Rent Frances (1982)

Superb Biopic about a Doomed Hollywood Actress of the 1930s - Frances review by PV

This is a superb biopic, with some truth in it - some events are absolutely true as is the dialogue of TV appearances shown here. However, some claims were from a biography written by a friend after Farmer's death so may not be true (the abuse at psychiatric hospital). She did star in films with Bing Crosby and Cary Grant; she did visit the USSR in 1935; as a senior at highschool she did win a prize for writing an essay called GOD DIES. And she did at a low point end up working in the laundry of the hotel where her biggest high COME AND GET IT had its premier. In later life she had a TV show and found some peace, gave up drinking etc.

Anyway, I watched this film on TV decades ago, and always remember the night-time psychiatric 'ward' (dungeon) scene with US serviceman paying orderlies to 'enjoy' the fallen Hollywood star.

Farmer's life was absolutely fascinating and very disturbed, with alcohol and drugs making an unstable person even less stable until, inevitably, the police and law bundle in to destroy her reputation and life. They do seem rather to enjoy doing that.

Having read up on Farmer's life I now know which bits of this biopic are true and which are not.

But the actress in the main role is superb and the spitting image of the doomed actress.

This is one of the best biopics I have ever seen anyway (up there with Chaplin).

4 stars.