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MONEY
Did you know
Earned back only 63% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Frances
"Her story is shocking, disturbing, compelling... and true."
1982 2h 20m EN
👍
6.9
SOLID
★6.9TMDB · 129
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
The true story of Frances Farmer's meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood and the tragic turn her life took when she was blacklisted.
“Her story is shocking, disturbing, compelling... and true.”
Cast
Jessica Lange
Frances Farmer
Sam Shepard
Harry York
Kim Stanley
Lillian Farmer
Bart Burns
Ernest Farmer
Christopher Pennock
Dick Steele
James Karen
Juge Hillier
Gerald S. O'Loughlin
Médecin spécialiste de la lobotomie
Sarah Cunningham
Alma Styles
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Graeme Clifford
- Writers
- Nicholas Kazan, Christopher De Vore, Eric Bergren
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United Kingdom, United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
44 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Graeme Clifford, shot by László Kovács. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by John Barry. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor John Wright shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard and Kim Stanley carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Her story is shocking, disturbing, compelling... and true.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Graeme Clifford directs. László Kovács behind the camera. John Barry scores. John Wright cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Earned back only 63% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
- 244 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
- 4Directed by Graeme Clifford, shot by László Kovács. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by John Barry. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor John Wright shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard and Kim Stanley carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "Her story is shocking, disturbing, compelling... and true.".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0083967 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 20 themes, including "strong woman", "falsely accused", "insanity", "movie business".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- László Kovács
- Original score
- John Barry
- Editing
- John Wright
- Production design
- Richard Sylbert
- Costume design
- Patricia Norris
- Makeup / hair
- Robert L. Stevenson
- Sound
- Robert J. Litt
- Stunt coordinator
- Jerry Wills
- Runtime
- 140 min · 2h 20m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $8,000,000
- Box office
- $5,000,000
- Return
- 63% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- IMDB
- Frances (1982)
Also by
Graeme Clifford
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- BR
Brooksfilms
US
EMI Films
GB
Key crew
- EditorJohn Wright
- Costume DesignPatricia Norris
- ProducerJonathan Sanger
- HairstylistRobert L. Stevenson
- Co-ProducerMarie Yates
- CastingJane Jenkins
- Hair DesignerToni-Ann Walker
- Unit Production ManagerCharles Mulvehill
- Makeup DesignerDorothy J. Pearl
- CastingJanet Hirshenson
- Makeup ArtistNadia
- CastingElisabeth Leustig
- Associate ProducerCharles Mulvehill
- CastingNancy Foy
- Makeup ArtistMelanie Levitt
- ConductorJohn Barry
- Second Assistant DirectorMichael Green
- Stunt CoordinatorJerry Wills
- Script SupervisorWendy Sterne Brown
- First Assistant DirectorEd Milkovich
- Assistant Property MasterMatt Springman
- Camera OperatorRobert M. Stevens
- Assistant Property MasterArthur Shippee
- Assistant CameraJoseph E. Thibo
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- strong woman
- falsely accused
- insanity
- movie business
- feminism
- biography
- based on true story
- evil mother
- psychiatric hospital
- female protagonist
- hollywood
- wrongful imprisonment
- lost love
- wrongful arrest
- wrongful conviction
- wrong diagnosis
- lobotomy
- frances farmer
- power abuse
- mother daughter relationship
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical (limited)1982-12-03R
Also known as
International titles
- Het Ware VerhaalNL
