A Free Soul

A Free Soul
A Free Soul
	theatrical release poster
Directed by	Clarence Brown
Written by	Dialogue continuity by; John Meehan; Adaptation by; Becky Gardiner; Uncredited:; Philip Dunning; Dorothy Farnum; John Lynch
Based on	A Free Soul (1927 novel); by Adela Rogers St. Johns; A Free Soul (1928 play); by Willard Mack (uncredited)
Produced by	Clarence Brown; Irving Thalberg (uncredited)
Starring	Norma Shearer
Cinematography	William Daniels
Edited by	Hugh Wynn
Production; company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Loew's Inc.
Release dates	June 2, 1931 (NYC); June 20, 1931 (US);
Running time	91 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$529,000
Box office	$1.4 million

A Free Soul is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film that tells the story of an alcoholic San Francisco defense attorney who must defend his daughter's ex-boyfriend on a charge of murdering the mobster she had started a relationship with, who he had previously gotten an acquittal for on a murder charge. Directed by Clarence Brown it stars Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, Lionel Barrymore, and Clark Gable.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

A Free Soul became famous for Barrymore's climactic courtroom monologue that is said to be the main reason he won the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 4th Academy Awards that year.^[8] Gable made such an impression in the role of a gangster who pushes Shearer around that he was catapulted from supporting player to leading man, a position he held for the rest of his career.^[1]

^ ^a ^b ^c "A Free Soul". American Film Institute. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
^ ^a ^b The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ Norma Shearer, "Free Soul," at Loews (The Reading Eagle, July 3, 1931, p. 10)
^ "AMUSEMENTS / Norma Shearer, Loews, Stars in "A Free Soul" (The Reading Eagle, July 4, 1931, p. 10)
^ "Norma Shearer in "A Free Soul," Loews (The Reading Eagle, July 5, 1931, p. 10) includes photo of Lionel Barrymore and Norma Shearer
^ "Fox California Has Norma Shearer Film" (Berkeley Daily Gazette, July 20, 1931, p. three) includes sketched reproduction of Norma Shearer's face
^ ""Every Word they told You is True" This is Norma Shearer's Best! / "A FREE SOUL"" (The Florence Times-News, August 10, 1931, p. three) includes photographs of Norma Shearer and other stories about the film and her career
^ "A Free Soul". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 5, 2014.

[AFI-1] "A Free Soul". American Film Institute. Retrieved March 5, 2014.

[Mannix-2] The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.

[3] Norma Shearer, "Free Soul," at Loews (The Reading Eagle, July 3, 1931, p. 10)

[4] "AMUSEMENTS / Norma Shearer, Loews, Stars in "A Free Soul" (The Reading Eagle, July 4, 1931, p. 10)

[5] "Norma Shearer in "A Free Soul," Loews (The Reading Eagle, July 5, 1931, p. 10) includes photo of Lionel Barrymore and Norma Shearer

[6] "Fox California Has Norma Shearer Film" (Berkeley Daily Gazette, July 20, 1931, p. three) includes sketched reproduction of Norma Shearer's face

[7] ""Every Word they told You is True" This is Norma Shearer's Best! / "A FREE SOUL"" (The Florence Times-News, August 10, 1931, p. three) includes photographs of Norma Shearer and other stories about the film and her career

[TCM-8] "A Free Soul". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 5, 2014.

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