Was Frances Farmer's Insanity a Misdiagnosis?

[@AgeOfVintage]

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[@arlynpage7491]

I remember seeing “Frances” with Jessica Lange giving her interpretation of her and it was a Heartbreakingly Beautiful performance- really Poignant. She should’ve won best actress for “Frances” but didn’t.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

I think she did win best supporting actress for “Tootsie” that same year, though, so there’s that.

[@scotnick59]

Lange even resembled Farmer which added greatly to her performance.

[@haintedhouse2990]

I loved Jessica Lange as Frances Farmer - thought the last half of the film was depressing as hell but never forgot the impression she made. she was up against Meryl Streep for Sophies Choice so we all know how that went

[@annabagwell7965]

​@@shimmeringfairydust3275yeah.

[@jerrylee8261]

She is a fascinating subject. I will watch a bio of her with renewed interest. She was not easy to control and Hollywood just wanted a beautiful face and a voice that would always say yes. It's disgusting what was done to her and with the cooperation of her own mother.

[@petertaylor3600]

More personal than just the studios, her mother wanted to control her and couldn't. Dreadful, vicious parent.

[@petertaylor3600]

The thing is, nobody had the right to 'control' a grown woman like that. Her mother was a nasty, controller who clearly considered she had a right to do so. Her resentful jealousy has been noted and in the film of her life, is clearly shown.

[@Catsandnature-1234]

@@petertaylor3600 you could even see how nasty and sick her mother was from her pictures. When her mother was much older you could even see that mother was the sick in the head .She has that face whom has Scizofreny

[@jennifer9322]

How awful what a terrible price to pay for being free spirited, highly intelligent, and wildly creative! The betrayals this poor woman endured, let alone the complicity of, what I suspect, a jealous, spiteful, and vindictive stage mother. Well at least she's free now.

[@petertaylor3600]

What happened to her was absolutely down to her mother who did dreadful things to try and crush her own daughter. I've personally seen such women in action before and Frances had a very special beauty which would have been galling.

[@annabellelee4535]

Francis Farmer was not "free spirited", she was a violent alcoholic. The choice was years in jail or years in an institution.

[@AuroraBoarder1]

​​@annabellelee4535 - she had no choice; she was forced into the asylum. Jail would have been better.

[@Her.Serene.Feline.Cuteness.]

Her mother was a malignant narcissist.

[@Catsandnature-1234]

yup. you are right. the way mother was talking to her reminded me my mother. her mother was sick evil jealous woman.

[@Bongwater33]

Mental illness was so scary in the old days - even as a young adult in the 80s I was afraid to be diagnosed with any mental illness for fear of being put into some sort of asylum like they always showed us on TV and Movies.

[@petertaylor3600]

You would be threatened with being locked in an asylum as a way to control you. But even in the 80s, they were realising that they couldn't confine anybody like that and asylums were closing down. Many people with other illnesses needed care taken, but not this. So it was her mother mostly to blame.

[@imsocuteimsorich4952]

Bongwater33, love the name unusual, I thought by the 1980s electric 💡💡💡⚡⚡⚡⚡😲😵 treatment s had stopped,⚡💡😵 shock 😲,shame on those poor people who's family put then into those places known what they were going through, technology then was more advanced than and understood but older people were still living in the old ages ,I seen a document about asylums I was horrified seen what I saw,watch tis about Frances the doctors knew what was wrong with her and still gave her shock treatments,shame on them,

[@jackjules7552]

Her mother had her put away as her mother was jealous of her.

[@reinadegrillos]

I did not know about this actress until I watched the Jessica Lange film. It's horrific. Thank you fot this informative video.

[@prudencepineapple9448]

The film unfortunately It's based on a book with many unsubstantiated 'facts'.

[@GeorgeHutchins]

Watch FLOWING GOLD, 1940 with John Garfield which is implied in the film FRANCIS

[@Catsandnature-1234]

read her book

[@sarataylor885]

Of course it was, her mother wanted her to be a perfect Hollywood actress, and when Frances couldn't, she punished her.

[@petertaylor3600]

Far more underhand that just wanting perfection. Her daughter had a right, as an adult to do and be what she wished by that age, whether mothers like it or not.

[@jackjules7552]

You got that right. But I think her mother had Frances put away in the nuthouse because her mother was jealous of Frances.

[@jeansmith1934]

"Frances," the film with Jessica Lange, came out in 1982, not 1992.

[@petertaylor3600]

Less a misdiagnosis than the result of a nasty and vicious mother, somewhat jealous of her child who wouldn't comply. The cruelty inflicted was something people have grieved over ever since. That was what the psychiatric wo0rld used to do as they used people to experiment on as they tried out their treatments of victims. You were considered mentally 'disadvantaged' in those barbaric days anybody who defied authority, especially females, were crushed like this, if mothers were able or wanted to.

