Frances Movie Review 1982

The tragic story of Frances Farmer, the beautiful and talented screen actress of the '30s and early '40s, who was driven to a mental breakdown by bad luck, drug and alcohol abuse, a neurotic, domineering mother, despicable mental health care, and her own stubbornness. After being in and out of mental hospitals, she is finally reduced to a shadow by a lobotomy. Not nearly as bleak as it sounds, this film works because Lange understands this character from the inside out, and never lets her become melodramatic or weak.

Distribution

Lions Gate Entertainment, 2700 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404, Phone: (310)449-9200, Fax: (310)255-3870, URL: http://www.lgf.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 134 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

True Stories, Biopics: Showbiz, Sanity Check, Price of Fame, On the Rocks, Showbiz Dramas

Screenplay

Christopher DeVore, Nicholas Kazan, Eric Bergren

Cast

Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley, Sam Shepard, Jeffrey DeMunn, Gerald S. O'Loughlin, Chris Pennock, John Randolph, Lane Smith

Cinematography

Laszlo Kovacs

Director

Graeme Clifford

Music

John Barry

Producer

Mark Huffam