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Earning its spot on the list of the major studios right from the start, Warner Brothers began a legacy that has remained strong for over eighty years. Despite the volatile relationship that existed between Jack, Sam, Harry and Albert Warner, they still managed to produce some of the greatest movies in the history of film (Seeing Stars 1). It is interesting to trace the evolution of the studio throughout the years, seeing the changing movie styles and different types of movie stars. In the following pages, I will attempt to accurately map out the development of the Warner Brothers Studio, beginning in the late 1920’s and ending in the 1980’s. For each decade, I will explore specific genres and/or films that epitomize the feeling of that time. The year 1927 gave birth to a wonderful invention—the “talkie” or talking picture, and Warner Brothers was the first to share this joy with everyone. The Jazz Singer with Al Jolson was the world’s first talking picture, giving the studio that extra edge over everyone else in the industry. In addition, “for the Warner Brothers, The Jazz Singer represented a heartening triumph after years of struggle and reversals” (Sennett 14). Money problems had haunted the brothers for years, bringing them to the verge of bankruptcy several times. It wasn’t until they enlisted the help of the vice-president of the Los Angeles Trust and Savings Bank, Motley H. Flint, that they were able to dig themselves out of their hole. Flint provided them with a substantial loan that enabled the brothers to turn out bigger and better films (Sennett 14). For several years, Warner Brothers prospered both artistically and economically, but high production costs and their inability to purchase theater chains again caused them to have financial woes. Something needed to be done and Sam Warner took it upon himself to find a solution. After attending a Bell Telephone demonstration that featured a sound-movie system called Vitaphone (which had already been rejected by the other major studios for being impractical), Sam’s enthusiasm got the best of him and he immediately signed a contract with Bell for exclusive use of the new invention for a number of years (Sennett 16). Although the only competition came from Fox (with their new Movietone device), the risk involved with equipping theaters with sound technology was great, and the brothers suffered immensely. However, the theaters that agreed to install the sound equipment flourished, bringing scores of people to theaters to enjoy the new novelty of synchronized sound and picture. The brother’s hard work had paid off and by 1929 it was clearly visible in the studio’s gross profit; the sum went from $3,360,000 in 1928 to $19,700,000 in August 1929. Variety magazine stated that the jump in profit was “probably the highest increase ever reported for a picture company or any other concern for that matter” (Sennett 21). So the 1920’s ended on a high note, at least financially for the Warner Brothers Studio. The 1930’s brought with them the Depression, affecting not just movie studios like Warner Brothers but businesses across the board. Despite the initial breakdown in morale, the thirties “were years of rediscovery of American tradition, of affirmation of an American character .
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