[@petertaylor3600]

Another very similar, highly intelligent woman, was Katharine Hepburn but she was lucky to escape the treatment Frances received.

[@laurasmith7976]

@@petertaylor3600 , Katherine Hepburn was not an intelligent woman. She was a proud atheist, who told everyone there wasn't a God, when there was one, and she declared it to everyone and she found out the hard way after she died. Katherine Hepburn was so arrogant and defiant and she was self entitled. I had a death experience and God does not allow people like Katherine into Heaven. She denounced God her whole life. Francis Farmer believed in God, and she endured suffering and she's in Paradise now. That's the difference between these two women. Francis Farmer had wisdom, she had courage, she had bravery, she had the unfairness of life thrust at her, she had endurance, and she was smart enough to figure out that there was a God, and that there was evil in the world. Francis Farmer is an incredible human being.

[@petertaylor3600]

@@laurasmith7976 Laura, nobody knows what is in store until we get there. To not believe in something isn't being stupid, therefore, just voicing her opinion which she and anybody else has a right to do. Atheists aren't deficient in brains but, whatever their reason, feel the way they do. Frankly, I believe in a merciful and non judgmental God, not one who punishes. And that's my view. But, a good actor or actress, has to be very intelligent basically, to do what they do. Learning of lines and depicting moods, etc., takes a very sharp mind. It's true she was arrogant and that came across. Many of those people are, as we all are told. Maybe she wasn't a very likeable woman for many reasons, but I have always felt she was what could be called classy and intelligent and extremelky beautiful, to boot.

[@laurasmith7976]

@@petertaylor3600 , Your view is extremely wrong. Katherine Hepburn was one of the *stupidest* people I ever saw. To not believe in something such as the Almighty God, makes a person *very stupid.* I had an actual death experience, so I talked to God. It matters to God that a person is denouncing HIM their whole life and that they are proud of it. Even if you read your Bible it talks about Hell, it talks about atheists, it talks about God's wrath. Katherine Hepburn was stupid enough to spend her whole life to denounce God who created everything. Katherine Hepburn was so arrogant, just like Satan was before his fall, and she thought that she knew everything, and in the afterlife she experienced a great fall. God does not tolerate a disbeliever. There are so many people that suffer extremely horrible hardships in this life and they are the smart ones, they are the ones who have to endure suffering and they have to do something that God realizes how much they have to withstand and arrogant Katherine Hepburn memorizing lines and doing certain moods in stupid movies where she got glorified all the time and got the star treatment God can't stand. God hates idolization, arrogancy, and self entitlement. If you think that God puts up with everything, then you are wrong and you will find out.

[@jackjules7552]

Yes, her mother had her put away in the nuthouse out of spite.

[@missywink1504]

I saw an episode of 'This Is Your Life' featuring Frances Farmer. It was the only episode where the program brought on a guest with their consent. Normally, the person being featured was 'surprised' into appearing on the show, resulting in an exciting timeline of their history up to that point, including guests from their childhood. Ms. Farmer was asked to do this particular show, which addressed her past and it ended on a high note, along with a donation. It's the best episode ever saw!

[@1953childstar]

They gave her an Edsel automobile.. I was afraid that would send her into a mental tailspin...

[@missywink1504]

@@1953childstar Did they really? Oh, well, it was still an epic episode.

[@petertaylor3600]

I remember seeing that episode also, Possibly being rerun because of the interest in her case. She insisted on knowing who was appearing and why and who could blame her? But, I suspect many of them do that as well, because what if it was a disaster? Producers don't like a mess.

[@rachelraquel758]

I saw that too, she was extremely well spoken and elegant. It’s hard for me to believe she was lobotomized.

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@rachelraquel758 I don't believe she was lobotomized. she had a problem with alcohol for the last part of her life. she was eventually fired from her job as a host at an Indianapolis TV station for slurring her words. after going through the kind of life she had i can't blame her for wanting to numb the pain.

[@stephaniestanley8041]

She may have had a personality disorder, coupled with alcohol addiction. Her talent and beauty were destroyed.

[@imsocuteimsorich4952]

I never knew much about Frances farmer but that she had a few nervous breakdowns,in those days it was not understood as today,and you where sent straight to mental hospitals where electric shock treatments were done which must have been horrific,rest in peace Francis amen 🐦🌈🌸💖

[@liviniawood2108]

Francis Farmer was a beautiful, talented, very astute young girl..obviously (not sure) suffered from very deep depression?..all her life. Who wouldn't,..with such a controlling/cruel ignorant MOTHER!..My heart breaks this beautiful girl was put into a institution & lobotomised.?! to appease HOLLYWOOD'S control of her?...what a truly sad end for a precious young woman..Did her ignorant MOTHER do similar damage to Francis siblings?..who knows..

