American actress Frances Farmer: biography, filmography and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

To the general public, the actress is perhaps better known for the tragic story of her life. Sensational and often fictitious accounts of Farmer's scandalous incidents were relished in the press, especially her involuntary placement in a psychiatric hospital. The talented and controversial Frances Farmer was the subject of condemnation for some and a muse for others. The personality of the actress and her life have inspired three films, three books, numerous songs and magazine articles.

Childhood and youth

Frances Elena Farmer was born September 19, 1913 in Seattle, Washington. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a social worker. Francis's childhood passed in comfort and prosperity, it could be called happy, if not for constant conflicts with her mother, who was a very powerful person. Already in her school years, the girl discovered a penchant for acting and literary talent. At the age of sixteen, Frances won the Best Essay competition, for the controversial work titled "God Dies" she receiveda hundred dollar prize. In 1931, she entered the University of Washington, where she studied journalism, drama, and took part in student theater productions.

First manifestations of a rebellious nature

Constant contradictions with her mother brought up the rebellious nature of Frances Farmer. The biography of the actress, perhaps, could have been different if not for the tendency to oppose conventional wisdom. The girl sympathizes with the socialist ideas of atheism and universal equality, and for a permanent subscription to the newspaper "Voice of Retribution" in 1935, she was awarded a trip to the Soviet Union. Despite the protests of his mother and public accusations of sympathy for communism, Francis goes to the USSR. The rebel wants to independently form an opinion about the country of workers and peasants, as well as get acquainted with the Russian theater school by visiting the famous Moscow Art Theater.

Hollywood

Upon her return, the girl decides to make changes in her life and come to grips with her acting career. In 1936, the young talent went to New York, where he met a Paramount Pictures agent, who arranges auditions for the young actress. The striking appearance and distinctive voice of Francis Farmer did not leave the producers indifferent, and the studio signs a seven-year contract with her. Thus begins the Hollywood story of the actress. Francis' first work in the film Too Many Parents, released in 1936, received rave reviews from critics. There are changes in her personal life, on the set of the picture she meets actor LeifErickson, whom she marries the same year. The rise of Hollywood star Francis Farmer begins. The filmography continues to be replenished with new works. In the musical film Rhythm on the Steeps, Francis plays the main female role, and the famous Bing Crosby becomes her partner on the set. Producer Samuel Goldwyn offers Farmer a serious role in the drama "Come and Get It" based on the novel by Edna Ferber. Francis brilliantly coped with the role, critics and the public praised her images of mother and daughter, the role in this film is considered the most difficult and best work of the actress. Francis works hard, and in 1937 films with her participation are released: "Exclusive", "New York Darling" and "Ebb Tide". Everything points to a bright future for the actress.

Defying Hollywood Rules

Despite her great success and her popularity, she did not feel proper satisfaction from the work of Frances Farmer. The films and roles that were offered to her, the actress considered monotonous. According to the star, the producers imposed on her roles that emphasize only external data, but do not reveal her acting talent. Therefore, Francis often clashed with the management of the studio, was capricious on the set and refused to participate in social events in Hollywood. In an era when film studios dictated the rules of behavior to stars in all aspects of life, such behavior was considered bad form. Therefore, rave reviews in the press were replaced by scathing articles criticizing the actress.

Theater

With the intention of findingto put her talent to good use and establish herself as a serious actress in 1937, Frances Farmer left Hollywood and went to Connecticut to participate in theater productions at Pinebrook. There, the Hollywood film star meets director Harold Klurman and playwright Clifford Odets and accepts an offer to join the theater troupe under their direction. Soon the first theatrical production of "Golden Boy" with the participation of Farmer will be released. And although the acting of the actress was met with disapproval by critics, the production of the play becomes popular thanks to her participation, and Farmer goes on tour with the theater. While working together on the play, an affair broke out between Francis and Clifford Odets. The playwright was married and, unlike Farmer, was not going to destroy the marriage and take on new obligations. The actress considered this attitude a betrayal and accused Odets of using her to raise the rating of the production.

