 Filming "Frances" (1982), which co-starred Kim Stanley and Sam Shepard, was a grueling experience for Lange, who pored over the screenplay scene by scene, making deep and often taxing connections between her life and Farmer's to tap into the well of emotions the role required.By the end of the shoot, she was physically and mentally spent.Due to this, she decided to take her co-star Stanley's advice to star in "something light", which led her to accept a supporting role opposite Dustin Hoffman in Sydney Pollack's "Tootsie" (1982).