[@prudencepineapple9448]

There is conflicting accounts of her having a lobotomy. The claim has only been made in just one book and that film ' Frances' which was based on that book. Who knows the real story.

[@petertaylor3600]

Seems there were more than one lobotomy, in truth, plus forced medication, all of which rendered her almost without a functioning brain, a virtual doll, no emotions or feelings of any sort. Therefore controllable!! That much is known already.

[@scallopohare9431]

What happened to a reply? That is happening lately om all channels.

[@Amber-nx3iz]

According to Western Hospital in Wa she was confined in out of the 300 lobotomy people were subjected to do Frances Farmer was not one of the patients. However the treatments she did receive were inhumane and the hospital was not clean and there was many cases of abuse in all forms to the patients.

[@wendywarrior2264]

Her’s was one of the saddest Hollyweird stories.

[@barbarastrayhorn4667]

Her book was harrowing. Supposedly this helped change laws about what could and couldn't be done to patients in institutions.

[@pheart2381]

God! poor young woman,not allowed to do anything She wanted with her life!

[@fitnessfreak7851]

Her life is so tragic. If she had been born 30 or more years later, I think she would’ve had a better life and a far more recognized career.

[@petertaylor3600]

Thirty years later there were still vicious mothers like that, but the medical profession had advanced by miles after that and more care and consideration would have been shown to her as a human being.

[@fitnessfreak7851]

@@petertaylor3600 I agree 100%

[@nancyhey1012]

That’s true. It sounds like she may have had some real mental health issues, but that does not mean that the treatment she got was appropriate. Society has some very backward ideas about how mental illnesses should be treated.

[@jak3589]

Sounds like she was ahead of her times

[@tiffanyprichard2197]

I do not believe she was insane she didn’t belong there, she was a very intelligent, strong willed woman, in a world that did not accept that, including her mother.

[@jackjules7552]

Of course she was not insane. Her mother had her put away because her mother was a spiteful old woman who was jealous of Frances.

[@thegatesofdawn...1386]

Britney Spears may have suffered this treatment, had she lived back then.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Brittney Spears is a re-occuring train wreck! She really does need someone to look after her.

[@Amber-nx3iz]

Britney Spears has suffered horribly. To horrid treatments. Like Frances she is a free spirit. Britney’s grandfather on her Fathers side institutionalized both of her Grandmothers. It seems to be a constant treatment and punishment the Spears men find to be a solution to keep control over the women.

[@christinsmith550]

Thanks for another great video!! Please do one on Helen chandler! She is the best one on Dracula in my opinion, the most interesting and forgotten. You would be the first utuber to tackle the subject! Thanks again for all your great work!

[@judithl.morton9178]

Thank you for doing this I learned about Frances Farmer I don't know when I worked in television and it is a sad horrific story and it's hard for anybody to believe that a parent would do this to their child. But she was stunning and just wild herself in a way that was wonderful it was really Freedom she wanted to be who she was I thought she was a great woman

[@brentonl2631]

Attractive actress, tough times back then but obviously a strong woman. Brenton 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@monumentstosuffering2995]

Excellent work.

[@Amber-nx3iz]

She was absolutely miss diagnosed. All her life she was abused emotionally, physically, and sexually. Let’s break it down. She grew up in a broken home and was constantly neglected by her mother. Moving constantly not having constancy. A child needs consistency, love, guidance, protection, nurturing those are just the basics. She became a hollywood movie star at a young age. I would think that would come with incredible pressure and all eyes on you constantly. Back then being a woman in Hollywood was especially hard. Hollywood is toxic today it was just as bad if not worse then. If a woman didn’t have a strong man behind her (usually why there was so many marriages) she was subjected to being taken advantage of financially, mentally, physically, or sexually. As we have seen in the past from other actress and actor especially young. Being institutionalized. If you’ve never been through it as a patient yourself or have had a loved one as a patient you have no idea the trauma and treatments the institution puts the patients through especially in those days. Also back then especially the care for the patients was horrible. Over crowded, under staffed, dirty, the patients many times lacked basic care and were subjected to all forms of abuse. Have you ever seen a person receive electric shock therapy? It’s horrible. My mother had it done many times during my childhood and adulthood and was never the same. They claimed it would help every time. It causes much damage to the brain and makes you respond slow. They are still practicing electric shock therapy today. Or insulin baths? Or the medication that were and are still today. All this is damaging. For instance the drug Lithium is still given today the damages the body. It is horrible on the kidneys and you can suffer from lithium toxicity shock as to why the doctors frequently check the blood. I almost lost my Mother because of the drug. Frances was absolutely victim of abuse and trauma. Also, she was never lobotomized. In the hospital she was at Western State Hospital located in Washington State is a state run hospital still active today. Out of the 300 lobotomies performed Frances Farmer was not one of the patients.

