Intimate Portrait: Jessica Savitch on AllMovie

This film is a cautionary tale of the life-and death-of the pioneering television anchorwoman Jessica Savitch. The viewer follows her meteoric broadcasting career, from her early days at a CBS affiliate to national network news. Behind all this outward success, Savitch's life was disintegrating. Early childhood trauma left her vulnerable to other demons: abusive relationships and bad marriages and drug abuse. Interviews with her colleagues and her sister provide insight into the tragic side of her life. There are many clips of Savitch at her professional best -- as well as of the disastrous night on NBC that cost her the job as anchor. Shortly after, Jessica Savitch died in a car accident. The film is both a disturbing and inspirational look at a trailblazer in broadcasting.