Directed by:
Graeme CliffordCinematography:
László KovácsComposer:
John BarryCast:
Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley, Sam Shepard, Bart Burns, Christopher Pennock, Jonathan Banks, Rod Colbin, Jeffrey DeMunn, John Randolph, Lane Smith, M.C. Gainey (more)Plots(1)
Despite having a controlling mother and constant disapproval from her father, a 16-year-old girl is swept off her feet into the glory of Hollywood. But with her strong political opinions, a flamboyant love-life and then imprisonment, she falls further into the depths of misfortune. (Via Vision Entertainment)
Reviews (2)
I admit that I've never heard of the classic Hollywood actress Frances Farmer. But American Horror Story made me understand the phenomenon of Jessica Lange's acting orgies. So why not combine the pleasant with the useful? What was going on at Paramount in its day is worthy of note.
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Given its high rating on FilmBooster, I was properly tuned in and maybe that's why the result was quite disappointing for me. It's not necessarily a bad movie, but if I compare it to the thematically similar film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Forman's film overwhelmingly triumphs. While One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a timeless film that can still be revisited, Frances is good for a one-time watch. The screenplay is far more shallow and the only thing that lifts the film is Jessica Lange's presence in the leading role. I have known for a long time that she's an excellent actress, at least since I watched A Streetcar Named Desire, and here she got an opportunity that she fully took advantage of. Granted, I didn't believe in her as a sixteen-year-old girl - after all, not even makeup artists can perform miracles. Where One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest managed to depict society's intolerance, repression, and manipulation through the example of the destruction of one nonconformist individual, Frances slips into the box of family drama and portrays the conflict between a daughter and a dominant mother. Overall impression: 60%.
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