Joseph L. Mankiewicz

"I have a lot to be sad about. Not bitter in any way. But I think it can be fairly said that Ive been in on the beginning, the rise, peak, collapse and end of the talking picture."

"Every screenwriter worthy of the name has already directed his film when he has written his script."

"I got a job at Metro and went in to see Louis Mayer, who told me he wanted me to be a producer. I said I wanted to write and direct. He said, "No, you have to produce first, you have to crawl before you can walk." Which is as good a definition of producing as I ever heard."

"I am never quite sure whether I am one of the cinemas elder statesmen or just the oldest whore on the beat."