Synopsis

Tally Atwater dreams of becoming a network news anchor, but her rough delivery and limited experience hold her back. Veteran news director Warren Justice recognizes her potential and becomes her demanding mentor. As Tally's career advances from local reporting to national prominence, their professional bond develops into a romance, forcing them to balance ambition, public attention, and the dangers of frontline journalism.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was suggested by Alanna Nash's 1988 biography Golden Girl: The Story of Jessica Savitch. The finished story substantially fictionalized its inspiration and removed many of the more troubled aspects of Savitch's life.

• Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne worked on the screenplay for approximately eight years and produced 27 drafts before the movie entered production. Dunne later described the experience in his 1997 book Monster: Living Off the Big Screen.

• Production took place from March 25 through July 14, 1995. Locations included Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia, the Orange Bowl in Miami, other Florida locations, and Hollywood soundstages.

• "Because You Loved Me," written by Diane Warren and performed by Celine Dion, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 69th Academy Awards.

• The film was released by Touchstone Pictures on March 1, 1996. Made for a reported $60 million, it earned approximately $100.7 million worldwide.