Return to Hollywood

Following the terms of the contract with Paramount Pictures, Francis Farmer returns to Hollywood. She continues to act in films, and in her free time she participates in productions on Broadway, but they do not bring success to the actress. Frances feels overwhelmed and increasingly relieves stress with alcohol. This lifestyle does not benefit the actress, her already difficult character, aggravated by a hangover, becomes unbearable. Francis is naughty and often disrupts the shooting, her behavior repels the producers, and since 1939 the actress's career has been going down. Francis is increasingly being offered secondary roles, and in 1942 the studio terminates her contract. Between 1938 and 1942, Farmer appeared in the films The Crooked Mile Ride, Pago Pago South, Golden Stream, World Premiere, Dakota Badlands, Among the Living, Son of Fury: The Story Benjamin Blake.”

Legal Trouble

The family life of the actress is also cracking, in the same 1942 she divorces Leif Erickson. Failures in career and personal life lead to alcohol addiction. For driving while intoxicated and insulting police officers while on duty, Francis gets arrested for a day at the Santa Monica police station. The court sentences her to six months in prison and a fine of five hundred dollars. The actress immediately pays half and receives a suspended sentence. A black streak is coming, Frances Farmer's biography is now filled with failures and scandals. The biographies of another, with prizes and awards, were expected by the actress, but the addiction takes over, and work in the cinema does not add up. In addition, the bad character again makes itself felt, and in 1943 a new scandal erupted around Francis. The film studio's hairdresser accused Farmer of inflicting bodily harm. Since the second half of the fine for the first offense was never paid, Themis became adamant, and the actress again found herself behind bars. The court hearing was loud, Farmer poured abuse on the police, accused of violating her civil rights, and finally threw an inkwell at the judge. This time, the actress failed to avoid imprisonment. Francis behind barsShe did not stay long, her condition was recognized as unstable, and soon the relatives managed to get Farmer transferred to a state psychiatric hospital. There, doctors diagnosed Frances with manic-depressive psychosis and declared her incompetent.

Involuntary hospitalization

For a long eight years, Francis was examined and treated in various psychiatric clinics. During this time, Farmer was diagnosed with schizophrenia and treated with shock insulin and electroconvulsive therapy. The actress ran away from clinics more than once after such torment, but she was returned back. Only psychiatrist W alter Freeman, who performed a translobotomy, was able to achieve results in treatment. The operation was successful. Farmer's condition improved and her mind cleared, and in 1950 she was discharged from the clinic into her mother's care.

New life

Back in Seattle, Francis works at the Olympic Hotel first as a simple labor laundry and then as a receptionist. In 1953, Farmer was restored to civil rights. One day Francis recognized the reporter and wrote an article about her. This renewed interest in the actress. Farmer was invited to participate in the TV show "This is your life." There she spoke about her alcoholism, which put her first behind bars, and then in a psychiatric clinic. The actress managed to be married twice more. In 1951, she married Alfred Lobli, but already in 1957 she met Leand Mikesell, who works as a television promoter. Between them begins a stormy romance, and Francis goes to San Francisco with a new lover. In 1958, Farmer gets a divorce and marries Mikesell. In the wake of interest in her person, Francis played a role in the movie "Ripple". This film was the last in her film career, after which Hollywood forgot about her forever.

Television

Several episodes with Farmer in the television series gave impetus to the beginning of a television career and the creation of his own show. Francis' talent manifested itself in a new quality, and soon the show program "Francis Farmer Presents" appeared on television screens. For a long time the program was very popular, but in 1964 addiction to alcohol again made itself felt. Farmer gets divorced again, and her show is closed. The actress tries to return to the theater stage, but this time alcohol finally wins, and Farmer's acting career is completely over. Actress Frances Farmer died in 1970, forgotten by the public and admirers.

Afterword

Francis Farmer's Will There Really Be a Morning, biographical sketch to be published posthumously. The details of her stay in psychiatric hospitals will become public. The world will learn about the violence of orderlies, the mocking experiences of doctors and the humiliation of patients. And in 1982, the film "Francis" will be released, which tells about the dramatic fate of the actress. The role of Frances was brilliantly played by Jessica Lange, for her work she was nominated forthe Oscar. Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, called Frances Farmer his muse and dedicated a song to her. Melin Gauthier, better known as Melin Farmer, changed her last name in deference to the actress.