Grand Jury (1936)

Director:

Albert S. Rogell

Writers:

Philip G. Epstein, Joseph Fields,

Stars:

Fred Stone, Louise Latimer, Owen Davis Jr.

Cast

Cast overview:
Fred Stone	...	Commodore George Taylor
Louise Latimer	...	Edith Taylor
Owen Davis Jr.	...	Steve O'Connell
Moroni Olsen	...	Davis, Taylor's Bodyguard
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Joseph Britt
Frank M. Thomas	...	John Taylor
Harry Beresford	...	Tom Evans
Harry Jans	...	'Sully' Sullivan
Russell Hicks	...	Jim Hanify
Charles C. Wilson	...	Clark, Chronicle City Editor
Edward Gargan	...	Police Officer Tim Burke

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 1936 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

61 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

I agree with the other reviewer--this one wasn't sure if it was a comedy or a crime drama.

This film is about a bunch of gangsters (headed by the incredibly dumb Guinn Williams) and some folks who want to clean up the town. There are two serious problems with getting rid of the gang--they have an upstanding citizen within their ranks and the Commodore is determined to stop them and the Commodore is REALLY dumb. In fact, so many of the characters are idiots that you wonder is there's something in the drinking water or soil in this town! "Grand Jury" is, at best, an adequate time-passer. It's a shame, as it had some story elements that might have worked--it's just that combining comedy with a crime drama simply didn't work very well. In addition, several of the characters were just downright annoying and stupid--especially the Commodore, who seems dumber than a taco! Because of this, it's not a film I especially enjoyed or would recommend.

If you do watch it, a couple things to look for is, perhaps, the earliest reference to Monopoly in a film as well as a quick look at Stymie Beard in a non-Our Gang role. Sadly, like many black characters of the era, he's given a subhuman name--as if to further marginalize him (he's called 'Marshmallow'!!).