Abby Mann
Encyclopedia
Abby Mann was an American
film writer and producer.
. He was best known for his work on controversial subjects and social drama. His most famous work is the drama Judgment at Nuremberg
, which was initially a television drama aired in 1959. Stanley Kramer
directed the 1961
film adaptation, for which Mann received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
. In his acceptance speech, he said:
Mann later adapted the play for a 2001 production on Broadway, which featured Maximilian Schell
from the 1961 film in a different role.
Mann and Kramer also collaborated on the 1963 film A Child is Waiting
.
In the introduction to the printed script, Mann credited a conversation with Abraham Pomerantz
, U.S. Chief Deputy Counsel, for giving him the initial interest in Nuremberg.
Working on television, he most notably created the television series Kojak
, starring Telly Savalas
. Mann was executive producer, but was credited as a writer also on many episodes. His other writing credits include the screenplays for the television films The Marcus-Nelson Murders, The Atlanta Child Murders
, Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story, and Indictment: The McMartin Trial, as well as the film War and Love.
He died of heart failure in Beverly Hills, California
on March 25, 2008, aged 80. He died one day after Richard Widmark
, one of the stars of Judgment at Nuremberg.
While announcing Mann's death, BBC Radio 4
news presenter Charlotte Green
caused controversy by laughing after what is believed to be the world's earliest recording, played during the preceding item, was described off-air as sounding like "a bee trapped in a jar". Radio 4 has expressed hopes that Mann's family will realise that no harm was intended.
His stepson is former Israeli Special Forces operative Aaron Cohen.
Mann is interred in Culver City's Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film writer and producer.
Life and career
Born as Abraham Goodman in Philadelphia, he grew up in East Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaEast Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
East Pittsburgh is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, about southeast of the confluence of the Monongahela and the Allegheny rivers at Pittsburgh. The population in 1900 stood at 2,883, and in 1910, at 5,615. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 1,822, having fallen from...
. He was best known for his work on controversial subjects and social drama. His most famous work is the drama Judgment at Nuremberg
Judgment at Nuremberg
Judgment at Nuremberg is a 1961 American drama film dealing with the Holocaust and the Post-World War II Nuremberg Trials. It was written by Abby Mann, directed by Stanley Kramer, and starred Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Maximilian Schell, Werner Klemperer, Marlene Dietrich, Judy...
, which was initially a television drama aired in 1959. Stanley Kramer
Stanley Kramer
Stanley Earl Kramer was an American film director and producer. Kramer was responsible for some of Hollywood's most famous "message" movies...
directed the 1961
1961 in film
The year 1961 in film involved some significant events, with West Side Story winning 10 Academy Awards.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:* Atlantis, the Lost ContinentB...
film adaptation, for which Mann received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay
The Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay is one of the Academy Awards, the most prominent film awards in the United States. It is awarded each year to the writer of a screenplay adapted from another source...
. In his acceptance speech, he said:
"A writer worth his salt at all has an obligation not only to entertain but to comment on the world in which he lives."
Mann later adapted the play for a 2001 production on Broadway, which featured Maximilian Schell
Maximilian Schell
Maximilian Schell is an Austrian-born Swiss actor who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Judgment at Nuremberg in 1961...
from the 1961 film in a different role.
Mann and Kramer also collaborated on the 1963 film A Child is Waiting
A Child Is Waiting
A Child Is Waiting is a 1963 American drama film written by Abby Mann and directed by John Cassavetes. Burt Lancaster portrays the director of a state institution for mentally handicapped and emotionally disturbed children, and Judy Garland is a new teacher who challenges his methods.-Plot:Jean...
.
In the introduction to the printed script, Mann credited a conversation with Abraham Pomerantz
Abraham Pomerantz
Abraham L. Pomerantz was a 1924 graduate of Brooklyn Law School and a founding partner of the law firm of Pomerantz Haudek Block Grossman & Gross LLP. He is considered by many to have been the "dean of the class action bar". Pomerantz pioneered suits by small shareholders against officials of...
, U.S. Chief Deputy Counsel, for giving him the initial interest in Nuremberg.
Working on television, he most notably created the television series Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
, starring Telly Savalas
Telly Savalas
Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas was an American film and television actor and singer, whose career spanned four decades. Best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz...
. Mann was executive producer, but was credited as a writer also on many episodes. His other writing credits include the screenplays for the television films The Marcus-Nelson Murders, The Atlanta Child Murders
The Atlanta Child Murders (TV miniseries)
The Atlanta Child Murders is a TV miniseries that aired on February 10 and 12, 1985 on CBS. Inspired by true events, the miniseries examines the so-called "Atlanta child murders" of the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Cast:*Calvin Levels - Wayne Williams...
, Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story, and Indictment: The McMartin Trial, as well as the film War and Love.
He died of heart failure in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
on March 25, 2008, aged 80. He died one day after Richard Widmark
Richard Widmark
Richard Weedt Widmark was an American film, stage and television actor.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, Kiss of Death...
, one of the stars of Judgment at Nuremberg.
While announcing Mann's death, BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
news presenter Charlotte Green
Charlotte Green
Charlotte Green is a British radio continuity announcer and news reader for BBC Radio 4. Since 1998 she has specialised in news reading, including reading the news on Radio 4 flagship Today, and reading news items on The News Quiz...
caused controversy by laughing after what is believed to be the world's earliest recording, played during the preceding item, was described off-air as sounding like "a bee trapped in a jar". Radio 4 has expressed hopes that Mann's family will realise that no harm was intended.
His stepson is former Israeli Special Forces operative Aaron Cohen.
Mann is interred in Culver City's Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
The Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary is a Jewish cemetery located at 6001 West Centinela Avenue, in Culver City, California, USA. Many Jewish people from the entertainment industry are buried here.-Notable interments:*Irving Aaronson, composer...
.