Wolf Mankowitz

Wolf Mankowitz (born November 7, 1924 - May 20, 1998) was an English writer, playwright and screenwriter of Russian Jewish descent. He was born in Fashion Street in Spitalfields in the East End of London, the heart of London's Jewish community. [Author notes on dustjacket of "Cockatrice" (1963) by Wolf Mankowitz] This background provided him with the material for his most successful book "A Kid for Two Farthings" (1953). This was adapted as a film by the director Carol Reed in 1955. Mankowitz himself wrote the screenplay. In 1958 he wrote the book for the hit West End musical, "Expresso Bongo" - later made into a film starring Cliff Richard.

In 1962, Mankowitz offered to introduce friend Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, holder of the film rights to James Bond, when Broccoli mentioned he desired to make the Bond series his next film project. The two men formed a partnership and began co-producing the first Bond film, Doctor No, for which Mankowitz was hired as one of the screenwriters. After viewing early rushes, Mankowitz fearing the film would be a disaster and damage his reputation, insisted on having his name removed from the films credits. He later also collaborated on the screenplay for the 'unofficial' Bond movie "Casino Royale'.

During the late 1960s, Wolf Mankowitz was part-owner of the Pickwick Club, in Gt Newprt St, off Charing Cross Road, Soho, London W1, where "The Peddlers" group led by Roy Phillips were resident. Mankowitz's wife Ann was a psychoanalyst. They had four sons, the eldest, Gered, became a famous photographer.

Mankowitz died of cancer in 1998, in County Cork, Ireland. His ashes are at the Golders Green Crematorium.

He was friends with fellow East End Jewish writer Emanuel Litvinoff.

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