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What's After the Movie?
Biographical drama

Frances (1982): Cast, Ratings, Plot & Where to Watch

Frances (1982) movie poster

Frances is a 1982 biographical drama directed by Graeme Clifford, starring Sam Shepard, Jonathan Banks and Jessica Lange. It runs 2 hours 20 minutes. It was nominated for 2 Oscars. Critics gave it 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10. Stream it on Lionsgate+ and Tubi TV, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
68%
award nominations
4
Metascore
48
Frances (1982) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 20m (140 min)
Director
Graeme Clifford
Genres
Biography , Drama , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Frances About?

The premise of Frances without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A determined actress from Seattle chases her dreams in Hollywood, experiencing both the excitement of fame and the harsh realities of the industry. Battling addiction and a strained relationship with her mother, Frances Farmer's mental health deteriorates, leading to a devastating institutionalization and subsequent abuse. She later finds a brief respite in local television, before ultimately passing away in 1970, leaving behind a complex and enduring legacy.

Frances Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • female protagonist
  • female psychiatric patient
  • courtroom
  • frances farmer character
  • anti conformist woman
  • mother daughter relationship
  • domineering mother
  • lobotomy
  • strong female character
  • bad temper
  • character name as title
  • unfairness
+38 more
  • nasty mood
  • f rated
  • female rear nudity
  • female full frontal nudity
  • female pubic hair
  • rise and fall
  • clifford odets character
  • hollywood
  • female star appears nude
  • golden age of hollywood
  • lighthouse
  • rolls royce
  • silk stockings
  • cheating husband
  • father daughter relationship
  • pokies
  • hollywood party
  • convalescent home
  • duesenberg car
  • voice over diary
  • alcoholism
  • reference to bing crosby
  • high school junior
  • commitment to a mental institution
  • female frontal nudity
  • woman in a bubble bath
  • paramount studios
  • hypocrite
  • female full rear nudity
  • insulin
  • broadway
  • cheating wife
  • woman wears a slip
  • drug use
  • world war two
  • criminal trial
  • escaped psychiatric patient
  • movie theater
Where to watch

Where to Watch Frances

Stream it on Lionsgate+ and Tubi TV, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Frances Cast

Sam Shepard leads the cast, with Jonathan Banks and Jessica Lange. Directed by Graeme Clifford; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Frances Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Frances 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.

Plot

Frances Plot Summary

What happens in Frances from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Frances Halladay, portrayed by the talented Greta Gerwig, is a 27-year-old dancer navigating the ups and downs of life in the bustling streets of New York City, alongside her college best friend, Sophie. Just when Frances thinks she has her life somewhat figured out, her world is thrown into disarray when Sophie announces her intentions to move from their shared home in Brooklyn to the trendy neighborhood of Tribeca with a new friend, spurring feelings of abandonment in Frances. This unexpected change brings forth a series of challenges as she grapples with her dreams of becoming a professional dancer while struggling financially.

Full summary

The whole story of Frances, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Awards

Frances Awards & Nominations

Frances was nominated for 2 Oscars. The 4 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

4 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Frances Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Frances.

1982 Frances Official Trailer 1 Brooksfilms, EMI Films
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Frances?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the main character in the movie?

Cars

Cars in Frances

30 cars on screen, including the 1939 Lincoln Zephyr and the 1940 Buick Roadmaster.

All 30 cars
  • 1939 Lincoln Zephyr in Frances 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Important role
  • 1940 Buick Roadmaster in Frances 1940 Buick Roadmaster Minor role
  • 1933 Chevrolet Eagle in Frances 1933 Chevrolet Eagle Minor role
  • 1941 Chevrolet Master De Luxe in Frances 1941 Chevrolet Master De Luxe Minor role
Details

Frances Also Known As

6 alternative titles, including “Het Ware Verhaal” and “פראנסס”.

Also known as
  • Het Ware Verhaal
  • פראנסס
  • Фрэнсис
  • 弗兰西斯
  • 여배우 프란시스
  • Френсіс

Seen Frances?

FAQ

Frances FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Frances, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Frances?

Frances runs 2 hours 20 minutes (140 minutes).

When was Frances released?

Frances was released on December 17, 1982.

Who directed Frances?

Frances was directed by Graeme Clifford.

More films by Graeme Clifford

Who is in the cast of Frances?

Frances stars Sam Shepard, Jonathan Banks and Jessica Lange, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch Frances?

In the US, Frances is streaming on Lionsgate+ and Tubi TV and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How is Frances rated?

Frances has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Was Frances nominated for any awards?

Frances received 4 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Frances have a post-credit scene?

No. Frances has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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