Bond Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz Passes Away at Age 68

[Goldeneye]

by Peter Hall Aug 2nd 2010 // 12:03PM

Filed under: Obits

Tom Mankiewicz, best recognized for his work as a screenwriter on several of James Bond's 1970s films, passed away on July 31st after losing a struggle with cancer. Mankiewicz, son of All About Eve screenwriter Joseph Mankiewicz, has his name on the screenplays for Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun, Ladyhawke, and Dragnet, but that was hardly the extent of his career. In addition to being a regular Bond writer, the L.A. Native was also a television writer and director who worked on such projects as Bob Hope Presents, Movin' With Nancy, Hart to Hart, and Tales From the Crypt.

Mankiewicz was also one of Hollywood's great script fixers, often lending his talents to movies without official receiving an official, on-screen credit. As a "creative consultant," he was responsible for various duties on The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Superman 1 & 2, Gremlins, War Games, and Batman

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

RIP. He did some great work with Bond.

[James]

That's sad news. He gave Sean & Rog some great lines.

[Gary Seven]

Loved his work. RIP.

[Blowfeld]

Sad news. Roger and Sean got some wonderful one liners out of his collaboration. Rest in peace.

[Goldeneye]

Bond legend Roger Moore has paid tribute to Hollywood screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz, calling him a wonderful man and a great friend.

Mankiewicz, the screenwriter for several Bond flicks, died aged 68 at his home in Los Angeles on 30 July 2010 after a brief illness. Moore said that the tragedy came as a huge shock for him.

He wrote the screenplay for many of Moore's Bond films including 1974's The Man with the Golden Gun and his debut as the superspy in Live and Let Die, which led to close friendship between the two, reports The Daily Star.

"Tom was a wonderful man, a brilliant writer and a great friend. His written lines were brilliant. My favourite is from The Man with the Golden Gun when Jimmy (Bond) points a gun at a gun-maker's crotch - 'Speak now or forever hold your piece' he says. Sheer bloody brilliance. The news of his death was a huge shock to me. At 68 it was a tragedy." Moore said.

"He was without doubt one of the most innovative, clever and inspirational writers of the Bond films. He and director Guy Hamilton would lock themselves away working out 'snake pit' scenarios for 007, and then plan inventive escapes whilst leading the audience up one or two wrong turns.

"Like in Live and Let Die when Jimmy Bond is stranded on an island in a lake full of alligators. Jimmy sees a boat nearby and switches on his magnetic watch to attract the metal oar rests — aha, say the audience, that's how he does it. But then we see the boat is tethered. Aha, says Tom! Think again, dear audience."

[Captain Nash]

A sad passing of a gifted and great screenwriter.
Loved his script for DAF, easily the wittiest of the Bond films.
Though some of his lines in LALD and TMWTGG are pure brilliance.
"I'm now aiming precisely at your groin. So speak or for ever hold your piece."

RIP Mr.Mankiewicz

[Dr. No]

Thanks for the memories. RIP