I think everyone
knows the logo of Warner Bros. and has watched many of its movies. However, do
you know its history? I will try to tell you about it.
This legendary
film company was built by four brothers from Poland. Hirsz, Aaron, Szumel and
Izaak Wonsal, who are known better as Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warners.
These uneducated Jews from Mazowsze have revolutionized the cinema industry and
created one of the biggest film studio in the world.
[photo from:
http://interactive.wxxi.org/files/images/highlights/WarnerBros.JPG ]
Warner’s always
liked business. In 1903 year they borrowed a thousand dollars and bought a kinescope
and a projector made by Thomas Edison. To get the loan they had to give Bob’s horse
and their father‘s gold watch as a collateral. They were travelling around
cities and screening „The Great Train Robbery“ by Edwin’s Porter’s. This way
they earned their first dollars. Later they invested in renting a building to
create a small cinema. Not a long time
after that they started to be interested in film production and distribution.
In 1918 they
made their first big movie called „My Four Years In Germany“, which was a tremendous
success, both from an artistic point of view and huge attendance. On the 4th of
April 1923 they created a company called Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. Each of
the brothers had a role: Harry was a boss, Albert took care of distribution,
Sam was looking after production and Jack oversaw daily works. Their biggest success
was the first sound movie „The Jazz Singer“.
Right now,
Warner Bros. is a part of Time Warner the biggest media company in the world.
They have produced over six thousand feature movies and forth thousand animated
movies so far.
Below, there
are a few interesting facts about Warner Bros.
1.
The name Warner Bros. is used in Europe but in Hollywood they say Warner
Brothers.
2.
The studio's first major star was a German shepherd, Rin Tin Tin. The
dog appeared in 27 movies and was Warners' biggest asset of the silent era.
According to legend, he even received the most votes for Best Actor during the
first Academy Awards.
3.
In 1942 they made "Casablanca" with the famous actor Humphrey
Bogart. To this day, the film's theme song, "As Time Goes By," can be
heard while the "WB" shield logo appears at the beginning of every
Warner Bros. release.
4.
Warners created the blueprint for the modern-day superhero movie with
"Superman" (with Christopher Reeve) and "Batman" (with
Michael Keaton).
5.
Virtually every movie Clint Eastwood has directed or starred in for the
past 45 years has been for Warner Bros., a partnership that has included about
40 films.
For more facts,
visit:
http://news.moviefone.com/2013/01/28/warner-bros-90th-anniversary/
This summer I
had an amazing opportunity to visit Warner Bros. studio in Los Angeles. They have a huge area where there are a dozen
studios, some with set scenography (its called a back lot) and even a fake
jungle and a lake! The most awesome to me was seeing making of „The Big Bang
Theory”. I had also a chance to visit the museum of Harry Potter. That was one
of the most wonderful sightseeing I have ever experienced in my life.
Did you know
who created Warner Bros? What do you think about their story?
What are your
favorite movies made by Warner Bros?
Have you ever
had an opportunity to visit a film studio? If so, what were your impressions?
Comments
I knew this company since my childhood, because I’ve used to watch cartoon “Looney Tunes” (with characteristic music theme, characters and water tower, which are usually appeared in the movies) on Cartoon network channel. If we look at this cartoons todays, we may observe they was the answer to Walt Disney’s movies (of course I don't mean that cartoons are worse).
If I have to choose the most favorite films from Warner Bros. it will be: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Matrix, Harry Potter and The Last Samurai.
Unfortunately, I don't had possibilities to visit Warner Bros. Studio but maybe in near future I'll travel there.
I like how they often modify their logo to go with the film. The first movie that comes to mind for me is Matrix (I remember the changed logo at the beginning) but I watch so many films produced by them, at least a few every year.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been to any studios yet. It seems like a really nice idea which I haven’t yet considered.
They have made many good movies ( Lord of the Rings, Matrix ) only to mention those from past few years. I don’t have one favorite movie ( form Warner Bros film studio). Unfortunately for them Star Wars was produced by 20th Century Fox studio. I have never visited any film studio but I would most definitely like to do it in the future.
In the last 3 years only they produced so many good movies that it's really difficult to pick the best one. (I've seen about 1/3 of them).
I have never been to movie studio, but recently I was an actor for very short movie (it was my first time :) Together with my friend we shot the whole movie with Google Glass. The plot is about love :) Once the movie is ready, I'll let you know - it'll be available on YouTube. Shooting a movie is extremely time consuming...
I always assumed their surname was Warner... and they were brothers... but I never imagined it was Poles xD ok ok Polish Jews, but still.
What are your favorite movies made by Warner Bros?
There are many movies that I like, but when I saw this one I had to put it here. Wild Wild West :)
Have you ever had an opportunity to visit a film studio? If so, what were your impressions?
Nope, never. But I think it's pretty much the same as what we can sometimes see in TV, so there isn't anything special.
As to video studios I never had the occasion to be in one, therefore I don't have much to say. However I would like to see how a movie is created, but on like on a recording, but to be there and see the process.
Full movies