Frances
is a 1982 Universal drama film starring Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley, Sam Shepard. When it was released this film was advertised as a purportedly true account of actress Frances Farmer's life but the script was largely fictional and sensationalized. The film's tagline is: "Her story is shocking, disturbing, compelling... and true.
"
Directed by Graeme Clifford, the story was written for the screen by Eric Bergren, Christopher De Vore and Nicholas Kazan (son of Elia Kazan, who worked with the real Frances Farmer in several plays), based upon William Arnold's Shadowland
, a fictional biography of Farmer. In pre-production, the producers reneged on their option to use the book as source material. Arnold filed an unsuccessful copyright infringement lawsuit but many of his fictional elements were incorporated into the final film. On the commentary of the latest DVD release, director Clifford stated, "We didn't want to nickel and dime people to death with facts." Mel Brooks was executive producer of the film, but received no credit for his participation.
Frances
was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jessica Lange) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kim Stanley). The original music score was composed by John Barry.
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FRANCES TICKETS
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Plot summary
The movie ostensibly tells the life story of actress
Frances Farmer, but major plot elements shown, most notably the dramatic
lobotomy scene, never happened. The title role is played by Lange, and her mother is played by Stanley. Shepard played fictional character Harry York, who was developed by the writers after the falling out with Arnold forced dramatic changes in the script.
Born in
Seattle, Washington, Frances Elena Farmer is a rebel from the word go, winning a high school essay award by writing about God's death. Later that decade, she becomes controversial again when she wins (and accepts) an all-expenses-paid trip to the
USSR. 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 without 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 City, Frances learns to her chagrin that the Group Theatre 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, result in a complete mental breakdown. Even while institutionalized, Frances is abused by the powers-that-be; she is forced to undergo a brain operation, is treated like a mad animal, and periodically raped by the male orderlies and visiting soldiers.
Frances is released in the custody of her mother in 1950, who persists in browbeating her tortured daughter until Frances discovers the legal means to break away. The film comes to a climax when Frances is feted by the smarmy network program
This Is Your Life
; she spent
1958 to
1964 as host of a local TV program (
Frances Farmer Presents) in
Indianapolis, Indiana, dying of esophageal cancer on August 1,
1970 at age 56.
Main cast
Actor
| Role
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Jessica Lange
| Frances Farmer
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Kim Stanley
| Lillian Farmer
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Sam Shepard
| Harry York
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