Released
March 1981
Starring
Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange (as Cora), John Colicos, Michael
Lerner, Christopher Lloyd, Anjelica Huston
Directed by Bob Rafelson
123 min.
Box
office gross 12.2 million
See
complete credits at Internet
Movie Database
James
M. Cain’s steamy novel was first filmed in the United States
in 1947 and starred Lana Turner and John Garfield. That
version, although an acclaimed one, was severely hampered
by the infamous Hays Code. Director Bob Rafelson and screenwriter
David Mamet was determined to remake the classic with the
underlying themes of sex, lust and adultery intact. The
end result was a beautifully photographed (by Sven Nykvist)
and subtle period piece that effectively captured the tone
of Cain’s novel. The film suffered, however, from a meandering
script and a totally unnecessary sequence involving a dalliance
that Nicholson’s character has with a lion tamer played
by Anjelcia Huston. Most critics dismissed the film and
could talk of nothing but the sex scenes, especially the
infamous first one, on a flour covered kitchen table.
The
film did have one positive aspect - it resurrected Jessica
Lange’s fleeting acting career. In fact, with this single
performance, Lange went from a former has-been to an A-list
actress and a serious one at that. Her portrayal of Cora
Papadakis was intense, sensual, multi-layered and powerful.
She was suddenly an actress who had the power to choose
her next project - and it would be one that would seal her
reputation as a serious actress - Frances, the life story
of Frances Farmer.
Critical
Sampling:
"With
this performance, Lange has passed from the status of minor
curiosity as the heroine of Dino De Laurentis' King Kong
to that of respected actress and, maybe, star" -
Richard Corliss, Time
"Jessica
Lange is the best reason to see the movie - she is good-sized
- muscular but rounded - and with her short, curly blonde
hair, a Japanese silk wrapper pulled tight and a lewd, spectacular
smile, she's both separhic and steamy." - Pauline
Kael, The New Yorker
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to Filmography
Frances
