Frances Farmer - In Her Own Words

Apologies for the re-upload.Problems with audio and graphic exports caused me to fine-tune as I felt it was important considering the subject matter.
When 'Frances' came out in 1982, I remember seeing it three days in a row (and having to bribe the older people in line to buy my ticket since I was only 14). Jessica Lange instantly became my favorite actress (and still is), and I was heartbroken by the tragic life of Frances Farmer. Some of her actions were the result of her downfall in Hollywood at the time, but her mother also was responsible for the cataclysmic events in her life.
I was shocked to recently learn that many of the events that were represented in the film were sensationalized and never took place. It is widely believed that Frances had a lobotomy, yet this was something author William Arnold invented in his biography of Farmer called 'Shadowland".
Therefore, I decided to create my own biography of Farmer, taken from her own words when she appeared on "This Is Your Life" in 1958.
Music in this video:
Composer: John Barry
Soundtracks: 'Frances', 'Indecent Proposal', 'Somewhere in Time'
Artist: Lorde
Song: Liability
Writers: Yelich O, Antonoff J
Licensed to KZbin by UMG (on behalf of Universal Music New Zealand Limited); LatinAutor - SonyATV, LatinAutor, LatinAutorPerf, UMPI, Sony ATV Publishing, SOLAR Music Rights Management, CMRRA, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, AMRA, ASCAP, Kobalt Music Publishing, and 14 Music Rights Societies

[@lampshade8818]

I read her autobiography 'Will There Really Be A Morning?', i think it was titled about 25 years ago. It really was the unforgettable read. I am off work tomorrow- and i'm going to spend the day as a tribute to her by watching her on youtube. Thank you, Eric for popping up by chance on here with this vid. You reminded me of Frances.

[@EricThigpen]

Thank you!

[@ellie.joy.cohencohen5097]

Frances would Have been happier if she had lived with her dad. Her Mom Lillian was a malcontents. She. Forced acting on Frances. She was antagonising Frances. Frances should have stayed in New York. I couldn't endure all of those treatments.. Ellie Joy Rosalie Arlene Cohen 28

[@paige3733]

Her "autobiography" is worth reading but only for the chapters Frances herself wrote - apparently about half - and its easy to tell which half. Having read her poetry, there's no doubt Frances was a talented writer but some of that book is just SO lurid and melodramatic. Frances's nephew (who seems like a very sweet man) alluded to the fact that two very different writers were responsible for that book. Tragically, she died before finishing the book - whereupon a so called friend named Jean Ratcliffe (who wanted to make it a marketable movie) took over the writing, added details that are disgusting and even pornographic (and believe me, I don't use those words lightly!) before ending Farmer's autobiography by dedicating it to herself. Somebody who knew Frances said she would not have approved of it at all. Nonetheless, it's worth reading just for the parts Frances wrote - which are very thoughtful and even quite humorous at times,

[@lampshade8818]

@@paige3733 I didn't know that. Thank you for the info.

[@lorindurand]

I read it too. I remember reading it in the 80s. The last time I checked it was out of print and going for over $600 on Amazon.

[@hodlmama6729]

I read her book years ago and cried for days. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down. Stayed up all night. Having visited a state psych hospital for my nurses training her story was horrific. I know things like that happened and it’s disgraceful. Amazing she survived it if even a small part of is true.

[@sarahgartner253]

How cruel.. she suffered so much and needed kindness not endless pressure to be who they wanted her to be

[@mrsgbee8246]

I wonder how big a star she would have become without the people pulling her down? 🤔

[@EricThigpen]

Well, the booze didn't help much. Apparently, she was as elegant as a queen when sober, but as soon as she hit the booze, she would start swearing like a truck driver. So talented, she really just needed the right help, not the oh-so-loving kind she got from that dear mother of hers. Thanks for watching it!

[@valeriecampbell9581]

She was stunning, Hollywood killed her

[@JarheadForGod]

Whith the help of her evil mother

[@judithscott3972]

hollywood murders the brightest and most beautiful. enslavement of the feminine.

[@arontamas5639]

I love the scene where she called out that lady for bullshittin'. The acting was so great.

[@kafkaseyebrows]

beautiful video, very well done. her story breaks my heart 💔

[@juliesiller2273]

Such a great actress and so beautiful. Jessica Lange did a brilliant job portraying Frances!

[@ellie.joy.cohencohen5097]

I am. Fascinated by Frances Elena Farmer. Why does she have a Spanish.m dle

[@ellie.joy.cohencohen5097]

Middle name of Elena. Which is Ellen. In Spanish. The movie. Said that she. Walked 20 miles to her Sister Edith s. House . How long did it take her to walk that distance?. What did those insulin shots feel like? What time of day did the L.A on Police barge into her room at the Kn rr

[@ellie.joy.cohencohen5097]

Knickerbocker. Hotel!? I'll bet that was scary.

[@paulalexandermanley6479]

It was a shame she didn't get the Oscar for best actress.

[@nickodemo1]

Not Really...

