Seeing this finally answered my question of why Jessica Lange won an Oscar for Tootsie, when if anyone deserved a Best Supporting Actress award for that film it was Teri Garr. That has always bugged me but now I understand that it was because Lange was also nominated for this much better performance in Frances, but obviously wasn’t going to win because of Meryl Streep’s performance in Sophie’s Choice.

The performances in this film are wonderful; however, it should be noted that there were serious liberties taken with Frances Farmer’s story. Much of what you see in the film never took place – the most notable fictional element being her lobotomy.