Wolf Mankowitz

Playwright, screenwriter and novelist Wolf Mankowitz was one of Britain's most prolific and successful writers. Once dubbed "the rising hope of British musical theatre," he lived an extravagant lifestyle, which included three luxury homes, although he was frequently in trouble with the taxman. Born in London's East End, his father Solomon was a Russian émigré who ran a second hand books stall. Educated at East Ham Grammar School he won a scholarship to Downing College, Cambridge where he edited an undergraduate magazine and worked in a bookshop part time. After leaving Cambridge he wrote several books about pottery and porcelain (his first love) before writing Make Me An Offer (1952). A success, it was later adapted for television and a film (1954) and a West End musical. One of his most memorable films A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) followed in 1953. He wrote screenplays of his own novels as well as The Millionairess (1960), The Waltz of the Toreadors, Casino Royale (1967), Black Beauty (1971), and The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961). Expresso Bongo (1959) was both a success on stage and film and led to Mankowitz becoming a theatrical impresario. He wrote several other musicals including Pickwick (1963) and Stand and Deliver (1972). He bought a house in Cork, Ireland, in 1971 in order to take advantage of Ireland's lean approach to the taxation of writers, but in 1981, he was declared bankrupt with tax debts of £53,000. Irish playwright and screenwriter Patrick Galvin commented: "Mankowitz had this enormous energy as a writer coupled with a terrific knack for dialogue. He was a born playwright and a very professional man." Mankowitz married Ann Margaret Seligman in 1944. They had a son, Gered, who became an acclaimed photographer, mainly of pop stars, such as The Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, Elton John and John Barry.