Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

A Free Soul

  • 1931
  • Passed
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer in A Free Soul (1931)
CrimeDramaRomance

An alcoholic lawyer who successfully defended a notorious gambler on a murder charge objects when his free-spirited daughter becomes romantically involved with him.An alcoholic lawyer who successfully defended a notorious gambler on a murder charge objects when his free-spirited daughter becomes romantically involved with him.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
    • Clarence Brown
  • Writers
    • Adela Rogers St. Johns
    • Becky Gardiner
    • Philip Dunning
  • Stars
    • Norma Shearer
    • Leslie Howard
    • Lionel Barrymore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Clarence Brown
    • Writers
      • Adela Rogers St. Johns
      • Becky Gardiner
      • Philip Dunning
    • Stars
      • Norma Shearer
      • Leslie Howard
      • Lionel Barrymore
    • 64User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Photos91

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 85
    View Poster

    Top cast27

    Edit
    Norma Shearer
    Norma Shearer
    • Jan Ashe
    Leslie Howard
    Leslie Howard
    • Dwight Winthrop
    Lionel Barrymore
    Lionel Barrymore
    • Stephen Ashe
    Clark Gable
    Clark Gable
    • Ace Wilfong
    James Gleason
    James Gleason
    • Eddie
    Lucy Beaumont
    Lucy Beaumont
    • Grandma Ashe
    Roscoe Ates
    Roscoe Ates
    • Man Shot at in Men's Room
    • (uncredited)
    Ann Brody
    Ann Brody
    • Hamburger Saleslady
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Brophy
    Edward Brophy
    • Slouch
    • (uncredited)
    Clarence Burton
    Clarence Burton
    • Detective
    • (uncredited)
    James Donlan
    James Donlan
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Bess Flowers
    Bess Flowers
    • Birthday Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Francis Ford
    Francis Ford
    • Skid Row Drunk
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Hall
    Henry Hall
    • Detective in Raid
    • (uncredited)
    George Irving
    George Irving
    • Johnson - Defense Attorney
    • (uncredited)
    Edward LeSaint
    Edward LeSaint
    • Judge
    • (uncredited)
    Eric Mayne
    Eric Mayne
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Sam McDaniel
    Sam McDaniel
    • Casino Valet
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Clarence Brown
    • Writers
      • Adela Rogers St. Johns
      • Becky Gardiner
      • Philip Dunning
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Divorcee
    6.7
    The Divorcee
    Min and Bill
    6.7
    Min and Bill
    Anna Christie
    6.5
    Anna Christie
    The Sin of Madelon Claudet
    6.6
    The Sin of Madelon Claudet
    Disraeli
    6.1
    Disraeli
    Private Lives
    6.7
    Private Lives
    Emma
    6.9
    Emma
    Night Nurse
    7.0
    Night Nurse
    Possessed
    6.9
    Possessed
    Three on a Match
    7.1
    Three on a Match
    Idiot's Delight
    6.5
    Idiot's Delight
    Arrowsmith
    6.2
    Arrowsmith

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • 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.)
    • 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.

    • Connections
      Featured in Some of the Best (1944)
    • Soundtracks
      By the River Sainte Marie
      (1931) (uncredited)
      Music by Harry Warren
      Played as background music during the restaurant scene

    User reviews64

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10

    The beginning of Gable

    "A Free Soul" made Hollywood take notice of a young actor by the name of Clark Gable.Slapping leading lady Norma Shearer around,he portrayed masculinity like no star,with the exception of perhaps Jim my Cagney, had done before him.Lionel Barrymore won the Oscar for his very good performance of the alcoholic defense lawyer. I've always found him overacting his parts but he's very believable in this movie.Norma Shearer is also very good,but still overdoes the dramatics with her silent screen acting.But she's really a stunner in the quiet parts. Leslie Howard has once again one of his thankless parts which doesn't tax his ability at all.A very enjoyable picture.
    • nnnn45089191
    • Jan 8, 2007
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ18

    • How long is A Free Soul?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 20, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Free Souls
    • Filming locations
      • Yosemite National Park, California, USA(Jan, her father and Eddie go camping)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $529,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer in A Free Soul (1931)
    Top Gap
    What is the Japanese language plot outline for A Free Soul (1931)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.