David Nezelek
Cibbuano
TyronneFrances Farmer - Institutions, Shock Treatment and Film Stardom
November 7th 2007 00:00
Institutions, shock treatments and film stardom
Frances Farmer - Elegant Insanity?
A tragic figure in cinema history, although her work in theater and onscreen was exceptional Frances Farmer will always be remembered for her off screen psychological turmoil and its consequences.
The stunning beauty, full of talent was born in Seattle, Washington in 1913, starting her career studying journalism and drama at the University of Washington. As a student she won a writing contest and the prize was a trip to Russia where she was inspired by the revolutionary Moscow Art Theatre.
Frances offscreen car toubles would be much dirtier
Returning she began to perform in school stage shows, speaking in foreign languages and playing the piano. Returning, her sights set on Broadway, Francis ended up signing a 7 year contract with paramount Pictures instead. Making her way to the Hollywoodland dream factory, in 1936 she scored a series of roles that immediately established her as a versatile actress.
With 4 films released that year it was in the dual role of mother and daughter in Come and Get It that garnered the most attention. It is around this time the first of her disastrous marriages began.
A year later she achieved her initial aspirations of appearing in NYC theatre on Broadway with Golden Boy. Rebelling against the system almost from the outset, Farmer was disappointed with the studios predilection for casting based on looks instead of talent.
Not one to remain silent she soon earned a reputation as cantankerous and refused to play the game of parties and glamorising her personal life. Dressing down and unconcerned with material gain she turned to booze to help her cope with continually disappointing co starring roles that demanded little from her.
Erratic and depressed soon her dependency on alcohol took a toll and after dropping out of plays and misbehaving on set by 1940 she was already considered unstable by observers.
As her marriage collapsed, she received critical applause for her part in Son of Fury: the Story of Benjamin Blake. Sadly despite her on screen skills Paramount canceled her contract and as several roles were offered and declined many questioned her sanity.
In Son of Fury with Tyronne
In 1942 after scuffling with police and being repeatedly accused of violent behaviour (A hairdresser claimed she had broken her jaw onset) she was physically forced against her will into the LA Hospitals psychiatric ward. Diagnosed with manic depressive psychosis she was transferred to an institute where it was determined she was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia as well.
Her she received Insulin Shock Therapy for the condition with horrendous side effects. Thankfully it was a minimum security facility and before the year was ended she escaped back to her family.
Gossip colomns were fuelled for years by this shot of her arrest
Her sanctuary was short lived though and when fights with her mother turned brutal she was committed to Western State Hospital where she was restraind in a straight jacket and received electric shock treatment.
Claims around this time were that she was beaten and raped behind the walls of the facility and even had a lobotomy. They were later proven false despite the fact they were used in the 1982 bio pic Frances starring Jessica Lange.
Eventually released from Western State Farmers life was a series of battles with alcohol and depression despite some TV work. She died in 1970 of Cancer.
Another example of tortured creative genius, one can only wonder what she would have achieved had her life not been taken over by the barbaric institutions and uncaring film studios.
Watch a montage of Frances Farmer stills set to her own poem titled "The Journey".
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