The Brothers Warner (2007 TV Movie) User Reviews (14)

a family affair

[dromasca · 8/10 · 18 November 2009]

Today the Warner name is just one component in a complicated corporate entanglement that the multimedia era made possible. One of the first and many things that we learn in this documentary is that the Warner Brothers film empire really started like a corner-of-the-street family affair, with the four sons of an East-European Jewish immigrant opening a cinema in Pennsylvania, with an blanket as improvised screen and borrowed chairs, with the wife of one of them playing the piano and nickel entry ticket price. Then when movies became hard to obtain the brothers decided to start making their own, and when the Edison monopoly chased them from the East Coast to California history began.

The four brothers built an empire American style, one of the most successful enterprises in one of the most successful American industry of the 20th century. Yet, their path was not smooth, their life was milestoned by happiness and tragedies as well, and they were no saints. Grand-daughter Cass Warner's film has both the qualities of bringing a lot of information backed-up by original film sequences, and of bringing a personal touch, with interviews of the members of the family, as well as important people in the industry, and film and communication experts. I appreciated the participation of descendants and representatives from the competitor studios like Disney or Paramount who did not hesitate to participate in this homage documentary. All parts are well dosed and the balanced mix takes us through six decades of movie making in parallel with the American history, actually part of the American history of the 20th century.

The documentary is informative, good, and human, and seldom falls into the trap of the blind adoration of its subject. The story of the brothers Warner and of Warner Brothers the corporation is the material for a great feature film, yet to be made in the future. With a bit of luck it will add a few Oscars near the Warner Brothers name.

A fascinating look at four founders of the film industry

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 10 October 2010]

Cass Warner, producer of this film, is actually the granddaughter of Harry Warner, one of the four original Warner Brothers. This documentary is not a retread of "You Must Remember This", the documentary which focused on the studio. This is the story of the four Warner Brothers themselves, starting back in the 19th century and their ventures into the entertainment industry that predate the forming of Warner Brothers the company by twenty years. It goes forward past the time that they exited the running of Warner Brothers the company and talks about the lives of the brothers themselves. Although Ms. Warner is a descendant, she doesn't get overly sentimental about her subject nor does she try to smooth over the real problems that the brothers had in their own private lives and with each other. The book by the same name has much more detail, of course, but this is still a very fascinating documentary for those interested in film history.

Just the sort of film I like...but unfortunately a bit too short.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 20 March 2010]

This documentary is about the Warner Brothers and their studio. However, unlike other documentaries about film studios, this was more like a home movie in many ways--with one of the granddaughters of the original Warner Brothers narrating and talking with some family members about their recollections (in addition to all the film historians who comment). This gives it a rather intimate feel but also made you wonder how objective the production was. For example, I often find that autobiographies are FAR less interesting than biographies because they tend to tell the tale from a far from neutral point of view. Now I am NOT saying this film does this exactly. There is quite a bit of dirt in the film about the animosity between Jack and Harry--making Harry sound like a swell guy and Jack akin to Satan. But I did wonder about the film at times--especially concerning Harry Warner's adoption of his niece, Lina. What would a neutral party say about all this?

There were a lot of neat facts about the studio. I loved learning how the KKK sued Warner for their depiction in "Black Legion"! Or, how the studio was the first to refuse to sell movies in Germany and made the first anti-Nazi film from Hollywood--even when the nation was firmly in the isolationist camp. Interestingly, the film really didn't focus so much on the stars of the day--but more on the day to day behind the scenes events. I liked this, as if you want to see more about Cagney or Bette Davis, a documentary about them would make a lot more sense.

Overall, this is the sort of film that movie lovers like myself love--especially those who adore Hollywood during the classic years of the 1920s-40s. Fascinating--as it's filled with wonderful little stories and facts that film buffs will love. My only real problem with the film is that there is just too much material for a film that's just a bit over 90 minutes long. A mini-series would really due more justice to the history of this amazing studio.

Oddly, while the documentary was filled with a lot of film clips, some of them were of pretty poor quality--particularly the grainy and washed out one from "Giant". I am really not sure why this was the case.

