Biography

At the 16th Academy Awards ceremony, when Casablanca (1942) was named Best Picture, Hal B. Wallis, the film's producer, was on his way to the stage to accept the Oscar when Warner cut him off and accepted on behalf of the studio. At the time the Oscar for Best Picture customarily went to the studio, but Warner's public rudeness had two consequences: first, Wallis resigned from Warner Brothers in protest; second, producers began exerting more power with the Academy. Within eight years, starting with An American in Paris (1951), the Oscar for Best Picture would go to the film's producer(s) instead of the studio.

By the end of 1973, those closest to him became aware of signs that he was becoming disoriented. Shortly after losing his way in the building that housed his own office, he retired. In 1974 the former studio chief suffered a stroke that left him blind and enfeebled. Over the next several years he gradually lost the ability to speak and became unresponsive to friends and relatives.

Co-founder of Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., along with brothers Harry M. Warner (the company's president), Sam Warner (the CEO) and Albert Warner (the treasurer). Was the studio's executive in charge of production until 1957 when he sold the studio to Seven Arts. One day later they sold it back to him leaving Harry and Albert out of the company then making him President. As far as I know the brothers never spoke to him again.

Tried to block the production of Bonnie and Clyde (1967), a film he hated, until he saw the long lines of people waiting to see it. Then he said: "Now I like it".

One of the 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

[to an assistant on being introduced to Madame Chiang, the wife of Chinese president Kai-Shek Chiang] That reminds me, I need to pick up my laundry.

[to Albert Einstein] I have a theory of relativity, too. I never hire them.

If it's anything I can't stand it's yes-men. When I say no, I want you to say no, too.

[on criticism of the dubbing of My Fair Lady (1964)] I don't know what all the fuss is about. We've been doing it for years. We even dubbed Rin Tin Tin.

[about actor Paul Muni, who had a tendency to wear such heavy makeup that Warner feared the public couldn't recognize him from movie to movie] Why are we paying him so much money when we can't find him?