The Movie Men Called “Mann”!……

Abby Mann is the skilled writer who gave us “Judgment at Nuremberg” (1961), an Oscar-winning  screenplay he had originally penned for “Playhouse 90”,  a television anthology series in 1959. He also got an Oscar nod for the screenplay he wrote for “Ship of Fools” in 1965.           

Born Abraham Goodman in Philadelphia, PA. in 1927, he was raised in a tough Pittsburgh neighborhood (see “Starring My Town” in this issue).

Abby’s work focused on the apparent inability of social agencies to protect the rights  of the sick, poor or minority classes of people. He won Emmys for  his television screenplays…”The Marcus-Nelson Murders” (the pilots for the Kojak series in 1973), “Murderers Among Us: The Simon Weisenthal Story” (1989) and “Indictment: The McMartin Case” (1995). In 2001, “Judgment at Nuremberg “ came full circle when it opened on Broadway.

Anthony was born Emil Anton Bundesmann on June 30^th, 1906 in San D iego, California but his parents relocated to New York when he was in his teens. He became an actor but soon found himself on the other side of the camera. He was directing “A Dandy in Aspic” in April, 1967 when he died at the age of 60. Laurence Harvey finished the film.

Daniel Mann was an actor’s dream. As a director, he knew how to bring out the best in them and, although he was somehow overlooked by the Academy, his actors benefited from his experienced hand. Shirley Booth won an Oscar for “Come back, Little Sheba” in 1952,  Anna Magnani got one for “Rose Tattoo” in 1955 and Elizabeth Taylor took the statue home for “Butterfield 8”in 1960. Five others got nominations for films he helmed….Terry Moore for “Come Back, Little Sheba”, Susan Hayward for “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” (1955),Marisa Pavan for “The Rose Tattoo”, and Paul Muni  for “The Last Angry Man” 1959.

 He was born Daniel Chugerman on August 8^th, 1912 in Brooklyn, New York and began his career as a musician and actor before directing Broadway plays (“Come Back, Little Sheba” was one of them) and television dramas. He returned to television in the 1980s directing dramas like the hit concentration story “Playing For Time” (1980). Daniel Mann died of heart failure on November 21^st, 1991 at the age of 79.

Delbert Mann sold shoes and piloted a bomber in WWII before taking up a stage director’s life. By the 1950s he was regarded as one of the finest drama directors on television. When he took Paddy Chayefsky’s story of “Marty” from television to the big screen, he won an Oscar!  The picture starring Borgnine as Marty also garnered gold statues for Best Actor and Best Screenplay.

 He was born Delbert Martin Mann, Jr. on January 30^th, 1920 in Lawrence, Kansas and studied political science at Vanderbilt University before getting his MFA in directing from Yale. He followed up his poignant dramas in the 1950swith adventure and romantic comedies in the 1960s and then went to television adaptations of film classics…. like ”Heidi” in 1968 and “ The Man Without a Country” in 1973. Delbert Mann has been nominated for 3 Emmys for directing… “Our Town” in 1955 for Producers Showcase, “Breaking Up”, an ABC special in 1977 and “All Quiet on the Western Front”, a CXBS special in 1979. He is now 85 and lives in Los Angeles.

Hank Mann was a flying trapeze acrobat when he decided to go west and join up with Mack Sennett’s Keystone Studio in 1912.

 Born David Willie Leiberman on May 18^th, 1887, in one of New York’s tough tenement districts, he learned to be fast on his feet and quick with his fists. He also became quite adept at “catching flies” (stealing scenes) in the Keystone Kops comedies with his hangdog face and push-broom mustache. In 1917,  Hank joined Fox Studios where he acted and directed their Sunshine Comedies. When sound came along, he worked with Charles Chaplin in “City Lights” (1931) and “Modern Times” (1936) and had a steady job in Frank Capra’s stable of bit players. When jobs became scarce, he used his expertise as a make-up man (“Man of a Thousand Faces” 1958) and even operated a malt shop in Sierra Madre. And it was Hank Mann who taught jerry Lewis how to take prat falls. He passed away in 1971 at the age of 84.

Ned Mann loved gadgets! H was a professional auto racer and roller skater before he gave  up his life on wheels to become an actor and then found he liked trick photography and special effects better.  Ned had a brief career as a stage actor before heading to Hollywood where he worked first as a technician and later as a special effects director in both silent and sound films from 1925 to 1933 before going to England to work with Alexander Korda.

 He was born Ned Herbert Mann on January 17^th, 1893 in Redkey, Indiana. His Miniatures in the 1933 film “deluge” were partially responsible for the critical acclaim given to  the spectacular special effects of New York destroyed by a tidal wave. In 1980 he lent his considerable talents to the production of “Around the World in 80 Days”.  Ned Mann died on July 1^st, 1967 in La Jolla, California at the age of 74.

is a screenwriter born in Canada in 1928 and an Oscar-winner for his part in  the screenplay for “The Collector” (1965). “Firestarter” (1984) and “Hanna”s War” (1988) are two more of his works.

Stanley Mann #2

Thomas Mann who won the Nobel prize for literature in 1929 and contributed  his novels to cinematic  exposure. He never forgave himself. Thomas died in Switzerland in 1955 at age 80.  One, “Der Tod in Venedig” (1912) became the 1971 film “Death in Venice”.

Michael Mann is the young director behind several award-winning dramas on both the big and  small screens. He writes screenplays, acts, directs, produces and even takes his place behind the camera occasionally.

 Born Michael Kenneth Mann on February 5^th, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois, he studied literature at Wisconsin University and then went to England to study at London’s International; Film School. He began writing for television in 1972 while also taking some acting roles in films. In 1979 Michael won an Emmy for the television prison drama “The Jericho Mile’. Two years later, his first cinematic feature was released …”Thief” with James Caan written and directed by Michael Mann! He was also the executive producer of the hit television series “ Miami Vice”. But the beat goes on!  He has written and  directed  “The Keep” (1983), “Manhunter” (1986), “The Last of the Mohicans” ( 1992), “Heat” (1995), “The Insider” (1999) and “Ali” (2001). He has produced and directed “Collateral” ( 2004) and produced “The Aviator” (2004) At the moment he has at least 6 more projects in the fire!