at his side. Why is the first part of The Wizard of Oz set in Kansas and filed in black and white? The story unfolds on screen just the way that Herman Mankiewicz insisted that it should. Joe Mankiewicz is best remembered today for having directed a huge bomb, 1963’s Cleopatra, but this was a dark moment in an otherwise brilliant career. Joe was the architect of such great films as All About Eve, Julius Caesar, Guys & Dolls, The Philadelphia Story and many others. The guest for this Zoom program is Nick Davis, a filmmaker who is also a member of the Mankiewicz family. This program is free, but pre-registration is required. To register, please email Dick Levinson at: [email protected]