Tuning In
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 Washington Times
Legacy explored
PBS' "American Masters" puts a spotlight on Hollywood history this week with an in-depth look at the Warner Bros. studio and its 85-year legacy.
"You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story" (at 9 tonight through Thursday, WETA-Channel 26 and WMPT-Channel 22) offers a five-hour chronicle of the studio and its films. Oscar winner Clint Eastwood narrates tonight's opening installment, titled "You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet (1923-35)," about the movie studio's first years, when its top star was a dog named Rin Tin Tin, and its gradual move into gritty fare.
In addition to "You Must Remember This," written and directed by Richard Schickel ("The Men Who Made the Movies"), PBS also will air Cass Warner Sperling's "The Brothers Warner" (10 p.m. Thursday), an intimate 90-minute look at the four brothers from Youngstown, Ohio.
Miss Sperling, granddaughter of Harry Warner, doesn't dwell on the brothers' origins, instead focusing on the studio they built and the clashes between figurehead Jack Warner and older brother Harry. Brother Albert — who was born in Baltimore — is the family peacekeeper, and Sam served as a producer on Warner Bros. films, including Al Jolson's "The Jazz Singer." Sam Warner was the first brother to die, at age 40, the day before the landmark film was released.
"I was fortunate enough to have my grandfather in my life for the first 10 years of my life," Miss Sperling told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from Web and wire reports
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1 comment:
For my longtime friend Cass,
You are so totally ultra-hip for keeping one of the Icons of American Culture and History alive for the now generations to savor what it took to make the first talking Picture The Jazz Singer to ultimately bring them such present Classics as Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Harry Potter Films.
Warner Brothers Studios should be
on the National Register of Historic Places.
Warner Brothers forever!
With Love and undying respect,
Celeste
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