Frances (1982)

Jessica Lange gives a career performance in a role she was born to play: the talented and troubled Frances Farmer. Farmer's awful trajectory travels from bright Seattle girl to 1930s Hollywood starlet to degraded (eventually lobotomized) mental patient. Lange, who has the blond, clean look of Farmer's heyday, goes into these places with the fierce abandon of a true believer. Her performance, the lush John Barry score, and the period re-creation are all worth applauding; almost everything else fails. Everyone except Farmer is grotesquely caricatured to fit the movie's thesis, which is that if you are intelligent and nonconformist, the system will resolutely destroy you. (The medical establishment is evil incarnate.) This simple conclusion seems inadequate and disrespectful of Frances Farmer's tragic problems. For a radiant glimpse of what the real Farmer had to offer, see Howard Hawks's Come and Get It, which bristles with excitement over a new discovery. --Robert Horton Amazon.com essential video

Frances, fact or fiction, is worth watching

Frances Farmer was a complex woman well ahead of her time. She battled nearly every obstacle in life, especially her self. But her sensationalized life has lead to more sensation and little substance. Jessica Lange is marvelous as Frances Farmer, but expect little else from this film. Her performance merits a watch, but please realize most of the scenes are fiction dreamed up by a writer or director.

This film is a sensationalization of a fictionalized book written about her life. Scenes that explain her and her breakdown were cut to fulfill the scripts romantic relationship, which is fictional (check out [...] for more info on the movie). Claims of her lobotomy cannot be substantiated. Her friends want to make her story known, so they have knowingly sensationalized portions of her life for "salablity" in their books. While her family was/is desperate to make themselves less culpable for most of her midlife misery, so they have also altered some aspects of Frances's life. Her story is sad enough without all the added Hollywood frills and horrors. The betrayal of her family and herself are themes that any movie could explore for hours without scratching the surface.

Fact is definitely better than any of this fiction. Read the books to attempt a well rounded approach. The redeeming aspect of the movie--and it is worth watching for her--is Jessica Lange.

I recommend it; but if you mind all the fabrications, it may be difficult to see often. June 17, 2008

"Frances" is an amazing film about a tragic Hollywood story

Most people have never heard of Frances Farmer. There are a few people that know her story and occasionally refer to her (such as Nirvana did in one of their songs) and spark our interest in finding out more about her. Finding information is a challenge because there are not a lot of books about Farmer and all of them are out of print. The movie "Frances" gives us a chance to learn a little about her.

"Frances" is an amazing adaptation of the life of Frances Farmer (with Jessica Lange staring as Farmer). Lange's performance is amazing as she looks remarkably like Frances Farmer and her acting is so convincing that I think watching the real Farmer could only top it.

Frances may have always been on the rebellious side and this, along with a controlling and suppressive mother, got her into a lot of trouble. Frances ends up being an actress in Hollywood but despises Hollywood. Eventually, her attitude and acting out brings the wrath of those who control the film industry and lands her in a psych ward. In the next few years she is in and out of several mental institutions.

The movie tastefully shows us the "treatments" and abuses that were rampant in the bedlams of the day (a much more detailed account is in her autobiography). These "treatments" include hydrotherapy (pouring cold water on the patient), insulin shock therapy and forced drugging. One scene shows Farmer receiving a lobotomy, which critics' claim did not happen. The abuses included being treated like an animal in filthy, overcrowded conditions and the orderlies acting as pimps and allowing others from the outside world to rape the patients (including Farmer).

"Frances" is an amazing film about a tragic Hollywood story. Even if the movie is based on her life (and not a 100% accurate documentary), the events are remarkable. Even if half of the events are accurate, they are not ones you would want anyone you like to experience. I highly recommend this movie because the story is interesting and reveals the sinister side of involuntary commitment. I have to give the director a lot of credit for tastefully presenting the grotesque parts of her life. Frances Farmer's story is one of the most tragic I can think of and it is one that everyone should be aware of.
October 27, 2007

Frances

A tour de Force from Jessica Lange in its early days and possibly an outstanding performance of a great actress September 24, 2007

Jessica Langes best performance

Frances Farmer was ahead of her time. They didnt know what to do with her and she didnt help herself at times. Jessica Lange gives her best performance in Frances. Sam Sheperd and Kim Stanley do great. Frances is a great film, it has all the qualites. June 27, 2007

A brilliant film

A brilliant film -- but troubling, very troubling. Jessica Lange gives one of greatest performances of any american actress ever. Kim Stanley also gives one of the greatest character performances ever. These two are unforgettable.

The facts of Francis Farmer's life are not entirely accurate in the film ... but Jessica Lange captures her spirit. She traverses an emotional range which few actresses are capable. She moved what could have been a mundane biographical story into the realm of art.

This is a film which should move you and has some very important things to say about the human spirit ... June 5, 2007

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