Rating: 
Summary: Incredible performances--but not Frances' real story
Review: There are two reasons to watch "Frances", and two reasons only--Jessica Lange and Kim Stanley. Their performances are visceral and will stay with the viewer long after the film ends. The film itself, unfortunately, is a gross misrepresentation of what really happened to Frances Farmer. The film invents characters out of whole-cloth (Harry York never existed), and sensationalizes the sadder elements of Farmer's life in a fittingly ironic slap at her memory, considering what she thought of Hollywood in real life. Frances was never lobotomized, and though her relationship with her mother had its share of drama, it was nothing like what is portrayed in the film. In the most recent DVD release, director Graeme Clifford states on the commentary "We didn't want to nickel and dime people to death with facts," and that is surely the understatement of the century. There is an in-depth web essay pointing out the many misrepresentations in the source material for this film which can be found by Googling "Shedding Light on Shadowland."
Rating: 
Summary: Jessica Lange gives a harrowing performance
Review: This 1982 biographical film about the life of tragic 30's movie star Frances Farmer showcases brilliant Oscar nominated performances by Jessica Lange and Kim Stanley. It details Farmer's rise to stardom and her destruction by the one person on earth who is supposed to love and nurture, her mother. Uneven script is overshadowed by truly great acting.
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Summary: The troubled life of Frances Farmer. Bravo to Jessica Lange
Review: 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.
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Summary: TIMING .........
Review: 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 ......]
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Summary: FRANCES FARMER! doomed, tragic... but
Review: you feel compassion for her the way Jessica Lange portrayes her. It`s a DYNAMIC performance - thank u Miss Lange - and though the film is breathtakingly good it isn`t always on par with the truth. Still it`s head over heals next to the TV-movie "Will There Really be a Morning" 1982(based on Farmer`s autobiography) and disasterously portrayed by Susan Blakely.
When u see Frances Farmer in the overpraised COME AND GET IT(1936) you`ll see that Jessica and Frances had astononshing physical resemblance. Another film with Frances you better check out, is the Technicolor EBB TIDE(1937)with Oscar Homolka and Ray Milland
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