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

My Life as a My Life as a Mankiewicz: An Insider's Journey through Hollywood by Tom Mankiewicz is one of the best inside Hollywood books I have ever read. Tom was born into great stock. His dad was the great writer-producer Joseph L. and his uncle was the great Herman J.who co-wrote CITIZEN KANE. Book pulls no punches and I finally got to read a "Hollywood" book that actually contains new anecdotes and behind the scenes stories of well known movies and movies that never got off the ground. Interesting stories of how his Dad got talked into doing CLEOPATRA and how that movie almost killed Joe. Tom wrote some of the SUPERMAN and James Bond movies and his stories involving the making of these classics, alone ,are well worth the price of the book. One of Tom's first jobs was as a glorified gofer on the John Wayne Western THE COMANCHEROS. Very funny anecdote involving Wayne, Jack Elam and two vultures (turkey buzzards). Tragically Tom was only 70 when he passed away. He lived the Hollywood dream. He dated most of the upcoming starlets of the 60's and 70's and was friends with a lot of the young rising stars such as Robert Wagner.