A Free Soul (1931)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Adela Rogers St. Johns (book)
John Meehan (dialogue continuity)

Release Date:

20 June 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

An alcoholic lawyer who successfully defended a notorious gambler on a murder charge objects when his free-spirited daughter becomes romantically involved with him.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Alcoholic | Engagement | Lawyer | Polo Player

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Norma Shearer	...	Jan Ashe
Leslie Howard	...	Dwight Winthrop
Lionel Barrymore	...	Stephen Ashe
James Gleason	...	Eddie
Clark Gable	...	Ace Wilfong
Lucy Beaumont	...	Grandma Ashe

Also Known As:

Free Souls (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

93 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Point Lobos, Point Lobos State Reserve, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The film ranked as ninth best picture in 1935 by the annual Film Daily poll of critics.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the emotional scene when Shearer promises to give up Gable, Barrymore's hair changes between close-ups and medium shots.

Quotes:

Stephen Ashe, Defense Attorney: I wish my mother belonged to some other family.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tiny Toon Adventures: Prom-ise Her Anything (#1.17)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

By the River Sainte Marie

Nice Cast Elevates This Shearer Soaper

Norma Shearer slinks and giggles her way through another melodrama, this one noted for not only her but the presence of Lionel Barrymore, Clark Gable and Leslie Howard.

Not a bad cast, eh?

The story has a lot to it, too - too much to go into here. It's basically a father-daughter story with the daughter having a good guy and a bad guy both after her, and her taking in all the attention she can get. I've only seen two Norma Shearer films but she played a similar character in both. She's likes to giggle, show off her body and flirt but doesn't want commitments. (The Divorcée was the other film in which I saw her.) For much of this film, this is a gender-reversal with the woman being the "heel."

Barrymore plays her dad, an alcoholic defense attorney. If, for nothing else in this movie, he's remembered for his impassioned speech at the end of the trial. It WILL get your attention! Clark Gable plays the toughie and Howard plays the suave nice-guy both vying for Shearer's love.

There is truth to a number of things in this film such as "Jan Ashe" (Shearer) finding the not-so-nice guy more "exciting" over a genuine gentleman. Why many women are like that - preferring the grubby-looking thug - who knows, but Shearer is good at playing that role. Shearer's Harlow-like attire and no-bra look got my (and Gable's) attention, too.

The movie should be enjoyed by most who like this kind of a melodrama and/or appreciate good acting and a bit of star-gazing.