Frances

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Michael A @Kinich61 Aug 5 Great screenplay, directing, and acting. Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard are terrific as always! See more Rex W @RT28578097 May 28 Frances Farmer is such a dramatic role that I'm not sure whether Jessica Lange's performance is truly exceptional or if the role itself is so compelling that any talented actress would shine in it. Regardless, Jessica Lange is the only thing in "Frances" worth watching. See more Dean S @RT92681590 May 19 It seems like there was no strangulation scene ending the results of an intervention as with Nicolson or a Kill Bill judgement but that would be fictional. So the story lacks an outcome that would resonate with the viewer and a tragedy goes unpunished. C’est la vie! And the lobotomizer mobile goes on! I guess you would have to see the talk show to fully understand the rest of the story! Happy happy joy joy viewing! It makes me want to see the movie with Mr. Bing where there might be some memorable song and dance routines! So much for the fabulous fifties! Jessica was great! I would like to have seen a little more vitriol as a provocative inducer of appropriate rage to remember! See more Sharon I @Puddles426 Apr 16 This is the movie that I realized what an incredible actress Jessica Lange is and she’s been amazing ever since. Loved this movie! See more 152 windows into your sou l @movieman152 Nov 3 After watching the first few minutes of a dozen or so unknown titles in search of an interesting movie, I stumbled on ‘Frances’ – a somewhat obscure 1980’s film portraying the real life story of Frances Farmer – a Hollywood actress primarily of the 1930’s. I’ll admit I knew nothing about Frances Farmer – her movies or her rise to stardom and this movie revealed her truly disturbing life’s story. While the claim of accuracy of this film is in dispute, the overarching message of her story remains unchallenged. Frances, brilliantly portrayed by Jessica Lange, is a troubled yet intelligent, and imaginative young woman longing for her parents’ love and acceptance. Her unconventional views on life emerge early in her teenage years, suggesting Frances has pondered questions normally reserved only for adults. Frances often found herself at odds with her sweet and innocent inner thoughts and her rebellious nature. She frequently challenged authority, but at Paramount Pictures and MGM studios, she lost her battle of independence to the Hollywood elites. Frances’ father (Bart Burns), while facing struggles of inadequacy in his own professional life, was surprisingly understanding and supportive of his daughter’s independent thinking. In contrast, her mother (Kim Stanley) who has also faced her own disappointments in life, viewing conformity to socially accepted norms an uncompromising requirement in life, resulted in her condemning her daughter’s thoughts as misguided. In her effort to rein Frances in, she discovered she had the ability to control Frances – creating a love/hate relationship that only intensified over the course of their lives. Frances’ life in a downward spiral, fueled by alcohol, severe depression, and mental illness, was accelerated by her mother’s control and her conscious decision to commit Frances to a psychiatric hospital, once again falling victim to authority subjecting her to unconscionable shock therapy ‘treatment’. This is obviously a ‘dark’ film with many instances of Frances’ stormy personality and self inflicted pain. After thoroughly exploring her real life story – I couldn’t help but to feel a real sense of compassion, even a love, for Frances Farmer. In the end she found comfort and solitude in her belief in God. May she finally Rest in Peace…… See more Alain E @AlainE 01/14/2025 An interesting presentation of the unfortunate Frances Farmer whose promising career in acting was cut short due to psychiatric disease. Her behavior in the film would not justify prolonged hospitalization. We now know that the claim that she was lobotomized is incorrect. These patients were subsequently very limited, while Ms Farmer continued living independently until her early death from cancer. Ms Lange’s performance is the main reason to see the movie. See more Read all reviews

Frances

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