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DramaRomance

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.

Release Date : 1931-06-02

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Norma Shearer

Character Name : Jan Ashe

Original Name : Norma Shearer

Gender : Female

Leslie Howard

Character Name : Dwight Winthrop

Original Name : Leslie Howard

Gender : Male

Lionel Barrymore

Character Name : Stephen Ashe

Original Name : Lionel Barrymore

Gender : Male

Clark Gable

Character Name : Ace Wilfong

Original Name : Clark Gable

Gender : Male

James Gleason

Character Name : Eddie

Original Name : James Gleason

Gender : Male

Lucy Beaumont

Character Name : Grandma Ashe

Original Name : Lucy Beaumont

Gender : Female

Roscoe Ates

Character Name : Man Shot at in Men's Room (uncredited)

Original Name : Roscoe Ates

Gender : Male

Ann Brody

Character Name : Hamburger Saleslady (uncredited)

Original Name : Ann Brody

Gender : Female

Edward Brophy

Character Name : Slouch (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward Brophy

Gender : Male

James Donlan

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : James Donlan

Gender : Male

Bess Flowers

Character Name : Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Francis Ford

Character Name : Skid Row Drunk (uncredited)

Original Name : Francis Ford

Gender : Male

George Irving

Character Name : Defense Attorney Johnson (uncredited)

Original Name : George Irving

Gender : Male

Edward LeSaint

Character Name : Judge (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward LeSaint

Gender : Male

Sam McDaniel

Character Name : Casino Valet (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam McDaniel

Gender : Male

Frank Sheridan

Character Name : Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Sheridan

Gender : Male

Larry Steers

Character Name : Casino Official Ed (uncredited)

Original Name : Larry Steers

Gender : Male

Carl Stockdale

Character Name : Drug Store Proprietor (uncredited)

Original Name : Carl Stockdale

Gender : Male

E. Alyn Warren

Character Name : Ace's Butler Bottomley (uncredited)

Original Name : E. Alyn Warren

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-09-08

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.