A Free Soul Page #2

Synopsis: Stephen Ashe, an upper class alcoholic defense attourney, successfully defends local mobster Ace Wilfong in a murder case. After his daughter Jan Ashe breaks her engagement to polo player Dwight Winthrop and starts an affair with Wilfong, she finds that the liason is not easily severed when she wants out. Winthrop earns Miss Ashe's true affections by killing Wilfong to break his grip on her. Now the question is, can Stephen Ashe save Winthrop with an impassioned defense speech to the jury?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Director(s): Clarence Brown
Production: MGM
  Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.7
PASSED
Year:
1931
93 min
792 Views


pull a rabbit out of a hat.

Don't say "hat. "

You can say anything else, rabbit, toad...

- Good morning.

Good morning, Ace, good morning.

Have you studied

that cross-examination of Hardy?

Yes, sir, no perjury.

Why, um...

Dad, I'm not in the way, am I?

No, no, darling, no.

Mr. Wilfong.

You know, you should get

some new pictures for the press.

- Now, should I?

- They sure don't flatter you any.

You're on trial for your life, aren't you?

- Sam.

- Yes, sir?

Ask Judge Hannan if he can delay

about five minutes, will you, please?

- I'll appreciate it.

Yes, sir.

I'm not allowed to say "hat. "

That's too bad.

Absolutely nothing that stands up...

...except the fact that three people saw

him leave the building without his hat.

But how that stands up.

Is blue your favorite color?

Why?

- I was just thinking it ought to be.

- I admit it, it is.

Oh, excuse me.

Ace, do you remember exactly what

you answered when you were questioned...

...about that hat being found

by the body of the murdered man?

And hurry up, will you?

Huh?

- Excuse me, Mr. Ashe.

Do you remember exactly what you...?

- Yes, I heard him.

I said I had nothing to say, didn't know.

Look here, there's something you haven't

told me that would help me out a lot.

I wish I could, sir.

You're holding out on me,

aren't you?

Mr. Ashe, a guy like me

has to ride with lady luck.

A squealer leaves his pals

in plenty of trouble.

I see, you want to go to the gallows

with your mouth shut.

Well, you're defending an innocent man.

Now, that's all I can say.

That's wonderful, but darned silly.

Here you are.

- Oh, thank you.

I had a hunch

I'd like to wear your color today.

Do you mind?

I'm thrilled to death.

Standing room only, boss.

Okay, boss.

- You sure about it?

- You can go to sleep on it.

The judge says all right, Mr. Ashe.

All right, present my thanks

and compliments...

...and tell him to fire when ready.

Yes, sir.

Ace, I suppose you know

your case is in your hat.

Yes, sir.

- Not quite straight. May I?

- Oh, thanks.

- I wish you luck.

- I guess I'll need it.

Ace, I may decide to pull a rabbit

out of that hat, so don't look surprised.

I seldom do, sir.

Boys, turn your backs, will you, please?

Department Number 6

of the Superior Court...

...in the city of San Francisco,

the state of California...

...is now in session.

If my client is guilty of murder,

I want him punished.

But if he's not...

...I want to keep from your kind hearts...

...the awful responsibility of not

doing the right and just thing about it.

Now, this, my friends, Your Honor...

...was found by the side

of the murdered man.

My client was seen leaving the building

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote

Adela Rogers St. Johns

Adela Nora Rogers St. Johns (May 20, 1894 – August 10, 1988) was an American journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. She wrote a number of screenplays for silent movies but is best remembered for her groundbreaking exploits as "The World's Greatest Girl Reporter" during the 1920s and 1930s and her celebrity interviews for Photoplay magazine. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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