Frances (1982)

The story of Frances Farmer's meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood and the tragic turn her life took when she was blacklisted.

Director:

Graeme Clifford

Writers:

Eric Bergren, Christopher De Vore (as Christopher Devore)

Stars:

Jessica Lange, Sam Shepard, Kim Stanley

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jessica Lange	...	Frances Farmer
Sam Shepard	...	Harry York
Kim Stanley	...	Lillian Farmer
Bart Burns	...	Ernest Farmer
Christopher Pennock	...	Dick Steele
James Karen	...	Judge Hillier
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	...	Lobotomy Doctor
Sarah Cunningham	...	Alma Styles
Allan Rich	...	Mr. Bebe
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Dr. Doyle
Rod Pilloud	...	Martoni Kaminski
Patricia Larson	...	Mrs. Hillier
Jordan Charney	...	Harold Clurman
Keone Young	...	Chinese Doctor
Bonnie Bartlett	...	Studio Stylist

Storyline

Frances Farmer, a precocious Seattle teenager, takes unpopular social and political positions, to the mixed reactions of her parents. Frances becomes an actress and has some strong success in New York, but her refusal to bend her convictions and her outspoken (but sometimes naive) political expressiveness cause her difficulties, especially after she accepts a Hollywood contract. Torn between new-found success and intense feelings that she does not deserve the riches and fame she gains from the phoniness of Hollywood, Frances butts heads with studio executives and with her own mother, who revels in Frances's fame but provides Frances no emotional support. When drunken fights and arrests derail her career, Frances is sent to a psychiatric hospital with the acquiescence of her mother. What follows is a nightmare of poor treatment and psychological trauma, augmented by the increasing determination of Frances's mother to control her daughter's life.

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Plot Keywords:

female mental patient | bad temper | courtroom | character name as title | unfairness | 

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Taglines:

Beautiful. Talented. Intelligent. Courageous. Her name was Frances Farmer. She should've been the silver screen's Greatest Star.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

First cinema film directed by editor Graeme Clifford. Clifford had previously edited The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) which had co-starred this film's lead, Jessica Lange.

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Goofs

A shot of the outside of a New York building shows many modern window air-conditioners, although this was supposed to be the 1930s or 1940s.

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Quotes

Arresting Sergeant: Your name?
Frances Farmer: You jerks drag me down here in the middle of the night and you don't know who the hell I am?
Arresting Sergeant: Your name lady?
Frances Farmer: Frances Elena Farmer. Want me to spell it?
Arresting Sergeant: And your address?
Frances Farmer: Put me down as a vag, vagrant, vagabond. What is this, a joke? It's a joke? Assault and battery? Huh? I barely touched that bitch.
Arresting Sergeant: Occupation?
Frances Farmer: Cocksucker.

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Connections

Referenced in Summer Rental (1985)

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Soundtracks

Jeepers Creepers
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Arranged and Performed by Mood Indigo

User Reviews

Jessica Lange is Spectacular as Frances Farmer

I hadn't really remembered who Frances Farmer was until this poignant film was made. This is a rags to riches to insanity true story of Farmer's life. Lange is supported by Kim Stanley who plays Frances' mother Lillian (both were nominated for a 1983 Academy Award!) and Sam Shepard, who plays Harry York. Frances Farmer was ahead of her time in the ways she opinionated herself and the outspokenness with which she lived her life. Treated very badly by the same studio system that made her a star and her own mother's betrayal, Frances' descent into madness and Lange's impeccable acting makes this movie a must to see and, perhaps, own.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1983 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Frances

Filming Locations:

Paramount Theater, Seattle, Washington, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,624, 26 December 1982

Gross USA:

$5,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brooksfilms, EMI Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1