[@onsecondthought677]

Great Narration.

[@monumentstosuffering2995]

Excellent Nirvana reference.

[@lindseycarribean5113]

The music of your video is perfect like his content. Brava❣👏👍💯

[@teptime]

I believe she was what we know today as a "borderline personality", likely enhanced by alcohol.

[@Whatt787]

She went on alcoholic binges from the very beginning of her movie career

[@lanacampbell-moore6686]

Thanks AOV❤

[@Be12397]

I always think of Kurt and Courtney when I think about FF.

[@professorsprout3382]

Mighty Saint Ronald Reagan did close the state hospitals but every county has an asylum don't kid yourself. Usually an acute ward (I went every Friday night for 2 years to visit inmates or patients) A skilled nursing facility is where most folks are placed (casually called a "sniff") and were certainly still placed in the 80's 90's and today. Feel free to volunteer for an organization like NAMI or local group like we were and visit folks. You don't have to know them or be a relative I came Friday nights and brought stuffed animals for men and women but had to get macho stuffed animals for the guys like a dinosaur character. It's much to traumatizing for me now to visit. I was one of the inmates so many times and in the 2000s triggers and trauma were considered superstitious. Now I know why I craved alcohol or drugs to use after the visits because I feel the pain and humiliation of being in there as well as the disgust of condescending and power tripping staff. If you haven't been put in there and your mother hasn't you should find it interesting and altruistic. I always invited folks to meet me on the outside and get established at our center which was founded on the now dead client movement clients helping clients. Our motto was 'Nothing about me without me". This is a veiled reference to the abuse of shock treatment.

[@johnmurray6636]

She as a brilliant powerful lady....the world was far too cruel to her. Love Frances

[@aariley2]

How sad.....😢

[@acastrohowell]

I don’t think she was lobotomized

[@scotnick59]

She wasn't = an "urban legend"

[@debbieanne7962]

I read a book on Francis Farmer many years ago though I've never seen anything she acted in. Know wonder if it was in the 1930s! Almost a century ago. She was lucky that she didn't cause any deaths driving while drunk frequently

[@norellebarnett7636]

Very sad

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

OMG-SO SAD

[@emilys3458]

She was a brilliant actress. It’s too bad that is lost and all that is remembered, if anything, is her breakdown.

[@Whatt787]

She died at 57 from smoking and alcohol abuse

[@emilys3458]

@@Whatt787 she was actually 56 and died from esophageal cancer

[@brandymcnamee7880]

Mental healthcare is still problematic and stigmatizing _today._ I can't even begin to imagine the horror of being mentally ill/disordered in bygone eras. *_Especially_* if you had the societal "misfortune" of being a woman, in which case your options generally stagnated somewhere between _hysteric_ and _witch._ Fun times. 🙄

[@scallopohare9431]

Gotta look it up, but didn't she strike a hairdresser? Edit. I saw a clip where she was working as a hotel maid.

[@liquidsnake6879]

Yeah, dislocated her jaw allegedly and that was part of what landed her in her first institution i think

[@MargotHypnos]

Similarities to Britney Spears?

[@scotteklof5082]

No woman's insanity is a misdiagnosis. Some are just undiagnosed. Having said this they should be treated with compassion rather then psychiatrists

[@Pittstopclippings]

Still just throwing those photos out in random order.

[@liquidsnake6879]

I mean she did a lot of less than sane things

[@haintedhouse2990]

done a lot of research on Frances Farmer. not that it matters but I think Frances was gay at a time when that could be career suicide. she lived with a woman for the last part of her life and they were known around town as 'the lesbian couple'. but who knows? a tragic life none the less.

[@liquidsnake6879]

old ladies living together doesn't automatically entail any sexual activity, they just don't want to be alone in their old age so keep each other company, it's more common than you'd think

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@liquidsnake6879 yeah I get that and it doesn't matter about her sexuality but i think she was gay at a time when that was unacceptable for a movie star. Frances was a loner through school, played all sports, and was the neighborhood tomboy. along with her low speaking voice and tall athletic build she may have later turned to alcohol to ease the stigma of being gay in the 1930's. i'm just saying people act like movie stars could NOT be homosexuals back in the day - uh yeah they could.

[@BrokenneckYgor]

She merely follow da pinko Connie line

[@jackeroo08]

Connie?

[@The1trueking1966]

YES, SHE WAS MISDIAGNOSED