People Will Talk

Experience and Expertise

Famed Hollywood writer, director and producer, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, once said, "The good dialogue writer is the one who can give you the impression of real speech."

Perhaps that is the reason that when Mankiewicz adapted the play "Dr. Praetorius", he changed the name to "People Will Talk" and cast Cary Grant.

Mankiewicz, who was nominated for 14 Academy Awards and won 6, lists All About Eve, The Philadelphia Story and A Letter to Three Wives among his many credits.

Not the only Mankiewicz who knew how to turn a phrase, Joseph's brother, Herman, wrote Citizen Kane.  Nephew Josh is a reporter for NBC News and nephew Ben hosts Turner Classic Movies.

Joe's son, Tom, has his own list of impressive credits...and opinions...seen below.

One more bit of trivia: Joseph Sciuto's 2 rescue cats are named Bogie and Bette after Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis. Joseph Mankiewicz was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Barefoot Contessa, starring Bogart.

Mankiewicz also wrote and directed All About Eve, which garnered a record 14 Academy Award nominations including one for Bette Davis. Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck (comments from Zanuck's son, Richard, below), All About Eve won 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture.

If you are one of the people who want to talk to Joseph Sciuto, send him a message through Goodreads.

Link to Joseph Sciuto's Goodreads page

(left) Tom Mankiewicz

Yes, People Will Talk. Some talk sports...

Tom Mankiewicz, Blockbuster Writer, Producer and Director including the Superman and James Bond franchises

Tom Mankiewicz said...

"Joseph Sciuto and I have had many pleasant conversations about our three favorite topics...
 writing, Alexander Hamilton and baseball.

Joseph is a learned scholar and great conversationalist, well-versed on the subjects of storytelling, the American Revolution, and our Founding Fathers.

He is an excellent writer with a great grasp of character development, dialogue and description.

Joseph also is, besides myself, the best judge of baseball I've ever known."

Partial list of Tom Mankiewicz's credits

Also former co-owner of the AAA Team for the Oakland Athletics, Major League Baseball

“Superman”

”Superman II"

"Diamonds Are Forever"

“Man With The Golden Gun”

"Live And Let Die"

"Hart To Hart"

"Hot Pursuit"

"Ladyhawke"

“Dragnet”

“Tales From The Crypt”

"Movin' With Nancy" starring Nancy Sinatra

(left) Hal and Natalie Goodman

Others tell jokes...

Hal Goodman, producer and award-winning writer with 8 Emmy nominations and 2 wins. Writer for "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "The Carol Burnett Show," and"Flip" (The Flip Wilson Show).

Hal Goodman said...

"Joseph Sciuto is a keen observer of the world around him and has the ability to find humor in everyday situations is a rare talent. His witticisms keep me in stitches. And I'm a comedy writer! "

Partial list of Hal Goodman's credits

Hal Goodman, the man who "brought the funny" night after night, year after year

"The Carol Burnett Show,"

"The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson"

"Margie"

"Invitation to a Gunfighter"

“Flip" (The Flip Wilson Show)

“The Jack Benny Show”

Multiple annual Academy Awards telecasts

Groundbreaking television series starring entertainment legends including...

Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Jack Benny. Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy

(left) Richard D. Zanuck

Some talk about current events...

Richard D. Zanuck, producer, studio executive at 20th Century/Fox, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios. Principal at Zanuck/Brown. Multiple Academy Award, Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award winner

Richard Zanuck said...

"Joseph Sciuto is one of the hardest-working, kindest people that I know.

We're both voracious readers. I think he reads the New York Times, the Washington Post and a novel every day.

Joseph's thirst for knowledge, his quiet understanding and his tendency to listen rather than talk (a rare trait in Hollywood) have made our conversations over the years very enjoyable."

Partial list of Richard Zanuck's credits

Prolific producer, Richard Zanuck, knew what audiences would love and gave it to them...

"Driving Miss Daisy"

"Jaws"

"The Verdict"

"The Sting"

"Cocoon"

"Road to Perdition"

"The Eiger Sanction"

"Bessie"

"Dark Shadows"

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

"The 72nd Academy Awards"

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

And Zanuck as Studio Executive

(right) Richard Zanuck, voracious reader

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

"Tora! Tora! Tora!"

"Patton"

"M*A*S*H"

"Hello, Dolly!"

"The French Connection"

"Planet of the Apes"

"Valley of the Dolls"

"Doctor Dolittle"

"The Sand Pebbles"

"The Sound of Music"

"Cleopatra"

(left) Larry Brezner

And others reminisce about the past...

Larry Brezner, Producer/Manager for Robin Williams, Bette Midler, Billy Crystal et.al.

Larry Brezner said...

"Joseph Sciuto's writing and insights are really touching.

We have a great time talking about growing up in The Bronx, and I think that coming from The Bronx gives you a special ability to connect with all kinds of people.

Thank you from one Bronx Boy to another."

Partial list of Larry Brezner's credits

A man of enormous talent who understood other people who had enormous talent...

"Good Morning, Vietnam"

"Arthur"

"Little Britain"

"The 'Burbs"

"Coupe de Ville"

"Throw Mama From The Train"

"Ride Along"

"An Evening At The Met With Robin Williams"

"The Vanishing"

"The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave"

"The Greatest Game Ever Played"

"The Last Shot"

"Krippendorf's Tribe

Joseph Sciuto

Yes, people definitely talk

And sometimes, they say the nicest things!

JosephSciuto.com