A Free Soul
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| A Free Soul | |
|---|---|
| Image:AFreeSoul.jpg | |
| Directed by | Clarence Brown |
| Produced by | Irving Thalberg |
| Written by | Becky Gardiner Willard Mack John Meehan Adela Rogers St. Johns |
| Starring | Norma Shearer Leslie Howard Lionel Barrymore Clark Gable |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | June 20, 1931 |
| Running time | 91 min. |
| Country | Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
A Free Soul (1931) is a Pre-Code film which tells the story of an alcoholic defense attorney who must defend his daughter's ex-boyfriend on a charge of murdering the mobster she had started a relationship with; a mobster whom her father had previously gotten an acquittal for on a murder charge. A Free Soul stars Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, Lionel Barrymore and Clark Gable (the first screen appearance together of the future Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler).
The movie was adapted by Becky Gardiner and John Meehan (dialogue continuity) from the play by Willard Mack, which was based on the book by Adela Rogers St. Johns. It was directed by Clarence Brown.
Lionel Barrymore won the 1931 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in A Free Soul, while Norma Shearer was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Clarence Brown for Best Director. Clark Gable won something worth more than any award, However, he was so powerful in the role of a gangster who pushes Norma Shearer around that he was catapulted from chronic supporting player to leading man, and never played another supporting role again as long as he lived.
A Free Soul will be released on DVD by Warner Home Video on March 8, 2008 (along with The Divorcee, also starring Norma Shearer), as one of five Pre-Code films in the "TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 2" DVD box set.
[edit] Cast
- Norma Shearer - Jan Ashe
- Leslie Howard - Dwight Winthrop, Jan's Fiancee
- Lionel Barrymore - Stephen Ashe, Defense Attorney
- James Gleason - Eddie, Stephen's Assistant
- Clark Gable - Ace Wilfong, Gangster Defendant
- Lucy Beaumont - Grandma Ashe
[edit] External links
Films directed by Clarence Brown |
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The Great Redeemer • The Last of the Mohicans • The Foolish Matrons • The Light in the Dark • Don't Marry for Money • The Acquittal • The Signal Tower • Butterfly • The Eagle • The Goose Woman • Smouldering Fires • Flesh and the Devil • Kiki • A Woman of Affairs • The Trail of '98 • Navy Blues • Wonder of Women • Anna Christie • Romance • Inspiration • Possessed • A Free Soul • Emma • Letty Lynton • The Son-Daughter • Looking Forward • Night Flight • Sadie McKee • Chained • Ah, Wilderness! • Anna Karenina • Wife vs. Secretary • The Gorgeous Hussy • Conquest • Of Human Hearts • Idiot's Delight • The Rains Came • Edison, the Man • Come Live with Me • They Met in Bombay • The Human Comedy • The White Cliffs of Dover • National Velvet • The Yearling • Song of Love • Intruder in the Dust • To Please a Lady • Angels in the Outfield • When in Rome • Plymouth Adventure |
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