A Joseph L. Mankiewicz Sarah Siddons Award
Gold-plated form of a woman (Sarah Siddons, an English actress) sitting regally in a chair atop a rounded black base with a plaque engraved "The Sarah Siddons Award / for / Distinguished Achievement / In the Theatre / Joseph Mankiewicz." The Sarah Siddons Award was a fictional honor made up by Mankiewicz in his picture, All About Eve. Because of the success of the film, a legitimate "Sarah Siddons Award" was created in Chicago in 1952 to present annually to one outstanding Chicago theater actor, a concept that Mankiewicz found ridiculous: "I invented it to put down all this fatuous prize-giving, and now there's some outfit in Chicago actually promoting a Sarah Siddons Award every year, and people like Helen Hayes go out there and make tearful acceptance speeches." The award was likely given to him by the Sarah Siddons Society at some point after they created the award. Though he groused about it, the award had a place of distinction on the mantelpiece of Mankiewicz's home office.
4 x 7.5 x 4.5 in.
Saleroom notices
- The award has sustained a crack to the neck area. Bonhams will repair this for the high bidder before shipment.