A Vivid And Very Revealing Portrait Of The 4 Warner Brothers

[StrictlyConfidential · 7/10 · 16 June 2020]

Back in Hollywood's heyday - "Warner Bros." was, without question, one of Tinseltown's most prominent studios (in full operation) which, boastfully, employed some of the biggest stars during its "golden years".

This eye-opening, historically-relevant documentary certainly reveals a very vivid portrait of the 4 Warner brothers (Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack) where intense rivalry, rifts, money, and greed drove these 4 siblings to conduct business matters in a manner that the viewer must witness for themselves to get the full picture of what really went on behind closed doors.

This 94-minute presentation was produced and directed by Jack Warner's granddaughter, Cass Warner-Sperling.

A member of the Warner family looks into the history of Warner Bros.

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 10 March 2010]

Cass Warner Sperling, granddaughter of Harry Warner, took on the subject of Warner Brothers Studio and the brothers behind it and has made an excellent documentary. She goes into the history of the family, from its emigration from Russia, the kinds of jobs they could get, and the family finally entering the nickelodeon business. Sperling tells the story with a lot of warmth and a nice lack of formality.

The brothers were as different as any four people could be - the outlandish Jack, the good businessman Harry, the kind-hearted Sam, and the quiet Albert - but the main characters are Jack and Harry.

Naturally, since this is done by a family member, the emphasis is on the positive aspects of the studio - the risk-taking to get into sound, the tough social topics the studio tackled, their work against Naziism before World War II, and their wartime contributions. The difficulties with Sam Warner's widow, Lina Basquette, are soft-pedaled. It is noted that Sam's and Lina's child was taken from her and raised by the Warners. If that strikes people as odd, it's because it's not mentioned how much power and influence the family wielded against an actress. What also isn't mentioned is that the Warners had Lina blacklisted, and she never met her daughter until she reached adulthood.

Another thing left out is exactly how Sam Warner acquired Vitaphone, but it's possible that Cass Warner doesn't know the story. The anti-Semitism was rampant in Hollywood in the '20s, and in fact, Joseph Kennedy was one of the people determined to get the Jews out of the film-making business. Therefore, when Sam, who was a big redheaded guy, went to meet the Vitaphone people, he asked Lina to wear her Catholic cross. Unaware that Sam was Jewish, Warner Brothers was able to acquire Vitaphone.

No words are minced regarding Jack's ultimate betrayal of brother Harry and his whole family, a very shocking and sad page in the family scrapbook.

Some of the people interviewed include Lina Basquette, George Segal, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Debbie Reynolds, Roy Disney, Sherry Lansing, film historian Jeanine Basinger, Dennis Hopper, Tab Hunter, and ex-staff members at Warner Brothers - all very good and insightful.

Jack Warner used to call Raoul Walsh into his office and moan to him that he needed him to direct a film. Who's in it? Walsh would ask, and Warner would answer, "some bum." That's probably what he thought of his actors in general; unfortunately, he seemed to view his family the same way. A fascinating story and highly recommended.

Nice Documentary

[Michael_Elliott · 15 March 2010]

Brothers Warner, The (2008)

*** (out of 4)

Pretty good documentary takes a look at the four Warner brothers (Harry, Albert, Jack, Sam) who would end up building one of the greatest and most loved studios in the history of cinema. Although it would seem the family had a lot of great fortune, they were haunted by several early deaths and many ending up turning their backs on one another. If you're looking for a documentary about all the great films released by the studio then you're going to be disappointed because this documentary actually takes a look at the family and not so much the movies. There's several stuff dealing with the movies that gets talked about including the brothers desire to make "real" dramas and how they fought the code and other studios to make a warning about Germany (CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY). I think fans of the history behind this studio will enjoy this doc the most as we get to see a lot of great photos of the boys as well as some video footage. There's quite a bit of talk from the relatives of the Warner's and we have a relative directing the film but don't let that worry you because there's quite a bit of brutal honesty here. Dennis Hopper, Debbie Reynolds, Norman Lear, George Segal, Angie Dickinson, Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. and Tab Hunter are just a few of the people who are interviewed. Some of the best stuff happens early on when we learn how the brothers ended up getting into the movie business and why they eventually moved out West.

the family Warner

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 2 April 2023]

Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner are brothers who created one of the biggest Hollywood studios. The Jewish brothers immigrated from Europe with their parents. None of them were allowed to have an education and the kids all worked. Soon, they are working the nickelodeons in New York City on the road to building the iconic entertainment name.

