A Free Soul

A Free Soul
theatrical release poster
Directed byClarence Brown
Written byDialogue continuity:
John Meehan
Adaptation:
Becky Gardiner
(Uncredited:
Philip Dunning
Dorothy Farnum
John Lynch)
Based onA Free Soul (1927 novel)
by Adela Rogers St. Johns
(Uncredited:
A Free Soul (1928 play)
by Willard Mack)
Produced byClarence Brown
StarringNorma Shearer
Leslie Howard
Lionel Barrymore
James Gleason
Clark Gable
CinematographyWilliam Daniels
Edited byHugh Wynn
Production
company
Distributed byLoew's Inc.
Release dates
  • June 2, 1931 (1931-06-02) (NYC)
  • June 20, 1931 (1931-06-20) (US)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$529,000
Box office$1.4 million

A Free Soul is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Clarence Brown, starring Norma Shearer, and featuring Leslie Howard, Lionel Barrymore, James Gleason, and Clark Gable. The film became famous for Barrymore's climactic courtroom monologue, and he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. Gable made such an impression in the role of a gangster who bullies Shearer that he was catapulted from supporting player to leading man.