Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Not part of a collection.
A Free Soul
She wasn't a divorcee but she believed that strangers could kiss!
An alcoholic lawyer who successfully defended a notorious gambler on a murder charge objects when his free-spirited daughter becomes romantically involved with him.
- Original title
- A Free Soul
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
Sep 8, 2022 · via TMDB
Lionel Barrymore is on quite good form here as the drunken, but accomplished, lawyer "Ashe" who manages to get the young "Ace" (Clark Gable) off on a charge of murder (it's all to do with an hat!). Celebrating their success, the young hoodlum is introduced to the young and feisty "Jan" (Norma Shearer) and a romance soon blossoms. This disturbs the old man, so she comes up with a pact - he (her father) comes off the booze and she will stop seeing the man she has fallen in love with. To the hills they head for three months where both manage to keep to their word, but sadly his strength of character doesn't survive his first visit to a town, and so she rushes back into the rather aggressive arms of her beau who demands marriage. "Ace" isn't the only man interested in the future of the lady, though. Long time family friend "Winthrop" (Leslie Howard) is also her suitor, and when he sees how troubled she is, he takes matters into his own hands and in the end, it might just be that dipso-dad is the only thing standing between him and the chair. Gable certainly had a star quality, but as an actor I always found him rather wooden - here, this early outing illustrates his rather dry technique quite well. Howard features sparingly, and again there is little natural to his rather theatrical and over-done performance . Luckily, though, I found Shearer and Barrymore to have a charming chemistry - even if they do call each other "darling" just one too often, and the story has a rather "back were we started" conclusion that is probably for the best. Pre-code, and that is pretty noticeable in the garments Miss Shearer almost wears. Whilst nothing at all shocking by later standards, some of her gowns cling in all the right places in a fashion that would not have been permitted even five years later... It's fun, this film. It moves along nicely and I rather enjoyed watching it.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Norma Shearer
Jan Ashe
Leslie Howard
Dwight Winthrop
Lionel Barrymore
Stephen Ashe
Clark Gable
Ace Wilfong
James Gleason
Eddie
Lucy Beaumont
Grandma Ashe
Roscoe Ates
Man Shot at in Men's Room (uncredited)
Ann Brody
Hamburger Saleslady (uncredited)
Edward Brophy
Slouch (uncredited)
James Donlan
Reporter (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)
Francis Ford
Skid Row Drunk (uncredited)
George Irving
Defense Attorney Johnson (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint
Judge (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel
Casino Valet (uncredited)
Frank Sheridan
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Casino Official Ed (uncredited)
Carl Stockdale
Drug Store Proprietor (uncredited)
E. Alyn Warren
Ace's Butler Bottomley (uncredited)
Cedric Gibbons
Art Direction
William H. Daniels
Director of Photography
Adrian
Costume Design
Clarence Brown
Director
Irving Thalberg
Producer
Douglas Shearer
Sound Director
John Meehan
Dialogue
Willard Mack
Theatre Play
The Giant's Fist
Charming Billy
Foster & Laurie
City of God
Once Upon a Time in America
The Silence of the Lambs
Central Station
M
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Casino
Dial M for Murder
Heat
Fargo
Rio Bravo
Dogville
The Sword of Doom
Boyz n the Hood
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The Last Samurai
In Cold Blood
Dolls
Adam's Apples
True Romance
Scarface
Blow-Up
Dead Man
Monster
2046
Nightmare Alley
Targets
Boomerang!
Arlington Road
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Shanghai Express
Wild at Heart
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Heavenly Creatures
Insomnia
Friend
Romeo + Juliet
Tough Enough
Policewoman
Absence of Malice
The Mohican
The Hit
Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead
The Yards
Killing Zoe
Haunted
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Betsy's Wedding
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Sliver
Lost Joy
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Underworld
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Fallen Angel
Time Without Pity
City Streets
Supercross
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Johnny Eager
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My Brilliant Career
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The Truth About Emanuel
Jun 2, 1931
New York City, New York
Jun 20, 1931
