TCM Classic Film Festival 2013: Interview with Ben Mankiewicz

What about a book that is just your thoughts on certain films? So not really about your life, but maybe your spin on film history?

I could, it’s just that I am always impressed by so many people. I’ll meet somebody at this festival and I’ll think, “that person knows so much.” I don’t know. It would involve me thinking a little differently about myself and how I perceive myself. I am capable of changing that, but I proudly see myself as a broadcaster. I love writing. I’m a pretty good writer. But man, does it not come easily.

This 352 words I wrote [in the Now Playing magazine on The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers], it’s not like I think, “oh man 352 words, I’ll just crank that out!” It’s a battle. They’re good. Every time I’m done, I think, “that sounds like me!” I have a distinct style. And I write stuff for Huffington Post too. I’d love to describe myself as a writer and I’ve loved to write a movie, but if I’m going to write, the first thing I would love to do would be to write a screenplay.

herman_mankiewicz_orson_welles

Ben Mankiewicz’s grandfather Herman J. Mankiewicz co-wrote Citizen Kane with Orson Welles.

Would it be a journalism picture?

I don’t know. It’s what I know. It could be. I’d probably touch on that a little bit. It might also be something incredibly stupid.

Which is always good.

Right. I would not be a lasting picture that touched the lives of millions, but it might be funny.

You never know. I watch a lot of films, and I feel like probably every movie is at least one person’s favorite movie. Do you ever think about that?

No.

Like, you look at something really terrible and you think, “somebody saw this movie and they were like, ‘this is my favorite movie.’”

You’re probably right, because sometimes you’ll look at some video on YouTube and I never look at YouTube comments because within four comments they’re like, “f*ck the Jews!” So you’ll look and it will be some amazing video of a kid shooting baskets or a dog or an inspirational story or something funny or really great. Dislikes: 9. Like, who dislikes this? I got it, there’s 85,000 likes or whatever, but who dislikes this? Then you look at congressional job approval. Congressional job approval is at 7%. I get “no opinion.” But who is asked, “Do you approve of the job that Congress is doing?” and is like, “yes, yes, I do. I approve.”?

Somebody!

Right! And not only somebody, but 8%! If you’ve got 10 people in a room, one of them thinks Congress is doing a great job. I remember sort of at the height of the John Edwards scandal, the favorability ratings for him were horrible. They were like 13%. But that means that one in eight people were like, “I love that John Edwards! I love that guy that cheated on his wife with cancer and humiliated her!” and then lied about it and had a baby and denied it was his. What does he have to do for you to go, “You know what, I’m not a big fan of this guy.” But there’s always someone. So you’re probably right.

bob_osborne_jane_fonda

Robert Osborne talks On Golden Pond with Jane Fonda.

I know you are introducing some films at the festival, but if you weren’t doing that and you had one film from the lineup to watch, what would you watch?

The funny thing is, we have 78 movies playing and I don’t know all of them because I’m so focused on the one’s I’m introducing. But, I’d like to see The Donovan Affair. That’ll be cool. I’d like to see the conversation [with Max Von Sydow] on Three Days of the Condor because I love it so much. I’d love to see Jane Fonda talk about On Golden Pond.

 

 

1 Response

  1. Diana says:

    This is such a great interview. I can’t wait for his possible future screenplay. Love that he referenced Sante Fe Trail. :)

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