Hollywood Be Thy Name: The Warner Brothers Story
This book is what it claims to be: the lives of the brothers Warner from immigrant beginnings to fabulous wealth and the rise of Warner Brothers Pictures from a storefront theater to a massive empire. Sperling's name gives a clue to her insider status (she is Harry Warner's granddaughter). While she dutifully chronicles the deteriorating relationship between the brothers, for the most part the family dirt is kept under the rug. There are reports of deception both business and personal, with a few affairs thrown in for spice, but all in all these folks don't appear capable of amassing the power that they wielded. Family sentiment definitely clouds the picture. However, the book records an important part of Hollywood lore, and the "Other Voices" segments--personal remembrances of stars, studio employees, and family members--are a nice addition. Readers shouldn't expect an expose. A satisfactory addition to large film collections.- Sherle Abramson, Williamsburg Regional Lib., Va.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.