Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul (1993)

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Film history buffs will be particularly attracted to this documentary, made by studio boss Jack L. Warner's grandson Gregory Orr. In addition to being the last remaining studio boss to remain active producing films after the studio system fell apart, he was a seminal figure during that period (in… More Film history buffs will be particularly attracted to this documentary, made by studio boss Jack L. Warner's grandson Gregory Orr. In addition to being the last remaining studio boss to remain active producing films after the studio system fell apart, he was a seminal figure during that period (in his case, from the 1920s to the 1950s). He and his brothers formed the Warner Brothers studio just before the advent of the "talkies" in 1929, and made a big hit with the first commercial talking picture The Jazz Singer. Warner was viewed in deeply contradictory ways by the film community. On the one hand he was an extremly ruthless businessman and competitor, who was known for his tight-fistedness. On the other hand, he was completely forthright about who he was and what he wanted in life, a form of honesty rare in any time. He particularly relished his role as a famous figure whose wishes had to be reckoned with. Special highlights of this documentary include home movies of the mogul with his family and associates, and still photographs. In 1969, after he had ceased being a studio head, he sadly observed "without a studio, I'm just another nobody." ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi