Frances
|
Our Price: $17.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.00 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Frances
Movie Review: "Frances" is an amazing film about a tragic Hollywood story
Summary: 5 Stars
Most people have never heard of Frances Farmer. There are a few people that know her story and occasionally refer to her (such as Nirvana did in one of their songs) and spark our interest in finding out more about her. Finding information is a challenge because there are not a lot of books about Farmer and all of them are out of print. The movie "Frances" gives us a chance to learn a little about her.
"Frances" is an amazing adaptation of the life of Frances Farmer (with Jessica Lange staring as Farmer). Lange's performance is amazing as she looks remarkably like Frances Farmer and her acting is so convincing that I think watching the real Farmer could only top it.
Frances may have always been on the rebellious side and this, along with a controlling and suppressive mother, got her into a lot of trouble. Frances ends up being an actress in Hollywood but despises Hollywood. Eventually, her attitude and acting out brings the wrath of those who control the film industry and lands her in a psych ward. In the next few years she is in and out of several mental institutions.
The movie tastefully shows us the "treatments" and abuses that were rampant in the bedlams of the day (a much more detailed account is in her autobiography). These "treatments" include hydrotherapy (pouring cold water on the patient), insulin shock therapy and forced drugging. One scene shows Farmer receiving a lobotomy, which critics' claim did not happen. The abuses included being treated like an animal in filthy, overcrowded conditions and the orderlies acting as pimps and allowing others from the outside world to rape the patients (including Farmer).
"Frances" is an amazing film about a tragic Hollywood story. Even if the movie is based on her life (and not a 100% accurate documentary), the events are remarkable. Even if half of the events are accurate, they are not ones you would want anyone you like to experience. I highly recommend this movie because the story is interesting and reveals the sinister side of involuntary commitment. I have to give the director a lot of credit for tastefully presenting the grotesque parts of her life. Frances Farmer's story is one of the most tragic I can think of and it is one that everyone should be aware of.
Movie Review: Offscreen Drama
Summary: 5 Stars
Frances Farmer was a 1930s actress who starred in movies such as "Come and Get It". But she was known more for what happened in her real life than her movies. A native of Seattle, Frances was a non-comformist. She was outspoken, independent, politically active, and unlike the many celebrities of her time--and even ours--pursued acting for the sake of acting. She didn't pursue it for the money, the fame, or the recognition. She did it because she loved it; it was what she wanted to do. And she wanted to be free to choose her own roles. She was very much her own person, the Susan Sarandon and Jane Fonda of her time.
However, she was doing all of this in the 30s, a time when being a rebel in Hollywood was frowned upon. In fact, it was downright discouraged. The studio executives didn't take too kindly to this, and they made sure Frances paid for it. Oh, boy, did she ever pay. Hollywood may not have directly contributed to her downfall, but they surely played their part. Coupled with the troubles in her own life (such as her drinking and brushes with the law), not to mention a very troubled relationship with her mom (a controlling, exploitative woman who seemed to live vicariously through her daughter without caring what she was doing to her), Frances spent the better part of her adult life in various mental institutions where patients were mistreated and sexually exploited (men would be snuck in after hours to have sex with them). She was eventually given a transorbital lobotomy, robbing her of all the traits that made her who she once was. Some have said that she never really got one and others have said that she did. We'll never know.
Frances Farmer wasn't really crazy. Sure, she was no angel, but she absolutely wasn't crazy. She was a strong, independent woman who just wanted to be true to herself. After all was said and done, she was killed, not physically, but emotionally and mentally.
Movie Review: The troubled life of Frances Farmer. Bravo to Jessica Lange
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the story of Frances Farmer told from age 16 to 44. She became an actress but had such a troubled life and a troubled mind. Perhaps it began with her mother's insistance, or an undercover reporter, and the loss of her job from a touring play company. But what ever it was that was the constant pecking, it finally made her snap. You know the phrase, "the last straw that broke the camel's back". She ended up unwillingly in a mental institution. But still that's not all to this story. This film is raw, mature, shocking and brilliantly and masterfully dramatized by Jessica Lange who plays Frances Farmer. This film, at times, is disturbing to watch. But it was real and it did happen. I think, in my opinion, Frances Farmer's problem was not Hollywood, but her mother and being in the institution three times made Frances 200% worse. Some people can be so cruel towards another human. And never back off or make a block and totally destory the destiny of that one's life. What could have been is shattered because of that one evil person. The natural timeline has been cut. Farmer's last film was Son Of Fury (1942) until 1958. Frances Farmer had a labotomy and after a 16-year absence, returned in 1958 to do one more film, The Party Crashers (1958) which would be her last film. This DVD version has a chapter selection. No extras, no bonuses.Movie Review: OCCUPATION? 5 Stars
It's THAT line that sums up the entire Hollywood experience!If you don't know what it is - that's Miss Farmer's reply in court to the Judge. Understandably, she's had quite enough!
ONE weeps for the movies she did not make, but our girl was way, way ahead of her time. No one would have batted an eye in today's world - even in the late sixties ....... BUT all of this aside - this is JESSICA LANGE'S BEST, best performance - she IS Frances Farmer. Especially towards the end - when she is doing 'that' interview, so difficult to tell the recreation apart from the original, and what a lady, lobotomy or not, the control is amazing! It's question after question about her past, and the questions are not too delicately put, but she smiles that soft little seductive smile, the cool modulated voice replies, and the Lady rises above it all, of course she is given the Edsel .......
KIM STANLEY? Another awesome artist as 'mother Farmer', positively makes Joan Crawford [if we believe the rumors] a Saint!
To say more would be to betray the story - but it should be mandatory viewing to anyone who wants 'fame'; or is thrust into Our Town. The movie also says quite a lot about the 'using game' and Boy, was she used!
Good sister to this? Kim Stanley in the earlier and rarely seen "GODDESS"
Movie Review: TIMING .........
Summary: 5 Stars
Yep! It's all about timing! This LADY and we do mean great Lady was way ahead of her time [as we now know]- interesting 30 minute featurette attached to the show - especially the comparisons between Miss Farmer and the contemporaries - Jane Fonda, Angelina Jolie and the odd mirror reflection of the other Great Lady ~ Kim Stanley as Mama Farmer {ala 'Mama Rose from Hell'} who makes Joan Crawford [if we believe Christina ....] into Saint Joan by comparison. [Miss Stanley's earlier "Goddess" {the unathorized Monroe biopic.} makes a great companion-piece to this vehicle]JESSICA LANGE? Now there's another beauty and remarkable talent - not only physically Frances, but totally immersed in her soul. Class, dignity and brains in this lass!
Great that this feature is finally on DVD - and the print is not too bad, sound is OK.
A fine 'document' about Hollywood then and even now - but it's the chilling ending after THAT TV ["This Is Your Life"] that will stay with the viewer for quite, quite a long time .......
[ALSO a 'stellar' document about the treatment of 'the mentally disturbed?' during the 40ties - especially about the staffing / management of these Institutions - - makes "Snake Pit" and "Cuckoo's Nest" look like Neverland ......]