And now for a few Show Notes:
Farmerology is a tricky field, because each new contributor to the canon seems to make a point of debunking those who came before them…and also quotes those same predecessors as though their works are unchallenged fact. So while the goal of this episode was to explain how and why Frances Farmer’s legend got printed, I’ve also used aspects of that legend (such as clips from the movie Frances) as “evidence.” When in Rome?
The main texts examined in this episode are Shadowland by William Arnold, and Will There Really Be A Morning? by “Frances Farmer.” As explained in the episode, these texts cannot be taken at face value, and the following resources were invaluable in providing additional information and context:
“Shedding Light on Shadowland” by Jeffrey Kauffman
“Burn All The Liars” by Matt Evans, The Morning News
Frances Farmer: The Life and Films of a Troubled Star by Peter Shelleyhttp://www.amazon.com/Frances-Farmer-Life-Films-Troubled/dp/0786447451
Also cited within and/or relevant:
Hollywood Babylon, by Kenneth Anger
“Dark Side of the Womb, Part 2” Melody Maker, August 28, 1993
“Strange Love” Vanity Fair, September 1993
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, by Lawrence Wright
In the podcast, I’ve included a quote in which Kurt Cobain admits that he is worried that what happened to Frances Farmer could happen to his wife, Courtney Love. I could do a second episode just on that, but if you’re at all interested in what’s happened to Courtney after Kurt, read Nancy Jo Sales’ excellent November 2011 Vanity Fair profile, “Courtney Love in a Cold Climate.”
Music used in this episode
“Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle” by Nirvana
“Knife Fights Every Night” by Joan of Arc
“Night City” by Dirty Beaches
“Paracosm” by Washed Out
“Lenny Valentino #3” by The Auteurs, remixed by Mu-ziq
“Prelude” by Gene Harris
“ Oh Brother #3” by Joan of Arc
“Pennyroyal Tea [Demo]” by Nirvana
“Rub Til it Bleeds” by PJ Harvey
“Big Day Coming” by Yo La Tengo
“Asking For It” by Hole
