American Masters Season 21 Episode 14 The Brothers Warner

The American Masters series is back with another fascinating episode, this time delving into the world of Hollywood and the Warner Brothers. Season 21, episode 14 is called "The Brothers Warner" and gives us a peek into the lives of four Jewish brothers - Harry, Jack, Albert, and Sam - who founded one of the most iconic studios in Hollywood.

The episode starts off by introducing us to the Warner brothers, who were originally from Poland but immigrated to America in the early 1900s. We learn about their humble beginnings as traveling showmen, where they would screen films in tents and charge a few cents per ticket. Over time, they started buying theaters and distributing films, and eventually established their own studio in Hollywood in 1923.

The show takes us through the studio's early years, from its first film - a silent movie called "My Four Years in Germany" - to some of its most iconic films of the 1930s, including "The Jazz Singer" (the first feature-length talkie), "Gone with the Wind," and "Casablanca." We hear from experts, historians, and some of the studio's biggest stars, including Clint Eastwood, Debbie Reynolds, and Dennis Hopper, about what made Warner Bros. so special.

The brothers themselves were all very different - Harry was the businessman, Jack was the creative force, Albert was the quiet one, and Sam was the baby of the family. But together, they formed a powerful team that helped shape the film industry as we know it today. The episode explores their individual strengths and struggles, and how they managed to work together despite their differences.

One of the most interesting parts of the show is how it portrays the Warner brothers' relationships with some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time. We learn about how they discovered stars like Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Bette Davis, and how they navigated tricky relationships with others, like Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. We also hear about their disputes with other studios, like MGM, and their fight to maintain creative control of their own films.

Overall, "The Brothers Warner" is an insightful and entertaining look at one of the most influential studios in Hollywood history. Whether you're a fan of classic films or just interested in the history of the movie industry, this episode is definitely worth a watch.