The best service that this documentary does is remind us today that there were three other Warner Brothers who created the studio besides the most public of the brothers, Jack. Harry, Albert, and Sam all did their part in creating the groundbreaking studio. The studio that pioneered the most revolutionary of features since Thomas Edison invented the motion picture, they made the movies talk.
The film was created by surviving Warner offspring and tells the story of the Warner kids, there were eleven in all that included the brothers who went into the nascent film business.
Even the most rudimentary students of film know of Warner Brothers reputation as the working class studio in the Depression era. After The Jazz Singer vaulted the studio into the front ranks of film business, the studio made films that also educated as well as entertained.
I've often thought that Warner Brothers was lucky to have as its first star Rin Tin Tin. No big salary squabbles with the German Shepherd, lots of profit with no headaches to go with them.
We never do get into the legendary quarrels Jack Warner had with his stars. No movie mogul ever fought with more of his contract players than Warner. Even he knew it, he supported Ronald Reagan in his first run for office as Governor because Reagan never gave him problems while he was under contract. Hardly in keeping with the politics of some of his best film creations.
The other brothers apparently led quiet lives and preferred to stay out of the spot light. Sam Warner died right around the time The Jazz Singer was having its premiere. He seemed to be the nicest of the bunch.
Jack Warner I think was jealous of his stars, he wanted to be a performer like them, but didn't have the talent. I love Jack Benny's line about Jack Warner, that he'd rather tell a bad joke than make a good movie. Says volumes about him.
The Warners left an indelible imprint on the film industry, no doubt about that. A more critical analysis could be used, but this can hardly be expected from the family. And this documentary will do until someone makes a more critical one.
The film was created by surviving Warner offspring and tells the story of the Warner kids, there were eleven in all that included the brothers who went into the nascent film business.
Even the most rudimentary students of film know of Warner Brothers reputation as the working class studio in the Depression era. After The Jazz Singer vaulted the studio into the front ranks of film business, the studio made films that also educated as well as entertained.
I've often thought that Warner Brothers was lucky to have as its first star Rin Tin Tin. No big salary squabbles with the German Shepherd, lots of profit with no headaches to go with them.
We never do get into the legendary quarrels Jack Warner had with his stars. No movie mogul ever fought with more of his contract players than Warner. Even he knew it, he supported Ronald Reagan in his first run for office as Governor because Reagan never gave him problems while he was under contract. Hardly in keeping with the politics of some of his best film creations.
The other brothers apparently led quiet lives and preferred to stay out of the spot light. Sam Warner died right around the time The Jazz Singer was having its premiere. He seemed to be the nicest of the bunch.
Jack Warner I think was jealous of his stars, he wanted to be a performer like them, but didn't have the talent. I love Jack Benny's line about Jack Warner, that he'd rather tell a bad joke than make a good movie. Says volumes about him.
The Warners left an indelible imprint on the film industry, no doubt about that. A more critical analysis could be used, but this can hardly be expected from the family. And this documentary will do until someone makes a more critical one.