A Free Soul

Atmospherically photographed by Bill Daniels, a high-powered cast talk (and talk) about sex, booze and marriage, but it all proves wilfully uninvolving; and even an attempt at a drive-by shooting of gangster Clark Gable is strangely casually staged. There are, however, always the shiny and diaphanous gowns in which Norma Shearer sashays about the luxurious settings to keep you watching; her magnificent profile always turned to the camera as pappy Lionel Barrymore attempts to swear off the booze with as little success as Ms Shearer is attempting to swear off low-life boyfriend Clark Gable. Leslie Howard, meanwhile, has as thankless a role as Gable's rival for the hand of the female lead as he did eight years later as Ashley Wilkes in 'Gone With the Wind'.

Excellent film where alcoholic attorney and widower,played by Lionel Barrymore in a truly Oscar-winning performance, sets out defending and getting off gangster-gambler Clark Gable, (Ace Wilpon) only to have the latter fall for his daughter, Norma Shearer. While Barrymore was fabulous here, Shearer gave another of her gut-wrenching performances, starting off as a free soul, not wanting to marry the erudite suitor Leslie Howard. View how she changes as she falls for the Gable character. Seeing what Gable really is, Shearer wants no part of him and is threatened along with Howard. Barrymore is forced to defend the Howard character when he kills Gable. That court room scene is absolutely memorable where Barrymore admits to court that he failed his daughter for not being there. Frustrated, and a confirmed drinker, Barrymore came from a strong upper class family. Family values are well depicted here as well.

To get an idea of how great magnetic and radiant shearer is here, consider that she matches her scenes with Clark Gable, lionel Barrymore and Leslie Howard and wipes the floor with all of them. Don't get me wrong they are all very good here but this movie is a star vehicle for shearer and it is her movie. She does all of the shining. If you appreciate her, this movie is a must see even though the film drags on and the script is average at best. I wouldn't be surprised if this served as an inspiration to courtroom dramas like Perry Mason and Matlock later on.

"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.