The Brothers Warner

The Brothers Warner
2008 - Warner Brothers
Directed By Cass Warner Sperling



SYNOPSIS

The granddaughter of Harry Warner chronicles his and his brothers Jack, Albert, and Sam rise from poor, uneducated young men to become pioneers in the motion picture business... and on to major success. But that success came with a price.



MY THOUGHTS

The Brothers Warner begins with their early years and we're given an idea what these four guys were like as people before delving into their struggles and ultimate successes in the film business. A family member is telling their story and it gives it a much more intimate feeling than a standard documentary.

Several family members, Warner Brothers employees, decedents of heads of other studios, and actors help to tell their story.

The documentary also focuses on the risks the brothers took including their commitment in tackling social issues (I Am A Fugitive In A Chain Gang, Confessions Of A Nazi Spy) as well as the technical side with the development of sound (The Jazz Singer.)

I never knew much of the brothers besides Jack, who was the most outspoken (and loathed by many) so the film helped to fill in the gaps of my knowledge. While informative, it doesn't deliver overly extensive detail like a book would. It does give just enough to keep your interest up, without boring you with minutia.

The film doesn't spare any harsh feelings when Jack Warner sold out his brothers and took sole control of the studio in the 50's. He's made to look like a monster, which really probably isn't far from the truth. It was a pretty low move.

The Brothers Warner is a great look back to old Hollywood, when the name Warner Brothers meant a family business and not some anonymous corporate identity.