[Frances], though palpably overlong... is on the whole well-directed, decently set within its period, and makes the Jessica Lange of King Kong and the Postman Always Ring Twice look an actress of an entirely different class.

There was material for a profound human tragedy in her life, but three writers were unable to uncover it. The result is an almost ludicrous parody of the Old Hollywood.

Jessica Lange brings so much energy and personal involvement to her portrayal of Frances Farmer that you can't help but feel sorry for her; nothing else in the film remotely matches her talent and dedication.

The one thing that cannot be debated is the intense ferocity of Jessica Lange’s performance and how this role instantly established her as a cinematic force.