Many people, myself included, were introduced to frances farmers story through either arnolds book or the film, and believed as i did for many years that her. Frances elena farmer september 19, 19 august 1, 1970 was an american actress and television host. Though much of frances farmers biography is speculative including the book shadowland, im not with those who believe she deserved to be incarcerated. Author arnold, william, 1945 title shadowland william arnold. The film stars jessica lange as frances farmer, a troubled actress during the 1930s whose career suffered as. The book is a fictionalized account which was further distorted when adapted as the film frances in 1982. Frances farmer, may you rest in peace for love you have found. The song is based off the life, death, and fictional resurrection of seattle born actress frances farmer, who appeared in over a dozen films in the course of her career. In the book, your journey with frances farmer begins when you chance upon a revival screening of come and get it.
Frances favorite director from her indianapolis years, the late dr. Shadowland revisited the afterstory of william arnolds. Frances farmer, western state hospitals famed actress. Frances information, i found seattle writer william arnolds book shadowland. An article about arnolds planned book that appeared in the. Frances farmer was an outspoken seattle girl who made a splash in. A shadowy figure says he was frances farmers lover, but a lawsuit. An article about arnolds planned book that appeared in the scientology. Frances farmer was western state hospitals most famous patient, an upandcoming actress born in seattle wash.
Shadowland by william arnold is one of the few books available about frances farmer. Frances elena farmer september 19, 19august 1, 1970 was an american actress and television hostess. It easily transcends the genre of celebrity biography. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Later, in the editing stage, it was decided to move that meeting up a year, to when i was first employed as a journalist. As a mental health worker, i am so unbelievably sorry for everything that my profession did to you frances farmer. It expertly ties together the sometimes contradictory socalled facts about frances farmer as related in the various biographical accounts of her life. Shedding light on shadowland frances farmers will there really be a morning. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Would seeing the real frances farmer give me a photographed glimpse into the.
Frances farmer will have her revenge on seattle is the fifth song on nirvanas in utero. Search for frances farmer is a 1978 biographical novel by william arnold, ostensibly about the life of actress frances farmer. He also claims frances was raped in the asylum by hundreds of soldiers from a nearby army base, without naming a single source to verify this claim. Furthermore, the fictions in both book and movie, are, among many. The 22yearold moved to new york, where she hoped to launch her theater career. For decades now, jeffs research into misinformation propagated about frances farmer after her death has completely altered the landscape of what was thought to be the truth about her in the wake of books, films and television movies which appeared beginning in the 1970s. She was a drunk, she was hard to work with, she was, to some, really crazy. Farmer was an actress in the late 1930s and early 1940s that was institutionalized, and. I wish a real biography of frances farmer would be written. It confirms that love does not have to come from a parent, a lover, but could be from a friend. If tells an important story about the therapeutic state that is now america. Arnold claims the ship frances sailed on to russia was the manhattan. People who were close to the late frances farmer insist that jacobsons.
Frances farmer will have her revenge on seattle is the fifth title of the in utero album. The book is highly detailed and thoroughly researched. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Frances farmer was a talented, intelligent, and beautiful actress of the 1930s and 40s whose career was derailed by mental problems and alcohol abuse. During her time there, farmer alleged that she underwent many abuses, including sexual assault, which were chronicled in william arnolds 1978 book, shadowland. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. William arnold, author of another farmer book, shadowland, says in his book that immediately after frances death, lois kibbee withdrew from the book project and jean ratcliffe picked it up she glorified the character of jean ratcliffe excessively in the last few chapters, and finally as a curious closing touch dedicated. Kurt had read my book, shadowland, and he called me all the time. Any woman who wants to enter show business should read this story of frances farmer, who left the world. The book was actually constructed by a woman named jean ratcliffe who befriended farmer in indianapolis, caring for her, managing her business affairs, even living with her off and on throughout. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Farmer was an actress in the late 1930s and early 1940s that was.
It stipulated that arnold would write the shadowland screenplay and yates. Joseph stockdale, also provided information about her years in indiana, her theater work there. Shedding light on shadowland the truth about frances farmer. Mckenzie called career chalk garden clifford odets commitment communist court daughter doctors drove edith everything fact famous film frances farmer. Jessica lange was superb in the role of frances, but unfortunately, the movieand book are highly sensationalized and will leave you finding frances farmer capricious and not very sympathetic. From reading shadowland, one leaves with a feeling that perhaps arnold is mentally ill himself.
The shadow land, by elizabeth kostova elizabeth kostovas deep love for her adopted homeland grounds this story of a young american woman in sofia, who finds a. The image of the actual manifest left containing frances name proves the ship was indeed named the washington. In separate books, frances sister edith and patrick agan both say the boat was the washington. Crosswords puzzle book large print made in usa new crossword fun assorted. May you have the peace and love you gave and deserve. Shadowland, you might argue, made him a horror icon right up. The allegation that farmer was lobotomized was advanced by seattle writer william arnold in his 1978 book shadowland, amplified by the 1982 film frances, and has since been widely accepted as fact. In 1935, seattle native frances farmer made an incredibly consequential decision. Published in 1975 by straight arrow books, written by kenneth anger. Its biased, filled with typos, and questionable facts, but i still blew through it. Frances farmer died in 1970, after having lived a tumultuous life wh.
So read this book for entertainment, not to know frances farmer. Search for frances farmer by william arnold hardcover excellent shadowland. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Published in 1979 by pinnacle books, written by patrick agan. This book was published about a year after her death of cancer in. Frances 1982 frances farmer was a talented, intelligent, and beautiful actress of the 1930s and 40s whose career was derailed by mental problems and alcohol abuse. Interestingly, frances nephew david farmer believes he traveled on the washington with his father frances.
Published in 1978 by gemaia press, written by frances sister, edith farmer elliott. She is perhaps better known for sensationalized accounts of her life, especially her involuntary commitment to a mental hospital. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. I actually found this book very entertaining, even though it reads more like a personal account of the author writing the biography of frances farmer, rather than a biography itself. The history and understanding behind frances farmer will. This is the autobiography of movie star, frances farmer, and her demise. In 1942, publicity of farmers reportedly erratic behavior. Frances farmer was an american actress from seattle. She appeared in over a dozen feature films over the course of her career, though she garnered notoriety for the various sensationalized accounts of her life, especially her involuntary commitment to psychiatric hospitals and subsequent mental health struggles.
The unraveling of frances farmer the washington post. And then i found out that the book had been seriously discredited for fabricating even more sensational events than frances actually lived through. This book is a must read for any fan of frances farmer. While more interested in stage acting, farmer ended up signing a sevenyear contract with paramount pictures, and from 1936 to 1958 appeared in 15 films alongside stars like bing. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The book shadowland, and the movie frances, which was based on the book, are a crock. Cast edward arnold, cary grant, frances farmer, jack oakie. The sad story of frances farmer, hollywoods original bad girl.