Cass Warner is the filmmaker and the granddaughter of Harry. Jack is the youngest, the last survivor, and the most famous. It's very compelling to learn about the brothers. It's fun to see a few recognizable faces who talk about the old times with the Warners. I'm not expecting too many deep dark secrets with a family member behind the camera, but there is some juicy family dysfunction. There are moments of interest depending on the viewer. I like the cartoons. Most of the company stuff isn't much to me. The war years including pre-war and post-war are very interesting. The big drama is the family drama. It's interesting to have Jack Warner seeing himself as the James Dean characters. I never considered that. All in all, this is very informative and we finally have a name.

The Brothers Warner was a fasinating doc about the famous film family

[tavm · 9/10 · 28 May 2020]

Cass Warner Sperling made this fine documentary of her grandfather Harry Warner and his brothers, Sam, Albert, and Jack, in telling the story of their making history by going into the motion picture business and forming the legendary Warner Bros. Pictures studio. So we see many pics of them and Cass' various siblings and cousins as she interviews some of them. I was most fascinated by Sam's relationship and marriage with Lina Basquette. And also of Jack's eventual betrayal of Harry. In summary, The Brothers Warner was a worthy doc of the famous film family.

the brothers warner

[mossgrymk · 7/10 · 21 April 2023]

Sorry, but I just do not buy the whole Saint Harry versus Dragon Jack thrust of this documentary. There are simply too many specks of sanctimony that peek through the whitewash job on Harry Warner (like his paying off his gentile sister in law, after his brother died, so he could raise her kid Jewish) while the dirt on Jack is a bit too all pervasive, with only a grudging admission, at the film's end, that he might have been a talented producer as well as a world class vulgarian.

However, there is no denying that this doc is entertaining. Sibling rivalry is something to which the vast majority of us can relate and when it is presented, as it is here, in all its show biz luridness, with lots of stabbings in the back, mistresses, wives, aneurisms, strokes and tragic deaths, it makes for a fun hour and forty five.

Did I mention that the director is Harry's grand daughter? Give it a B minus.

The Men Who Made The Movies Talk

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 8 March 2010]

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.

No real structure

[kurstevens · 3/10 · 26 April 2010]

This was a horribly disappointing documentary. The film never followed any defined structure. It is far too oriented on trivial family issues and random interviews, without delving into the historical importance of the warner bros. You never really get a feel for the times in which this happened. In fact you never get a feel for anything in the film. Its too bad that it was made by the someone in the warner family. They should have hired a non-biased third party to make this documentary. That said i absolutely love documentaries, even more than films, so i can be very critical of what i consider to be second rate, biased, and fail to be historically relevant.

"Harry was doing it for moral reasons."

[CranberriAppl · 24 April 2023]

Come on. It's important to keep in mind that this doc was made by Harry Warner's granddaughter, so that bias seeps through from the first minute. She has managed to make her grandfather sound the best out of the four brothers. In the beginning when she's introducing the brothers, each one has a flaw but her grandpa. Even Sam who passed away at a young age (40) gets poor treatment in this. His wife is totally disrespected in this and I bet if she said what she really thought of what his family did to her, she wouldn't be in this documentary. In Jack's intro, she low key implies through her mother that Harry thought little brother Jack was a loser with no direction. Which is ironic since Jack is the Warner anybody knows.

