Jack L. Warner

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Jack Leonard J L Warner August 2 1892 September 9 1978 born Jacob Warner in London Ontario was a CanadianAmerican film executive who was the president and driving force behind the Warner Bros Studios in Burbank California Warners career spanned some 45 years its duration surpassing that of any other of the seminal Hollywood studio moguls As cohead of production at Warner Bros Studios he worked with his brother Sam Warner to procure the technology for the film industrys first talking picture After Sams death Jack clashed with his surviving older brothers Harry and Albert Warner He assumed exclusive control of the film production company in the 1950s when he secretly purchased his brothers shares in the business after convincing them to participate in a joint sale of stocks Although Warner was feared by many of his employees and inspired ridicule with his uneven attempts at humor he earned respect for his shrewd instincts and toughmindedness He recruited many of Warner Bros top stars and promoted the hardedged social dramas for which the studio became known Given to decisiveness Warner once commented If Im right fiftyone percent of the time Im ahead of the game Throughout his career he was viewed as a contradictory and enigmatic figure Although he was a staunch Republican Warner encouraged film projects that promoted the agenda of Democratic President Franklin D Roosevelts New Deal He opposed European fascism and criticized Nazi Germany well before Americas involvement in World War II An opponent of Communism after the war Warner appeared as a friendly witness before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee voluntarily naming screenwriters who had been fired as suspected Communists or sympathizers Despite his controversial public image Warner remained a force in the motion picture industry until his retirement in the early 1970s