Warner Bros

The Making of an American Movie Studio

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Warner Bros

By: David Thomson

Narrated by: David Thomson

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About this listen

Behind the scenes at the legendary Warner Brothers film studio, where four immigrant brothers transformed themselves into the moguls and masters of American fantasy

Warner Bros charts the rise of an unpromising film studio from its shaky beginnings in the early 20th century through its ascent to the pinnacle of Hollywood influence and popularity. The Warner Brothers - Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack - arrived in America as unschooled Jewish immigrants, yet they founded a studio that became the smartest, toughest, and most radical in all of Hollywood. David Thomson provides fascinating and original interpretations of Warner Brothers pictures from the pioneering talkie The Jazz Singer through black-and-white musicals, gangster movies, and such dramatic romances as Casablanca, East of Eden, and Bonnie and Clyde. He recounts the storied exploits of the studio's larger-than-life stars, among them Al Jolson, James Cagney, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, Doris Day, and Bugs Bunny. The Warner brothers' cultural impact was so profound, Thomson writes, that their studio became "one of the enterprises that helped us see there might be an American dream out there".

Art

Entertainment & Celebrities

Entertainment & Performing Arts

Film & TV

History & Criticism

Celebrity

Entertainment

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Most relevant

Amazing. So hugely insightful. And touching and funny. Made me want to watch all those old movies again!

Amazing.

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I enjoy the Hollywood movies of 1930s to 1950s therefore this book was of interest to me. I think it could have been longer and had more coverage of the relationships between the brothers and the actors of the period. The narration at times was irritating as the tone and volume of the readers voice would suddenly change as if he had moved closer to the microphone and spoke in a conspiratorial manner. I would still recommend to people interested in old Hollywood.

Good but not exceptional

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