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That Katharine Hepburn won her first Oscar in only her third movie, Morning Glory, was a testament to what an amazing career lay ahead of her. Morning Glory is the story of Eva Lovelace (Hepburn), a young, star-struck stage actress who finds the right connections to make it to the top. The film also starred Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Mary Duncan and Geneva Mitchell.
 On a cold New York morning, Eva Lovelace walks into the office of Easton Productions short on acting experience but bearing all the confidence in the world. She easily befriends top actress Gwendolyn Hall (Geneva Mitchell) and esteemed actor Bob Hedges (C. Aubrey Smith). When everyone is told there are no parts and to leave, Eva remains in her seat with a surely-they-don't-mean-me-attitude!
Katharine Hepburn
& C. Aubrey Smith
Inside Easton's office Joseph Sheridan (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) and Louis Easton (Adolphe Menjou) are discussing producer Sheridan's next play and who will play the leads. Back in the waiting room Easton's assistant Will (Fred Santley) tells Bob there's a small part for him. "For an actor, any part is a part, Will."
With the perfect naiveté and a slight giggle Hepburn nudges her character closer to Bob where she beguiles him with her charm and gets him to commit to tutoring her, even though she has no money at the time.
Geneva Mitchell
As Gwendolyn Hall is leaving in walks Rita Vernon (Mary Duncan), Easton's lead starlet. The two women hugs each other like old friends, but their claws come out in what they don't say, like to old cats stalking each other.
Mary Duncan
Hall says, "My! You're gaining weight."
Vernon replies, "Yes. I'll soon be your size, my dear!"
When Eva corners Easton and runs off at the mouth like Niagara Falls, Easton seems nonchalant while Joseph is quite amused as she spills her life's ambition. Meanwhile Eva finds odd jobs until she runs into Bob and he takes her to Easton's party. There she drinks too much, makes a fool of herself and ends up spending the night with Easton. When Easton reveals this to Joseph, he's both taken aback and asked to appalled.
Adolphe Menjou
Eva emerges from the bedroom and exposes her love and adoration for Easton while Joseph listens. Hepburn is so real in this scene it's hard to imagine she's acting. A few weeks later Rita throws a "Starlett" fit and asks for the moon. When she's denied, she threatens to quit.
Joseph brings in her understudy, Eva, who rises to stardom, but with a broken heart when Easton tells her once again, he doesn't love her. Her old coach tells her she's not a Morning Glory, a flower that fades before the sun is too high.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.,
Morning Glory is a great story with Hollywood glamour and exceptional performances. The movie is part of the Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniversary Collection, Warner Home Video's spotlight on one f Hollywood's legendary "grand dames" on the anniversary of her 100th birthday (May 12). The Collection includes six films never on DVD before -- The Corn is Green, Dragon Seed, Morning Glory, Sylvia Scarlett, Undercurrent and Without Love.
There are two features on the Morning Glory DVD.
Special Features
- Menu - a short 1933 featurette about a chef who helps his wife make a dinner that will not give him indigestion. I have no idea why this film is on this DVD. The film stars Luis Alberni and Una Merkel and it's really not too fuuny.
- Bosko's Mechanical Man - a Loony Toons cartoon
DIRECTOR: Lowell Sherman
WRITER: Zoe Akins - play, Howard J. Green - screnplay
CAST: Katharine Hepburn, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Adolphe Menjou, Mary Duncan, C. Aubrey Smith, Don Alvarado, Geneva Mitchell
RATING: Not Rated (boring for kids)
CLASSIC MOVIE GUIDE RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
DVD RELEASE DATE: 5/29/2007
RUN TIME: 74 minutes
STUDIO: Warner Home Video
FORMAT: Black & White
Photo credits: Warner Home Video
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