mandzirm

The old Technicolor home movies are nice to watch, but this shallow biography of Warner Brothers chief Jack Warner offers scant insight into what made him tick, and disappointingly little history of the Warner Brothers studio. Written, directed, and produced by Warner's grandson, the overall message of the documentary seems to be that Warner (who was widely hated in Hollywood) may have had a few faults, but was mostly a great old guy.

After reading a previous glowing comment, I was hoping for something "unique...enchanted...marvelous...fresh...delightful...". But only my strong interest in film history kept me watching. Others may want to pass on this one.

You can add my name to the list of viewers who, like Ms. Dunigan, could not make it all the way through this. The location shots of Istanbul were this film's only redeeming attribute. (Rent a travelogue instead.) The sound might as well have been recorded with underwater microphones, and the plot (?) is totally incomprehensible. Don't waste your time on this turkey.

If you are a W. C. Fields fan as I am, this compilation contains many of the parts we wait for when we watch his feature films. If you are new to his work, this will surely inspire you to see more of him by renting The Bank Dick, It's a Gift, or other classics excerpted here.

Even if you are familiar with Field's features, this documentary contains material you may not have seen, including clips from his silent films and from his early talkie shorts for Mack Sennett.

The interviews, including critic Leonard Maltin and Field's grandson/biographer, are informative without being intrusive. They add to the appreciation of what we are watching for - Fields in action.