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| Special Features: |
Widescreen anamorphic format.
Chapter selection.
Commentary track by director Graeme Clifford.
Featurette: "A Hollywood Life: Remembering Frances."
Theatrical trailers.
Cast and crew bios and filmographies. |
| Video Format: |
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)
[SS-DL]
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| Languages: |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
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| Subtitles: |
None.
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| Captions: |
Yes
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| Casing: |
1-Disc Keep Case
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Frances Farmer was one of those freaks of nature that was born in the wrong era. Were she a young woman today chances are as an actress she would have reached the stature of Meryl Streep or Jessica Lange. Instead, Frances Farmer was an actress in the 30s and 40s. She dared to think for herself. As a result she was nearly destroyed by the studio system of which she was a part.
The 1983 film "Frances" is a grueling examination of the sad life of a free thinker crushed by the mediocrity of small minded studio moguls. Jessica Lange gives a tour de force performance as the tragic heroine. This was the movie which proved to the world that Ms. Lange was capable of much more than she delivered in the Dino De Laurentis remake of "King Kong."
The movie also is the showcase for several other great performances. Kim Stanley was also nominated for on Oscar for her role as Frances Farmer's mother. Sam Shepard is also quite good. The one problem with this Hollywood bio is that the script never really gets under Ms. Farmer's skin. She comes across as a free-thinker and a trouble maker. There had to be more to her when you consider the price she paid for her sins. She was black-balled, committed to a "snake-pit" type mental hospital and (according to the filmmakers) was given a lobotomy. There is some controversy as to whether Ms. Farmer really underwent the last indignity, but it makes for good drama.
Good movie. Great extras, picture and sound.
Picture Quality: 10/10
Excellent photography by camera legend Laszlo Kovacs. Kovacs photography of Richard Sylbert's outstanding sets recreates the bygone years of Hollywood. Lavish and lush and then brutal and harsh as Frances sinks into despair. Just a beautiful picture. No pixilation, artifacts or delineation problems.
Sound Quality: 7/10
The 2.0 sound is OK, just nothing special. At times I had to turn up the volume to catch some of the dialogue. I didn't listen to the French soundtrack because I don't like the French and don't care if they hear the movie or not!
Menu: 7/10
OK menu design. Easy to navigate.
Extra Features: 10/10
The commentary track by director Clifford is full of great anecdotes about the making of this movie.
I was really blown away by the great behind the scenes featurette. It was an all-new documentary about the making of the film and the life of Frances Farmer. It included interviews with Jessica Lange, Laszlo Kovacs, composer John Barry, director Graeme Clifford, producer Jonathan Sanger and production designer Richard Sylbert. Very informative and well done. I was shocked to read of Mr. Sylbert's death the morning after I watched this documentary. It was like he had been in my livingroom the night before.
The Final Word:
Good movie. Great extras. Nice price. Worth the price of a rental for non-fans. Fans will consider this one a keeper.
Rusty White
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