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Warner Bros.: 100 Years of Storytelling
In this official centennial history of the greatest studio in Hollywood, unforgettable stars, untold stories, and rare images from the Warner Bros. vault bring a century of entertainment to vivid life.
The history of Warner Bros. is not just the tale of a legendary film studio and its stars, but of classic Hollywood itself, as well as a portrait of America in the last century. It’s a family story of Polish-Jewish immigrants—the brothers Warner—who took advantage of new opportunities in the burgeoning film industry at a time when four mavericks could invent ways of operating, of warding off government regulation, and of keeping audiences coming back for more during some of the nation's darkest days.
Innovation was key to their early success. Four years after its founding, the studio revolutionized moviemaking by introducing sound in The Jazz Singer (1927). Stars and stories gave Warner Bros. its distinct identity as the studio where tough guys like Humphrey Bogart and strong women like Bette Davis kept people on the edge of their seats. Over the years, these acclaimed actors and countless others made magic on WB’s soundstages and were responsible for such diverse classics as Casablanca , A Streetcar Named Desire , A Star Is Born , Bonnie & Clyde , Malcolm X , Caddyshack , Purple Rain , and hundreds more.
It’s the studio that put noir in film with The Maltese Falcon and other classics of the genre, where the iconic Looney Tunes were unleashed on animation, and the studio that took an unpopular stance at the start of World War II by producing anti-Nazi films. Counter-culture hits like A Clockwork Orange and The Exorcist carried the studio through the 1970s and '80s. Franchise phenomena like Harry Potter, the DC universe, and more continue to shape a cinematic vision and longevity that is unparalleled in the annals of film history. These stories and more are chronicled in this comprehensive and stunning volume.
Copyright © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
The history of Warner Bros. is not just the tale of a legendary film studio and its stars, but of classic Hollywood itself, as well as a portrait of America in the last century. It’s a family story of Polish-Jewish immigrants—the brothers Warner—who took advantage of new opportunities in the burgeoning film industry at a time when four mavericks could invent ways of operating, of warding off government regulation, and of keeping audiences coming back for more during some of the nation's darkest days.
Innovation was key to their early success. Four years after its founding, the studio revolutionized moviemaking by introducing sound in The Jazz Singer (1927). Stars and stories gave Warner Bros. its distinct identity as the studio where tough guys like Humphrey Bogart and strong women like Bette Davis kept people on the edge of their seats. Over the years, these acclaimed actors and countless others made magic on WB’s soundstages and were responsible for such diverse classics as Casablanca , A Streetcar Named Desire , A Star Is Born , Bonnie & Clyde , Malcolm X , Caddyshack , Purple Rain , and hundreds more.
It’s the studio that put noir in film with The Maltese Falcon and other classics of the genre, where the iconic Looney Tunes were unleashed on animation, and the studio that took an unpopular stance at the start of World War II by producing anti-Nazi films. Counter-culture hits like A Clockwork Orange and The Exorcist carried the studio through the 1970s and '80s. Franchise phenomena like Harry Potter, the DC universe, and more continue to shape a cinematic vision and longevity that is unparalleled in the annals of film history. These stories and more are chronicled in this comprehensive and stunning volume.
Copyright © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published May 30, 2023
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About the author
Mark A. Vieira
22 books43 followersMark A. Vieira is a photographer and writer. He makes glamour portraits in the classic Hollywood mode, working in the historic Granada Buildings, where George Hurrell had his first Los Angeles studio. He writes books about the artists, genres, and photographic technique of Hollywood’s Golden Era.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 2, 2023
WARNER BROS.; 100 YEARS OF STORYTELLING is a treasure-trove of photographic delights and pleasing memories. I've been a fan of the writer's books in the past and this one didn't disappoint ... although I'll admit to learning less from it than I have from his other works. He also has a wry manner in referring to certain films that he must have found to be of lesser artistic quality, and those remarks were occasionally targeted to a few shows that I quite enjoyed.
The book is divided into decades that begins with the 1920's after a Preface that covers how the company came into existence. Each decade section describes events, people, and films that were important to the company, then continues with a year-by-year photo gallery of motion picture achievements (and notations of Academy Award wins and nominations). This is the type of book you can leave with friends while you attend to the final preparations of a holiday meal, secure in the knowledge that they are very much enjoying themselves.
There is a short Forward from notable TCM host, Ben Mankiewicz, in which he states that "Warner Bros. has made more of my favorite movies than any other studio." Naturally, that started me thinking of what studio's absence would have the most devastating impact on who I am today. Certainly, my favorite films have come from many studios as have those of Mankiewicz, but they are tied to stages in my life. In my years of reading "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine, Universal would have topped the list. As I grew into a film collector, the studio would have been MGM. I can't say that any one studio has held prominence since then, though.
