66 replies to this topic

[K1Bond007]

Tom Mankiewicz (1942-2010)

[Professor Dent]

This is indeed some sad news. My condolences to his family.

[marktmurphy]

Oh how sad: 68 is no age these days.

[Athena007]

Ya I was really bummed out to get this call. I only met him for a couple hours back in 2007 but he was very nice and well spoken. RIP.

[Righty007]

No!!!

[DamnCoffee]

This is very sad news indeed. It's such a shame he was taken so early on in his live. 68 really isn't that old these days.

[Cody]

R.I.P.

He did seem like a cool guy, I enjoy listening to his commentaries.

[Matt_13]

RIP

A very intelligent, talented writer.

[FlemingBond]

wow, i'm not really a fan of his Bond films, but he was terrific for Superman the Movie. what a loss.

[DaveBond21]

Sad news. RIP.

[killkenny kid]

We lose another Bond family member. Sad indeed, Condolences to his family. RIP, Mr. Mankiewicz.

[Navy007Fan]

R.I.P. sir.

Edited by Navy007Fan, 01 August 2010 - 11:22 PM.

[Jack Spang]

R.I.P. Mr Mankiewicz. Great writer. So sad. My condolences to his family.

Edited by Jack Spang, 01 August 2010 - 11:41 PM.

[Royal Dalton]

Very sad news.

[MattofSteel]

Terribly saddened by this. Debating the greatness of artists, specifically where they rank, is often terribly subjective - but I can say with total certainty that few have had the personal influence on me that Mankiewicz has had. I feel like that's the best compliment I can pay the man - most of his noted work came years before I was born.

All the sympathy in the world for his family at the most difficult of times.

[jaguar007]

Ya I was really bummed out to get this call. I only met him for a couple hours back in 2007 but he was very nice and well spoken. RIP.

Yes, very sad to hear. I really enjoyed the lunch we had with him, he was full of great stories.
Athena, do you have any pictures of that day?

[Jack Spang]

"It's such a shame he was taken so early on in his live. 68 really isn't that old these days."

He was only in his late 20's (just a kid) when he wrote DAF and Connery was in his early 40's. Not fair.

[Gobi-1]

A huge loss. I still considered the original Superman movie to be the best comic book movie ever and Tom Mankiewicz is a big reason why. While the Bond films he wrote may not be the best, you cannot deny that they boast some of the wittiest dialogue ever uttered in the series. A great talent. Tonight I shall watch Dragnet (1987) in his honor.

[Bryce (003)]

Damn!

We always had good talks and laughs. The last time I saw/spoke with him was the USC event.

RIP Tom and thanks for the memories and the chats. Damn if we didn't both see the fun in Bond the same way.



*raising -sadly- a pint*

Blast....

[Wade]

A huge loss. I still considered the original Superman movie to be the best comic book movie ever and Tom Mankiewicz is a big reason why. While the Bond films he wrote may not be the best, you cannot deny that they boast some of the wittiest dialogue ever uttered in the series. A great talent. Tonight I shall watch Dragnet (1987) in his honor.

Indeed, or "Mother, Jugs and Speed." One of the true unsung heroes, not only of the Bonds, but also of genre films. He learned a lot from his father and his uncle. Vaya con Dios, good friend. And thank you.

Edited by Wade, 02 August 2010 - 01:12 AM.

[Turn]

This is my least favorite part of coming to CBn - learning another artist who contributed to the Bond series is gone forever. I like his contributions to the Bond series and his willingness to talk enthusiastically about the projects he was involved in.

[Athena007]

Update: He passed away on Saturday. My contact told me "he just passed away" which made me think it was today (Sun); article has been updated/corrected.

[Jeff007]

RIP Sir.

[triviachamp]

I wasn't a big fan of his films but RIP.

[AMC Hornet]

DAF was the first Bond film I saw, back in 1971. I enjoyed LALD and TMWTGG just as much. They coloured my expectations for future 007 films. I even enjoy Hart To Hart, on which Tom Mannkewicz was creative consultant.

RIP indeed, and thanks for the memories. (My signature is from DAF - one of your lines?)

[Goodnight]

Rest in peace.

[Aris007]

RIP Sir! Say hi to everybody up there.

[mccartney007]

I guess I won't be seeing him at the Palms or driving around Sunset/Santa Monica Blvd anymore. Too bad. He was a lovely man!

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

R.I.P. and some nice tributes here.
For me Mankiewicz's Bond legacy will obviously be his the great one liners but also his contribution towards the transition and continuation of the Bond films from the sixties to the seventies. He helped take the series in a new direction ensuring it remained fresh and appealing to audiences. No mean feat considering Bond was very much part of the sixties iconography.

I like his contributions to the Bond series and his willingness to talk enthusiastically about the projects he was involved in.

Yeah, I enjoyed Mankiewicz's interviews and commentaries. He came across as someone genuinely happy to talk about his work with Bond.

[Col. Sun]

Very sad news indeed. He was a great talent.

I saw DAF as a kid at the cinema - 2nd Bond I saw on big screen after OHMSS - and I loved it.

I know it has it's faults, but there is much to admire about DAF - the dial is very witty and there are some truly classic Bond - slightly bizarre moments - like Bambi and Thumper, the moon-buggy, "Willie" White, Mr Kidd and Mr Wint.

He also brought that sense of Bondian bizarre to LALD and TMWTGG -- It's an element which has been missing from the Bond films for too long.

As a sad foot-note, John Shirley, the great film editor, who cut Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, LALD and TMWTGG also passed away a month ago. I had the pleasure of working with him, and he was a very fine and very creative editor. He spoke fondly about his work on the Bonds, especially the LALD speed boat chase, which he had a lot to do with in terms of the editing, pace and structure.