Burbank, Calif. November 19, 2009 — The award-winning documentary, The Brothers Warner, an intimate family portrait of four legendary Hollywood film pioneers who founded and ran Warner Bros. for more than 50 years, makes its DVD debut March 9th from Warner Home Video. Written and directed by Cass Warner Sperling, Harry Warner’s granddaughter, and produced by Warner Sisters, Ms. Sperling’s independent film production company, the documentary has been honored as an Official Selection at 33 film festivals around the world and has won 8 awards. In addition to the United States (multi-cities), the film has been shown in countries such as Canada, England, France, Ireland, Israel and Italy.
Ms. Sperling has assembled a top production team for The Brothers Warner: Oscar® -winning editor Kate Amend (Into the Arms of Strangers/ Stories of the Kindertransport); Director of Photography Arlene Donnelly Nelson (A Mighty Wind/For Your Consideration) and multi-Grammy award-winning composer David Campbell (Brokeback Mountain).
The Brothers Warner is based on Ms. Sperling’s best-selling book of the same name. Rights to the book were recently optioned by La Vie En Rose producer Alain Goldman and his Paris-based Legende label, which has hired Nicholas Pileggi (Casino; GoodFellas) to write the screenplay, entitled “The Brothers.” Script is expected to be completed sometime after the first of the year when it will go out to directors and A-List actors.
More About the Film
In the infant days of Hollywood, four brothers built an empire on a dream, revolutionized Hollywood and created the first major studio with a social conscience. They were the honorable Harry; honest Abe (Albert); visionary Sam and capricious Jack. Ms. Sperling narrates the film which is both an intimate family portrait and an epic saga. She spent 30 years researching personal archives and conducting interviews with relatives, actors, executives and others with close ties to the studio.
In her recollections about how she came to chronicle the family history, Ms. Sperling notes, “I will forever remember the last time I saw Grandpa Harry, just before he died. He was very weak but he took my hand in his, and as I felt his grip strengthen, he looked into my eyes as if he were entrusting me with something of great importance. I squeezed back — a promise was made. I feel it’s been a great honor and a privilege to have fulfilled that promise.”
Stated Barry M. Meyer, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., “The Brothers Warner is a well-made, fascinating documentary. Cass has not only honored her grandfather’s legacy with this work, she’s also paid homage to the guiding principles of the four Warner brothers: ‘to produce films that educate, entertain and enlighten audiences.’”
The DVD includes never-before-seen photos and footage of the Golden Years of Hollywood. Some of those interviewed are Dennis Hopper, Debbie Reynolds, Angie Dickinson, Norman Lear, Tab Hunter, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. and Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
The Warner brothers were among the first to use stories that were ripped from news headlines in their films, and it was Harry’s personal belief that “those who make a nation’s entertainment have obligations above and beyond their primary commercial objective, which is the box office.” The Warner brothers’ legendary scrappy rise from nothing, their overcoming personal tragedies and battles are all woven together here into the era in which they lived — from their first storefront theater (with a sheet for a screen and borrowed funeral parlor chairs for seats) to one of the leading studios in America.
TCM will also be airing the film on March 8 and it will be supported through advertising in TCM’s Classic Movie News.