[@kasia9528]

Thank you for the beautiful, honest tribute to Frances, Eric. She was such a courageous person full of light, dreams, belief in herself.

[@eleanorclub]

She was so abused - no wonder she was in distress.

[@paige3733]

My g-grandad kept film star albums and I was amazed to discover that Frances was indeed a HUGE star but tragically, for only a very brief amount of time.

[@pena.3302]

To of survived..everything.she was put through.then to be immortality sung about @ Curt Cobain's Song (Nirvana)'F.F.will have her revenge.on Seattle'.a personal .fav..(+on Bob Dylan's themetime hour).,can't recall the theme . Points to the greats don't get forgotten.

[@soulcalibrator67]

Many Psychiatric Institutions remain abusive in their methods. Can't imagine what it was like then.

[@johnmurray6636]

Jessica was Frances...one of the best movies ever and Lange is the best as Frances could have been

[@EricThigpen]

AGREED!

[@josephharnett5075]

Another tragic Hollywood Story 😪 Shows how it can destroy someone's life I don't believe she was as bad as the image was portrayed of her 💔 R.I.P.

[@re9279]

She'll come back as fire To burn all the liars Leave a blanket of ash on the ground ~ Nirvana

[@Georgeanne17]

Intelligent, beautiful, wounded and a survivor, what a women of strength. Rest In Peace Frances Farmer.

[@chriswagaba5702]

You were and are still loved. Rest well ❤️

[@francheskavega7251]

Frances had a horrible mother

[@richardcorona3564]

this movie is heartbreaking. Poor Frances Farmer

[@2222isabella]

I believe that Frances Farmer was far too intelligent for the people around her running the business. Her tragedy was not only that she was ill. She was born too early, at a time when women had to play along with what men told them. She had her own mind, and she didn't hide it. Wrong time for her.

[@paulalexandermanley6479]

She wasn't ill.

[@dragondaughter1332]

Its still the wrong time for highly intelligent women. I almost feel like my soul is a reincarnation of this woman. I did grow up right across from where she was institutionalized. To say I feel her story is an extreme understatement!

[@martinmaxwell9952]

What a marvelous and affecting montage! I too was hooked on 'Frances' as a teenager and have watched it many, many times inc just recently.

[@garybridge-ku7bf]

This is a great upload, thanks for this. I saw the biopic only a few days ago ( Wow) jessica Lange did frances proud. As for frances I think she was an amazing person ,( a tortured soul, ) but a truly amazing person. R.I.P frances I'm now a big fan. ❤

[@wendallmohler8575]

ilove jessica as frances farmer

[@headoverheals4shane]

I love you frances

[@denisechauvin1965]

Tragic.

[@headoverheals4shane]

#freebritney

[@marie_84]

Oh hell yeah!!! Same story. 💎💎💎💎

[@reggiealexander5679]

Frances Farmer was a brilliant writer, an intuitive actress, and a sensitive soul. She suffered as a result of her youthful allegiance to the Communist Party, which typically cloaks itself in the false garb of egalitarian ideals while busily destroying freedom, faith, and honor along the way. She also suffered greatly at the hands of her incredibly selfish and somewhat deranged mother Lillian Farmer. A strange figure whose iron will stunted everyone unfortunate enough to be regularly subjected to her, Lillian was determined to live out her own Hollywood fantasies vicariously through her beautiful and talented daughter. And if these adversaries weren't enough to break the woman, the malicious Hollywood brass punished her mercilessly for her characteristic honesty and her unmitigated temerity in countering their authority. Apparently they destroyed her whole life in the process, but that's what often happens to the innocents who are "fortunate" enough to make a splash in that town. May God rest her now. We love you, Frances.

[@nancyhey1012]

I don’t think she was ever actually a member of the Communist Party. She just once took a trip to the Soviet Union, for which she was heavily criticized. I agree with you about her mother, though. According to the Jessica Lange documentary, her mother seemed to be very controlling.

[@michellerosiles8509]

Very common story in Hellyweird. Marilyn Monroe surely suffered. Thank God Brittany finally got free from her parents and so did Frances Farmer. Keep your children far away from Hellyweird.

[@JohnnyGNV]

This was beautifully edited and presented - I love the movie FRANCES and I have seen the biography of Frances Farmer several times and the This Is your Life show but there were lovely movie clips included here so I especially enjoyed seeing them intertwined - I would like to know your feelings on the TV movie that is largely forgotten entitled (I think, if I remember correctly) WILL THERE REALLY BE A MORNING starring Lee Grant with Susan Blakely. It is seldom, if ever, shown on TV or any movie channel that I'm aware of.....Did you feel it was an accurate depiction of Frances at all?

[@tdonovan19]

Thanks so much for your kind words, Johnny. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a copy of Will There Really Be A Morning (aside from a few clips on KZbin). Lange was spellbinding in her portrayal, yet I'll keep searching for a copy of this film.

