Frances (1982)

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7.2	Rating (60 ratings)
7.2	IMDB rating

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Directed by

Graeme Clifford

Starring (View all)

Jonathan Banks
Hitchhiker

Bonnie Bartlett
Studio Stylist

Bart Burns
Ernest Farmer

Jane Jenkins
Lady at Roosevelt Hotel

Jordan Charney
Harold Clurman

Sarah Cunningham
Alma Styles

Lee de Broux
'Flowing Gold' Director

Jeffrey DeMunn
Clifford Odets

Written by (View all)

Eric Bergren

Christopher De Vore

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Frances

14 years, 1 month ago at Mar 10 7:09

JxSxPx

I read a review of Frances that said it was a pedestrian movie that was only saved by Jessica Lange’s performance. I disagree. This is a biographical film that doesn’t try to play off the main character as a perfect hero, a saint or a slightly damaged hero. Frances has no moral to teach, and it offers no easy answers about her life and personality. That is not a pedestrian film, that is a brav... read more

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Description: As played by Jessica Lange, Frances Farmer is a rebel from the word go, winning a high school essay award by writing a piece in defense of Communism. Determining to become an actress, Frances is equally determined not to play the Hollywood game: she refuses to acquiesce to idiotic publicity stunts, and insists upon appearing on screen sans makeup. Her defiance attracts the attention of Broadway playwright Clifford Odets, who convinces Frances that her future rests with the Group Theatre. But once she leaves Hollywood for New York, Frances learns to her chagrin that the Group intends to exploit her movie fame in order to draw in As played by Jessica Lange, Frances Farmer is a rebel from the word go, winning a high school essay award by writing a piece in defense of Communism. Determining to become an actress, Frances is equally determined not to play the Hollywood game: she refuses to acquiesce to idiotic publicity stunts, and insists upon appearing on screen sans makeup. Her defiance attracts the attention of Broadway playwright Clifford Odets, who convinces Frances that her future rests with the Group Theatre. But once she leaves Hollywood for New York, Frances learns to her chagrin that the Group intends to exploit her movie fame in order to draw in customers. Her desperate attempts to restart her movie career, combined with her increasing dependence on alcohol and the pressures brought to bear by her monster mother (Kim Stanley), result in a complete mental breakdown. Even while institutionalized, Frances is abused by the powers-that-be; she is forced to undergo an injurious brain operation, is treated like a mad animal, and periodically raped by the inmates. Frances is released in the custody of her mother, who persists in browbeating her tortured daughter until Frances discovers the legal means to break away. The real-life Frances spent her last years as host of a local Indianapolis TV program, dying in 1970 at age 57; the film comes to a climax when Frances is feted on the smarmy network program This is Your Life. Other actual personages depicted herein include Clifford Odets (played by Jeffrey DeMunn), Harold Clurman (Jordan Charney) and Ralph Edwards (Donald Craig). Frances' first husband Leif Erickson is fictionalized as "Jeffrey York", and played by Lange's real-life inamorata Sam Shepard. And if you listen closely, you'll hear the voice of Kevin Costner, whose minor role was whittled down to one line when he, like Frances Farmer, had the temerity to argue with the director. The unhappy life of actress Frances Farmer was also covered in Farmer's autobiography, Will There Ever Be a Morning? While the film rights for that book were sold to a TV-movie concern, the producers of the theatrical feature Frances were able to ship their production out to the public first. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide ... (more)

Release date: 11 March 1983
UPC: 017153111897

Tags: Biography (7), Asylum (5), Drama (4), Rape (4), Mental Illness (4), Lobotomy (4), Religion (3), Based On A True Story (3), Atheist (3), Hollywood (2), 1980s (2), 1982 (2), Biopic (2), Drinking (2), 1930s (2), 1940s (2), Disturbing (2), Movie About A Movie Star (2), Rebellious (2), (2)

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Pop Culture Phenomenon Films: 80’s (1473 movies items)

" Frances is a 1982 American biographical drama film directed by Graeme Clifford from a screenplay written by Eric Bergren, Christopher De Vore, and Nicholas Kazan. The film stars Jessica Lange as Frances Farmer, a troubled actress during the 1930s whose career suffered as a result of her mental illness. It also features Kim Stanley, Sam Shepard, Bart Burns, Christopher Pennock, Jonathan Banks, and Jeffrey DeMunn in supporting roles. The film chronicles Farmer's life from her days as a high s"

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" Director: Graeme Clifford Starring: Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley, Sam Shepard, Bart Burns, Jonathan Banks and Jeffrey DeMunn Biopic exploring the true story of Frances Farmer, a mold-breaking actress from Seattle who moved to Hollywood and gained notoriety for her unconventional attitude. After being lured to New York under false pretenses, dealing with her overbearing mother and an addiction to alcohol lead to a mental collapse. Institutionalized, Farmer is abused by patients and staff alike. "

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