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'!!).
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'!!).