The Plot Thickens Ben Answers Your Cleopatra Questions
Sep 18, 2025
Ben Mankiewicz dives into intriguing voicemails about Cleopatra, revealing Richard Burton's complex feelings about the film's release. He explores Judy Garland's fascinating connection to Joe Mankiewicz, sharing personal stories from Joe's diaries. Discover the fate of the massive sets and costumes, and the ambitious but elusive six-hour cut of the movie. Ben also reflects on family anecdotes and classic Hollywood moments, making for a rich, entertaining journey through cinema history.
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Judy Garland And Joe Mankiewicz
- Judy Garland maintained a lifelong connection with Joe Mankiewicz, and Lorna Luft's warmth suggested personal affection endured.
- Ben Mankiewicz and Joe's biographer Ken Geist could not confirm whether Judy named her son Joey for Joe.
Diaries Revealed Joe's Human Side
- Ben eagerly read Joe's diaries and found him more human, funny, and wounded than family lore suggested.
- The diaries, plus interviews, revealed Joe was brilliant, complicated, and personally affected by Cleopatra's fallout.
Roddy McDowall's Discretion And Snub
- Roddy McDowall kept many Cleopatra secrets and rarely gave interviews about the production.
- He received a Golden Globe nomination, but Fox mistakenly submitted him for Best Actor, costing him an expected Oscar nominee slot.