NORMA SHEARER

Evening Star, Issue 20999, 13 January 1932, Page 7

NORMA SHEARER

NEW HONOURS IN 1 FREE SOUL ?

An engrossing story, brilliant acting, expert directing, and ultra lavish settings contrive to make Norma Shearer’s new screen drama, ‘ A Free Soul,’ coming on Friday to the Empire Theatre, one of the outstanding pictures of the year. Miss Shearer, who seems to be turning out one success after another, never looked more stunning or acted more convincingly than in this dramatic and fast-moving story of a modern girl who has been brought up by a brilliant but constantly intoxicated father whose theories on freedom estrange her from those she loves, and eventually make her the central figure of a spectacular murder case. Jan, beautiful, slightly headstrong daughter of Stephen Ashe, brilliant lawyer, was raised by her father after her mother’s death, and taught many of his sopljistries. She develops an idea of freedom her grandmother and the rest of the family cannot tolerate. Her father, too, is under their disapproval because of his excessive drinking. Ashe saves Ace Wilfong, gambler, from the gallows. Jan meets him. Later, at a family reunion in honour of Jan’s grandmother’s birthday, at which Jan has just announced her engagement to Dwight Winthrop, millionare polo player, Ashe arrives drunk, bringing Wilfong. The family' snubs him. Jan tells them they are snobs, and leaves with Ace. There follows an infatuation between them. Finally Ace asks Ashe for his daughter’s, hand. Ashe is insulted. A raid occurs. He discovers that Jan is in Wilfong’s apartment, and realises what his teachings have done to the girl. She in turn realises what drink is doing to her father, and promises never to see Ace again if he will bring no more. They hide out in a mountain camp to fight it out together.' Wilfong’s gangsters look for her in vain. So does Winthrop. The family hears of the Wilfong escapade, and believe her with the gambler. In camp, his nerves on edge for want, of drink, Ashe finally can stand it no more.. He returns to the city—and Jan follows, going direct to her home. The family rejects her. She turns to Wilfong. His beastliness enlightens her. When he tries to force his attentions on her Winthrop, who still loves Jan, kills him. ’ _ / He goes to trial swearing it was over a gambling debt. But Jan finds her father, and together they _ bare the truth to the jury. Ashe dies at the climax of his defence, but succeeds in acquitting Dwight. Dwight and Jan are finally married. Lionel Barrymore is a dominant figure as the lawyer father who bares his own past in court to save the happiness of the girl whom in 1 is love he has so terribly wronged. Excellent performances are offered by Leslie Howard as a millionaire sportsman in love with Miss Shearer, and by Clark Gable, who, as the gambler, eclipses his previous work in ‘ Dance, Fools, Dance’ and ‘The Secret Six.’

James Gleason and,Lucy Beaumont,dq well by smaller roles. But chief honours must go to MisS Shearer, who combines an unusual beauty with a magnificent acting ability and a power to make the most of every] dramatic opportunity. In her new] vehicle she proves herself to be evei< more fascinating than in her two' earlier successes, ‘ The Livorcee ’ anq ‘ Let Us Be Gay.’