As Harry's granddaughter, completely whitewashing how he and his wife came to "win custody" of Sam and Lita Warner's daughter tells you everything you need to know. He did it because Sam's wife was not Jewish, she was Catholic. The documentary never makes you aware of this. I can't believe this documentary goes so far to include Sam's daughter saying she had a better life than she would have and then another line with the mother saying she was young at the time. Everything you can read about the situation seems to indicate that she was harassed and bullied into giving up her child by the domineering Harry (who also hated Jack's second wife) so that left a bad taste in my mouth. Not that I expected a report on the family drama, but even a Google search of them will reveal what Cass W tries to sanitize about Saint Harry. There's a whole segment on his courage about calling out the N azis. He was Anti-Hitler but was bigoted towards Catholics in his own family. Mmkay. It would be like leaving Marilyn Monroe out of a profile of JFK that calls him a devoted family man. It just rings hollow and false. Also if you listen, her mother never mentions Sam's daughter even though they were raised as siblings. There's no family photo shown with her included so you kind of just get the sense that it was about control and not what was correct. This documentary reminds of the the book and movie about The Temptations spearheaded by Otis Williams. Everything wrong was David, Eddie, and Paul. Otis never ever made a mistake. This has the same vibe.

Another critique I have is this documentary is not organized very well. It jumps back and forth between the family and the studio but not in a cohesive way all the time. I did skip through at least twice. What Cass Warner adds in the narration you have to take with a grain of salt bc...grandpa. You're actually learning more from the film historians and the interspersed actors and executives who definitely understand the business better than her. And who knew and worked with Jack. He was responsible for so many classics.

She never explores why Jack Warner went behind his brothers' backs with the deal to sell and then rebuy. Surely that didn't occur in a vacuum? Surely someone was alive around the time of this doc to share some insight? No internal papers? There's also so little on Albert. I believe his grandson was interviewed, but he didn't seem as if he knew much more than he maybe heard from his father.

It was also gross to hear Cass say that had Jack come to Harry's funeral, he would not have been in the car crash that landed him in a coma. Disgusting. I had to rewind it to make sure I heard correctly. Who says that? Not to mention she never ever approaches her grandfather with any criticism much less saying garbage like this about anything he'd done. Maybe Jack stabbing him in the back was karma for what he did to Sam's wife? She honestly sounds like she's taking jabs at Jack for her grandfather. It's a little petty.

The only worthwhile parts of this are the video clips and audio of the brothers. I'm in my 30s and while I love classic movies, my introduction to the "WB" were Looney Tunes on Nickelodeon and Tiny Toons after school. It was cool finding out (years ago at this point) that they were real I enjoyed seeing the footage of them all. And to see films that TCM doesn't air often or at all. Also other the original footage, the only thing interesting to me about Cass is her son is married to an actress who was in one of my favorite tv shows growing up.

It's WB month for their 100th anniversary on TCM and I've been enjoying the films being shown. While current WB is a mess (and ironically not a family business anymore), I only checked out this documentary believing it would be something better.

Cass Sperling Tries to Cash in on the Warner Legacy

[arfdawg-1 · 2/10 · 24 January 2020]

Cass 's father was a Sperling, not a Warner. Here, with no career of her own for the past gazillion years, she decides to try to pry herself into the movie business by making a documentary about the Warner Brothers. How much she really knows about them is sketchy.

She even tries to claim one of the brothers made Edison's Great Train Robbery!!!! REALLY? Come on.

There is nothing but smoke and mirrors with regard to this woman. She even started a website called "Warner Sisters" to cash in on the name that's not hers. And she claims she has a bunch of films in production but this is the only one that has gotten made in 20 years.

This woman is basically a scam artist.

Vanity Documentary Done on the cheap

[gdpetherick · 1/10 · 19 April 2023]

Read a biography and watch a few you tube clips and you'll be better informed and better entertained.

There are better sources of information on the Warner Family out there with even the audio only podcasts that are available are more rewarding.

Some of the most appalling quality clips in the wrong aspect ratios I have ever seen. Squished, stretched, zoomed in , zoomed out even one interview that managed to swap from widescreen to academy ratio contantly throughout.

Lack of continuity preventing the viewer from knowing who some of the interviewees we're referring to!!

Looks like a high school project that didn't make the grade.

Shocking!