WARNER BROS.: 100 YEARS OF STORYTELLING definitely grew my Watchlist of films that I need to revisit. I also will need to take some time to do some quick research. In the listing for 1944, it is noted that Claude Rains was Nominated as Supporting Actor for CASABLANCA, but did not win. Was that actually possible?! Who would have been better?!
The book is divided into decades that begins with the 1920's after a Preface that covers how the company came into existence. Each decade section describes events, people, and films that were important to the company, then continues with a year-by-year photo gallery of motion picture achievements (and notations of Academy Award wins and nominations). This is the type of book you can leave with friends while you attend to the final preparations of a holiday meal, secure in the knowledge that they are very much enjoying themselves.
There is a short Forward from notable TCM host, Ben Mankiewicz, in which he states that "Warner Bros. has made more of my favorite movies than any other studio." Naturally, that started me thinking of what studio's absence would have the most devastating impact on who I am today. Certainly, my favorite films have come from many studios as have those of Mankiewicz, but they are tied to stages in my life. In my years of reading "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine, Universal would have topped the list. As I grew into a film collector, the studio would have been MGM. I can't say that any one studio has held prominence since then, though.
WARNER BROS.: 100 YEARS OF STORYTELLING definitely grew my Watchlist of films that I need to revisit. I also will need to take some time to do some quick research. In the listing for 1944, it is noted that Claude Rains was Nominated as Supporting Actor for CASABLANCA, but did not win. Was that actually possible?! Who would have been better?!
June 17, 2023
Terrific!
This modestly priced book is a treasure trove of film history. It tells the story of Warner Bros. decade by decade and is full of great photos. If you're A fan of TCM or old films in general, you will love this book.
This modestly priced book is a treasure trove of film history. It tells the story of Warner Bros. decade by decade and is full of great photos. If you're A fan of TCM or old films in general, you will love this book.
September 7, 2023
A thick heavily photo-laden history of Warner Bros. studios published in coordination with TCM celebrates the 100th anniversary of the studio. It is highly recommended for film fans both young and old. It is not the deep dive into the history and inner workings of the studio, or its founders but a visual celebration of the studio’s films through the decades. Photographer and historian Mark Viera selected a wonderful collection of portraits and photos (many used for publicity stills) as well as photos from the films themselves and organized them chronologically through the decades. In addition, there is a synopsis of each decade showcasing both the films and the stars of each period along with both individual and studio award winners and major accomplishments. Even without the textual component, it is easy to see how the studio changed and evolved over time: the advent of sound and color; the war years; the rise and closing of the animation department and its reboot in the 80's. ; post-war films and noir ; change of styles with musicals, science fiction, and westerns through the 50’s and 60’s and the rise of the blockbuster film. Both longtime film fans and newer ones (I found the 60’s chapter particularly interesting) will find films and the stars they know so well - Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Bing Crosby, Gene Tierney, Errol Flynn, Doris Day, Natalie Wood, Paul Newman, and countless others. This is a great volume for film fans and fans of TCM - but it is also a volume that you may just want to keep for yourself.
July 2, 2023
This photo-filled celebration of the Warner Bros. studios was published in partnership with Turner Classic Movies, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the studio's opening. It is no surprise that photographer and historian Mark Vieira has chosen exquisite color and b&w photos for this coffee table book. He should also be commended for the engaging text, describing each decade in the studio's achievements, noting the successes, failures, and major trends. Each chapter also gives a sidebar containing each year's Oscar wins and nominations. A great give for film fans.
February 1, 2024
I was surprised at the honesty in this book. There was more discussion about films that had failed than I had anticipated. The book didn't toot its own horn over its successes, either. There might have been more dedicated to the films that won the studio Academy Awards (Geena Davis's win for "The Accidental Tourist" was barely mentioned), but that is a quibble.
This makes a fine book for your coffee table if you are a movie fan.
This makes a fine book for your coffee table if you are a movie fan.
December 14, 2025
Gorgeous photos, solid history, meticulous detail, and a warm respect for Warner animation that is often missing from similar prestigious retrospectives. Sometimes the writing got a bit to repetitive and laundry list-y, but the author injected life and voice when he could. Bittersweet to finish the book in the midst of the Netflix/Paramount bidding war for WB. So it goes.
August 7, 2023
Very brief overview of the studio's output with accompanying photos. A great supplement to biographies of the studio heads and stars that frequented Warners throughout the century and the films themselves.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews