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Frances is a 1982 drama film directed by Graeme Clifford and starring Jessica Lange, Jonathan Banks, and Bonnie Bartlett. The film is a biopic about Frances Farmer, an actress from the 1930s who was known for her rebellious spirit and outspokenness. The movie begins with Frances being discovered by a talent scout from Hollywood while performing in a school play. She moves to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting, but quickly finds the industry to be shallow and superficial. Despite this, Frances becomes a successful actress and begins to attract the attention of the media.

As her fame grows, Frances becomes more and more disillusioned with Hollywood and the studio system. She begins to drink heavily and clash with movie executives, leading to multiple arrests and stints in psychiatric hospitals. The movie explores Frances' struggles with mental illness, her relationships with her family and lovers, and her ultimately tragic life story.

Jessica Lange delivers an outstanding performance as Frances, capturing both her fiery spirit and her vulnerability. She portrays Frances' descent into madness with sensitivity and nuance, making the character both sympathetic and tragically flawed. Jonathan Banks and Bonnie Bartlett also give strong performances as Frances' husband and mother, respectively, both of whom struggle to understand her mental illness.

One of the strengths of Frances is its portrayal of mental illness. The movie depicts Frances' struggles with bipolar disorder in a nuanced and empathetic way, showing the impact that her illness has on those around her. The film also raises important questions about the treatment of mental illness in the 1930s and the role of psychiatry in society.

Another strength of the film is its period detail. The movie recreates the glamour and excess of 1930s Hollywood with great care, from the lavish sets and costumes to the vintage cars and furniture. The film also features a fantastic soundtrack of period-appropriate music, including songs by Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington.

Overall, Frances is a compelling and moving biopic that sheds light on an important figure in Hollywood history. Jessica Lange's performance is a standout, and the film's sensitive portrayal of mental illness and attention to period detail make it a must-see for fans of both classic Hollywood and character-driven drama.

Frances is a 1982 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 48.