[@offtozanzibar4814]

How sad

[@kathleendobens6648]

Wow. How can they treat patients like that? Methods back then we're barbaric. Thankfully today we have better meds but a hospital is a hospital. If you don't listen to doctor they can keep you longer. Been there I know. Frances really suffered a lot. Alchoholism drug abuse is a symptom many mentally ill people do to self medicate instead. See it a lot which makes it harder to treat the illness. Medication only works if you live a sober life. She sounds like a troubled as actress that could not thrive in the business being treated badly.

[@johnmurray6636]

I have always been drawn to Frances, even though it is far before my lifetime…women, rule the rule please as frances could have and Jessica Lange will always be one of the 10:32 greatest actresses of all time The real life television host should be fired for exploiting Frances

[@FreddyFen]

She'll have her revenge on Seattle

[@paulalexandermanley6479]

It wasn't Seattles fault.

[@FreddyFen]

@@paulalexandermanley6479 it was a Nirvana reference

[@jamesfox2579]

Poor, Frances Farmer.💔😢😢😢

[@nadinebentel2362]

It is probably JL at her finest and I cannot see her.

[@andrewwerner2061]

She was beautiful

[@83mosco]

So sad...

[@glennkelly5775]

Britney is the modern day Frances. Such similar life stories

[@bridgetlovedfrankgeddes8352]

Thankyou xxx beautiful lady FRANCES XX

[@Ultra-Luminary]

🎼"You're all gonna watch me disappear into the sun..."

[@JessicaForde-AyamHome]

thanks!

[@MoniqueDProulx]

She was an angel, a pure soul... unfortunately for her.

[@pammulholland8687]

She was an amazing, intelligent, talented, thoughtful, independent woman on a mysoginistic, MYSOGINISTIC, time where illegal activities rained with impunity.

[@user-ni2zo5zo3c]

All in all, deeply sad.

[@jezebeljones659]

It's amazing that she survived her horrible psychiatric experiences (whether lobotomized or not) with the ability to produce an unstinting work of autobiography like "Will There Really Be A Morning."

[@sherryllynn1809]

Jessica Lange moved psychiatry forward by making this film, and lending her beauty to the cause. The real Frances Farmer looks more facant and absent mentally than even the portrayal by the actress. Thank heavens psychiatry has moved away from lobotomies and ECT in the last 50 years, but unfortunately the same end is achievable through drugs and medicine. It's unfortunate that women with too much energy and emotion have traditionally been the ones to receive the established treatments.

[@gjh9299]

this movie os so hard to watch. She didnt want to be a movie star

[@susanb2015]

I've got to find the movie with John Garfield. Its called Flowing Gold but the whole movie is not on here.

[@corinnakohler8103]

🙏🏼❤️

[@user-qg8qg2sp7i]

I feel bad for Francis 😢

[@snowwilliams1]

No wonder Kurt Cobain admired her and wrote her a song…she seems like a female version of him

[@nadinebentel2362]

My dream is to find the movie starring Jessica Lange. I cannot find it on KZbin/Netflix or anywhere. If anyone can assist, I shall be immensly grateful.

[@EricThigpen]

You can stream it from Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu Y KZbin (kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqbUZ3mulNhnp5Y)

[@nadinebentel2362]

@@EricThigpen Hi Eric. I tried but no joy. Could be that I live in South Africa and are so behind everything?

[@ziggy2419]

You can't even get it on dvd...it was on picture this last night..not seen it for 40 years, still powerful.

[@nadinebentel2362]

@@ziggy2419 You are so lucky...if you ever see it again, can you please let me know and I will give you my email address

[@patriciablue2739]

That tv show was harsh

[@Bimfelix]

I don't think she had any mental illness nor she needed to be taken to psychiatric clinic and receive insulin treatments .

[@SOCIALint]

Byla velmi sympatická. Svůj žal žel léčila samoléčbou chybně alkoholem, nikotínem. Možná trpěla BPD, depresemi. Potřebovala rozhodně bio-psycho-socialní model pomoci, né toxickou drastickou psycholéčbu. Tehdy možná v USA neexistoval BPS model záchrany...

[@carriefaithdehls2403]

No. It was love not held to law.

[@pammulholland8687]

It so saddens me that Frances Farmer is being so abused during this television "interview." She sucommed to the terrible abuse. And this "interview" is disgusting.

[@MrMucciacito]

Bhé dottoressa Carozza ora che lei non mi segue più come psichiatra e che al servizio psichiatrico territoriale di Ferrara non è più la dirigente non mi considero più uno schizofrenico è mai possibile dottoressa Carozza che nemmeno lei visitandomi non mi ha diagnosticato la depressione da quando avevo 14 anni che mi ha anche cazziato una volta per il fatto che sono depresso e che mi auto commisero?

[@MrMucciacito]

Chissà la gente cosa pensa di me e di cosa ho fatto in passato

[@yinyang6313]

Tell poor Francis to release from human delusions. Her life is free and full of light so dear Frances release from human delusions and please go to the light !! The western mwdical world is full of delusion Forget symptoms Search for causes of human sickness and excess emotion look R For causes look at FOOD. AND DRUGS AND Mindless medication and symptomatic “cures” Find the causes !!!