A Free Soul (1931)
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- Passed
- 1h 33min
- Crime, Drama
- 20 Jun 1931 (USA)
- Movie
An alcoholic lawyer who successfully defended a notorious gambler on a murder charge objects when his free-spirited daughter becomes romantically involved with him.
Director:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Norma Shearer | ... |
Jan Ashe
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| Leslie Howard | ... |
Dwight Winthrop
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| Lionel Barrymore | ... |
Stephen Ashe
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| Clark Gable | ... |
Ace Wilfong
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| James Gleason | ... |
Eddie
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| Lucy Beaumont | ... |
Grandma Ashe
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Roscoe Ates | ... |
Man Shot at in Men's Room (uncredited)
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| Ann Brody | ... |
Hamburger Saleslady (uncredited)
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| Edward Brophy | ... |
Slouch (uncredited)
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| Clarence Burton | ... |
Detective (uncredited)
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| James Donlan | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Bess Flowers | ... |
Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Francis Ford | ... |
Skid Row Drunk (uncredited)
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| Henry Hall | ... |
Detective in Raid (uncredited)
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| George Irving | ... |
Johnson - Defense Attorney (uncredited)
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| Edward LeSaint | ... |
Judge (uncredited)
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| Eric Mayne | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Sam McDaniel | ... |
Casino Valet (uncredited)
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Lee Phelps | ... |
Court Clerk (uncredited)
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| Frank Sheridan | ... |
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
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| Phillips Smalley | ... |
Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)
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William Stack | ... |
Dick Roland (uncredited)
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| Larry Steers | ... |
Ed - Casino Official (uncredited)
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| Carl Stockdale | ... |
Drug Store Proprietor (uncredited)
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| Charles Sullivan | ... |
One of Ace's Gang (uncredited)
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| E. Alyn Warren | ... |
Bottomley - Ace's Chinese Butler (uncredited)
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| Claire Whitney | ... |
Aunt Helen (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Clarence Brown | ||
Written by
| Adela Rogers St. Johns | ... | (from the book by) |
| Becky Gardiner | ... | (adaptation) |
| Philip Dunning | ... | () (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Farnum | ... | () (uncredited) |
| John Lynch | ... | () (uncredited) |
| Willard Mack | ... | (play) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Clarence Brown | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Irving Thalberg | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| William H. Daniels | ... | (photographed by) (as William Daniels) |
Editing by
| Hugh Wynn | ||
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
Costume Design by
| Adrian | ... | (gowns) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Charles Dorian | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
| Anstruther MacDonald | ... | sound recording engineer (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Milton Brown | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| A. Lindsley Lane | ... | second camera operator (uncredited) |
| Nelson McEdwards | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| William Riley | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| William Axt | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| John Meehan | ... | dialogue continuity |
Additional Crew
| Howard Dietz | ... | press representative (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (Clarence Brown's Production)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1931) (United States) (theatrical)
- Regal Films (1931) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Regal Films Ltd.)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1931) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1931) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Film AB Le Mat-Metro-Goldwyn (1932) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn Filmselskap (1932) (Norway) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Bros. (2019) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (acknowledgement)
- Turner Entertainment (VHS package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Stephen Ashe, an upper class alcoholic defense attorney, successfully defends local mobster Ace Wilfong in a murder case. After his daughter Jan Ashe breaks her engagement to polo player Dwight Winthrop and starts an affair with Wilfong, she finds that the liaison is not easily severed when she wants out. Winthrop earns Miss Ashe's true affections by killing Wilfong to break his grip on her. Can Stephen Ashe save Winthrop with an impassioned defense speech to the jury?
Written by Gary Jackson |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | She wasn't a divorcee but she believed that strangers could kiss! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $529,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | When the final version of the movie went before Hollywood censors, they demanded that MGM cut the scene where Norma Shearer lays on the bed and suggestively asks Clark Gable to put his arms around her. The studio ignored the demand and released the film uncut. See more » |
| Goofs | After the cross-examination finishes, Stephen Ashe begins his summation to the jury. However, he is the defense attorney, and the prosecutor takes the first summation. This "factual mistake" is, in fact, not an absolute, as it depends on the state where the trial is held. For example, in a criminal case (which this is) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the defense goes first and the Commonwealth last. (If it were a civil case in PA, the Plaintiff would go first.) See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Some of the Best (1949). See more » |
| Soundtracks | By the River Sainte Marie See more » |
| Quotes |
Jan Ashe:
Tell me, Eddie. Has he been drinking? Eddie: Well... uh... Jan Ashe: A lot? Eddie: Well, it wouldn't be a lot for a camel or one of them things. See more » |