A Free Soul
“She wasn't a divorcee but she believed that strangers could kiss!”
Synopsis
An alcoholic lawyer who successfully defended a notorious gambler on a murder charge objects when his free-spirited daughter becomes romantically involved with him.
Top Cast
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Norma Shearer
Jan Ashe
Leslie Howard
Dwight Winthrop
Lionel Barrymore
Stephen Ashe
Clark Gable
Ace Wilfong
James Gleason
Eddie
Lucy Beaumont
Grandma Ashe
Roscoe Ates
Man Shot at in Men's Room (uncredited)
Ann Brody
Hamburger Saleslady (uncredited)
Edward Brophy
Slouch (uncredited)
James Donlan
Reporter (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)
Francis Ford
Skid Row Drunk (uncredited)
George Irving
Defense Attorney Johnson (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint
Judge (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel
Casino Valet (uncredited)
Frank Sheridan
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Casino Official Ed (uncredited)
Carl Stockdale
Drug Store Proprietor (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 2, 1931
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Clarence Brown
- Screenplay & Story
- Becky Gardiner
- Original Title
- A Free Soul
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Clarence Brown
Becky Gardiner, Adela Rogers St. Johns, Willard Mack, John Meehan
William H. Daniels
Hugh Wynn
Irving Thalberg
Department Leadership Roster
Hugh Wynn
Editor
Clarence Brown
Director
Adrian
Costume Design
William H. Daniels
Director of Photography
Irving Thalberg
Producer
Becky Gardiner
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Free Soul.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring A Free Soul.
Legal Films
Courtroom dramas, legal thrillers, legal comedies and films about lawyers.
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
Academy Awards - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Winners 1929-2025
Academy Awards winners archive (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Winners 1929-2025)
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Free Soul
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Free Soul about?
An alcoholic lawyer who successfully defended a notorious gambler on a murder charge objects when his free-spirited daughter becomes romantically involved with him.
Who directed A Free Soul?
A Free Soul was directed by Clarence Brown.
Who stars in A Free Soul?
The principal cast of A Free Soul includes Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, Lionel Barrymore, Clark Gable, James Gleason.
When was A Free Soul released and how long is it?
A Free Soul was released in 1931 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
Is A Free Soul based on a book or true story?
A Free Soul is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Adela Rogers St. Johns".
What is the age rating and content advisory for A Free Soul?
A Free Soul holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).