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Frances
1982 140 min United States of America R 16+
★7.3
Drama
Director: Graeme Clifford
Trailers
Description
The true story of Frances Farmer's meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood and the tragic turn her life took when she was blacklisted.
Budget:
$8M
US Gross:
$5M
Worldwide:
$5M
Starring
Jessica Lange
Actor
Jonathan Banks
Actor
Bonnie Bartlett
Actor
Awards
Moscow International Film Festival 1983
— Best Actress
Golden Globe 1983
— Best Actress (Drama)
Moscow International Film Festival 1983
— Golden Prize
Academy Awards 1983
— Best Actress
Academy Awards 1983
— Best Supporting Actress
Golden Globe 1983
— Best Supporting Actress
Key opinion
Frances is widely recognized as a powerful, emotionally grueling biopic that highlights the tragic downfall of actress Frances Farmer at the hands of a ruthless Hollywood studio system and a manipulative mother. While it is celebrated for its intense and committed central performances, the film is frequently criticized for its historical inaccuracies and reliance on sensationalized, potentially fictionalized accounts of Farmer's life.
| Acting | Jessica Lange delivers a vivid, Oscar-worthy performance that provides a believable and complex portrait of Farmer's descent. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as a searing indictment of the Hollywood 'dream factory' and its role in exploiting and destroying non-conformist talent. | |
| Acting | The mother-daughter dynamic serves as a masterful core to the drama, bolstered by high-caliber performances from both leads. | |
| Adaptation | Opinions on factual integrity are divided; some view it as the most faithful screen adaptation available, while others highlight how it incorporates controversial or fictionalized elements like the lobotomy scene and the character of Harry York. |