MovieChat Forums > Frances (1983) Discussion > Boy meets crazy girl...

Boy meets crazy girl...

posted 20 years ago by propaganda21
3 replies | jump to latest

What is it with Hollywood and biopics? The facts were there, but some screenwriter just couldn't resist resorting to formula and making just another boy meets girl trite concoction that is miles away from the recorded reality. Harry York didn't exist.

This film reminded me a lot of the other tragic but similarly bastardised Hollywood biopic, Lady Sings The Blues, based on the life of Billie Holiday. Again the screenwriters didn’t have the intelligence to try and present it as it was, and felt the need to throw in a hero and remake it to formula…

While ‘Frances’ and also ‘Lady’ are reasonably watchable movies, I couldn’t help myself from feeling irritated as hell knowing that half the things depicted in the movies never happened, and were only in there for dramatic effect. Was I the only one who felt duped?

[–] brendanchenowith 20 years ago

I remember being disappointed that Harry didn't exist. This was 1982, before I came to realize that ALL bio-pics are fictionalized, and that Hollywood shouldn't bother making any more. I'd read WILL THERE REALLY BE A MORNING and it was quite different from "Frances".

I do admit, however, I love this movie. I was lucky enough to find a copy of a soundtrack album and the music is gorgeous. The script itself was pretty choppy, but in terms of cinematography, acting and composition, this is indeed one of the finest films ever made.

[–] LaPfieffer92 12 years ago

WAIIt a minute, you mean the guy she was on and off with through the entire movie and was her primary love interest, wasn't a real person??? that's ridiculous, isn't this supposed to be based on a true life story?

Realism, Remakes and Unnecessary Sequels are ruining movies!

[–] brendanchenowith 12 years ago

Mmm-Hmmm

It says "based on a true story", but doesn't say how loosely based.

Dick "Dwayne" Steele, her uptight husband, was really "based" on Leif Ericson, a real movie star at the time whose career was spotty. ALl I can think of is there had to be an issue about the rights to use Leif Ericson's name in the film, hence the Dick "Dwayne" Steele.

There were true spots, such as her getting 180 days for assault and battery, being locked in mental institutions, and she was humiliated on This Is Your Life and all she got was a car. It's on YouTube. It's maddening. It made me want to punch Ralph Edwards' lights out.

The lobotomy? - I'm still not sure whether or not this was true. Some say yes, others say no.

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.