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
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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 | |
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Plot Summary
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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. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
Plot Keywords:
female lead | female mental patient | bad temper | courtroom | character name as title |Taglines:
Her story is shocking, disturbing, compelling... and true. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
3 February 1983 (Argentina) See more »Also Known As:
Frances, a Filha da Fúria See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$11,624, 26 December 1982, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$5,000,000Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Frances Farmer: No, you are not talking now! You listen. Now you can send me away and pretend I'm crazy and you can pretend I'm still your little girl who can't take care of herself. But Lillian, there is one thing that you cannot pretend any more and that is that I love you. Because I don't. I can't. Not after what you've done to me. Because I am still me. I've been trying real hard all this time to be me. And you, little sister - you haven't been any help at all.
See more »
Music by Duke Ellington
Lyrics by Irving Mills
Arranged and Performed by Mood Indigo
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This film's opening prologue states: "This film is based on the true life story of Frances Farmer". See more »Goofs
The recreated movie marquee for "Come and Get It" incorrectly spells Joel McCrea's name as McCrae. See more »Quotes
Lillian Farmer: When you get well, you're going to thank me.Frances Farmer: No, you are not talking now! You listen. Now you can send me away and pretend I'm crazy and you can pretend I'm still your little girl who can't take care of herself. But Lillian, there is one thing that you cannot pretend any more and that is that I love you. Because I don't. I can't. Not after what you've done to me. Because I am still me. I've been trying real hard all this time to be me. And you, little sister - you haven't been any help at all.
See more »
Soundtracks
It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)Music by Duke Ellington
Lyrics by Irving Mills
Arranged and Performed by Mood Indigo
See more »
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Jessica Lange gives the performance of a lifetime as iconoclastic actress Frances Farmer, whose rejection of the star system led to her mental collapse and ostracism from her fame-hungry mother Lillian (Kim Stanley). Lange's command of the role makes you feel like there's a knife in your stomach. It's that intense. As for the question of what's accurate and what's not, that's not really important. The point is that Lange gets into this role to the max. "Frances" isn't the sort of movie that you can just watch; you have to feel like it's happening to you, or you might not get the full experience. All in all, a great movie. Also starring Sam Shepard and Jeffrey DeMunn.