Morning Glory

Morning Glory examines the life and career of pioneering broadcast journalist Barbara Walters through extensive research and interviews. The biography traces Walters' trajectory from her early days in television through her groundbreaking achievements at NBC's Today Show and ABC News. The book details Walters' complex relationships with network executives, co-anchors, and interview subjects during her five-decade career. Kellow provides context about the male-dominated broadcast industry of the 1960s and 70s, and documents the professional barriers Walters faced and overcame. Walters' personal life receives equal attention, with coverage of her family background, marriages, and role as a mother. Her drive for success and its impact on her private relationships emerge as central elements of her story. This biography explores themes of ambition, gender discrimination in media, and the costs of breaking new ground in broadcast journalism. The parallel between Walters' personal evolution and the transformation of television news suggests larger truths about power and perseverance in American culture.

Readers appreciate the detailed research and balanced portrayal of Morning Glory's depiction of Pauline Kael. Many note that Kellow presents both her achievements and flaws, with several comments highlighting the book's exploration of Kael's complex personality and influence on film criticism. Readers particularly value the interviews with Kael's contemporaries and the behind-the-scenes insights into her work at The New Yorker. Common criticisms include the book's pacing in early chapters and what some readers describe as too much focus on Kael's personal relationships rather than her critical work. Several reviewers wanted more analysis of her actual film reviews. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (442 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (81 ratings) One reader notes: "Kellow manages to show why Kael matters without turning her into a saint." Another writes: "The book spends too much time on her dating life and not enough on what made her reviews revolutionary."

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🎬 Morning Glory details the life of movie producer Pandro S. Berman, who was responsible for launching the careers of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Katharine Hepburn at RKO Studios. 📚 Author Brian Kellow spent five years researching the book, conducting over 100 interviews with Hollywood personalities and examining previously unseen private papers and correspondence. 🏆 The book's title comes from the 1933 film that earned Katharine Hepburn her first Academy Award for Best Actress—a film that Berman produced early in his career. 🎯 Pandro Berman was nicknamed "Pan" and became Hollywood's youngest production chief at age 29, overseeing RKO Studios during its golden age in the 1930s. 🌟 During his career, Berman produced over 130 films, including Top Hat, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Father of the Bride, earning him six Academy Award nominations for Best Picture.