The Brothers Warner Book
100^th Anniversary Edition

This year, Warner Bros. celebrates its 100th anniversary. And as we embark on our second century with the studio now an integral part of Warner Bros. Discovery, we are more committed than ever to ensuring the company the Warner brothers — Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack — built continues to be viewed around the world as a symbol of high quality, creative risk-taking, and innovative and impactful storytelling.

Growing up in Brooklyn, every Saturday, my Dad would take me to the local movie theater— it was our thing, just the two of us. We would get popcorn and soda, the lights would go down, the movie would start, and it was like magic. I'll never forget staring up at the big screen and seeing Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde, Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke, Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, and Steve McQueen in Bullitt. I was completely captivated by the stories and characters and could not get enough of them. These and so many other great films I fell in love with over the years had one thing in common: the "WB" shield.

Not only did the Warner brothers revolutionize the motion picture business with the introduction of talkies in the 1920s, they also had the guts to tell stories that shed light on important issues of the day. And that took real courage, given the widespread resistance—and even prohibition—in Hollywood of the production of any films that took a critical view of sensitive topics such as Nazism and anti-Semitism. The brothers faced stiff pressure from both U.S. and foreign government leaders, activist organizations, industry elites, and others. Yet, they remained firm in their determination to use the platform of film to raise awareness of global injustices.

Having witnessed their own family escape oppression in Poland, the brothers understood the dangers of allowing such divisive and destructive forces to go unchecked, and they also recognized the power of motion pictures to change how people see others and the world. As they saw it, they had an opportunity as well as a responsibility to make a difference, and they did exactly that.