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A Free Soul
Production: March 6, 1931 - April 15, 1931;
Premiere: June 2, 1931;
Released: June 20, 1931;
Production/Distribution Companies: Metro Goldwyn Mayer/Loew's Inc.;
Runtime: 92 min;
Country: USA;
Language: English;
Color: Black and White;
Sound Mix: Mono (Western Electric Sound System);
Available on VHS;
Cast: Norma Shearer as Jan Ashe; Leslie Howard as Dwight Winthrop; Lionel Barrymore as Stephen Ashe; Clark Gable as Ace Wilfong; James Gleason as Eddie; Lucy Beaumont as Grandma Ashe; Claire Whitney as Helen; Frank Sheridan as Prosecuting attorney; E. Alyn Warren as Bottomley; George Irving as District Attorney; Edward Brophy as Slouch; William Stack as Dick;
Awards & Nominations:
Norma Shearer Nominated for Best Actress;
Clarence Brown Nominated for Best Director;
Lionel Barrymore Won Oscar for Best Actor Oscar.
Production Credits:
Produced by: Irving Thalberg; Clarence Brown;
Directed by: Clarence Brown;
Writers: John Meehan; Becky Gardiner;
Cinematography: William Daniels;
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons;
Gowns by: Adrian;
Editing: Hugh Wynn;
Reviews:
Mordaunt Hall in the New York Times, June 3, 1931: "Talking pictures are by no means elevated by the presentation of A Free Soul, last night's screen contribution put on at the Astor. Nevertheless it should be sated that Lionel Barrymore does all that is possible with his role. In fact, his is the only characterization that rings ture, the others being handicapped either through miscasting, the false conception of human psychology or poorly written lines. Norma Shearer may be the star of this film, but Mr. Barrymore steals whatever Honors there may be."
Creighton Peet in Outlook, June 3, 1931: "Some people may think they have had their money's worth when they have seen Norma Shearer silhouetted in a doorway, wrapped in skin-tight gold lame negligee, her knee archly kinked, her hair coyly fluffed and her chin in her palm- but I don't. I resent the fact that A Free Soul is a preposterous, illogical, over talkative motionless motion picture, and not even Lionel Barrymore's melodramatic wig-wagging convinced me."
Photoplay, July 1931: "This picture follows, almost exactally, Adela Rogers St. John's splendid novel of the same name. Lionel Barrymore's peformance in the role of the brilliant but heavy drinking criminal lawyer is magnificent.
Norma Shearer is excellent and handles the part of his daughter perfectly. Her clothes are breath-taking in their daring. But you couldn't get away with them in your drawing room."
Motion Picture, July 1931: "Norma Shearer convers white hot emotions with the brittle manner of the modern girl in a way that leaves no doubt of her ability as a dramatic actress. Incidently, she never looked more beautiful. Leslie Howard as the super-civilized polo-player, contrasts with Clark Gable as the handsome brute who appeals to the physical side of the girl's nature.
But the picture honors go to Lionel Barrymore, who does the best acting we have seen on the screen for many months."
Notes/Trivia:
-Adela Rogers St. John had written the novel with Joan Crawford in mind for the part of Jan Ashe. When MGM purchased the rights, it appeared that Joan Crawford was officially set to star in this dramatic picture, until Norma recieved a copy of the script. Norma got the part, and and Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Crawford was tossed into the lackluster film, This Modern Age.
-The dress Norma wears in the begining of the film is a forgotten masterpiece. The dress was probably, considering the time the film was made, the most daring costume worn in the movies. The dress left nothing to the imagination about Norma's figure.
-It was on the set of A Free Soul that Norma Shearer arranged for George Hurrell to photograph her on the actual set for publicity stills. Though it cost more money, this became the exact way every star was photographed for movie publicity.
