''Grand Jury Secrets'' is a 1939 American

mystery film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, i ...

directed by James P. Hogan and written by

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and Robert Yost. The film stars

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and

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. The film was released on June 23, 1939, by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

Newspaper reporter and amateur ham radio operator John Keefe, anxious for a scoop, plants a shortwave radio in the courtroom to eavesdrop on the grand jury's investigation into the brokerage house owned by Anthony Pelton and Thomas Reedy, which is allegedly dealing in fraudulent stocks. When the story breaks in the newspaper under John's byline, John's brother Michael, the assistant district attorney, is castigated by his boss. Nevertheless, John continues to jeopardize his brother's career and decides to infiltrate the brokerage house by posing as Avery, a wealthy young investor from the South. In a meeting at Pelton and Reedy's office, John leaves behind his briefcase, which has a microphone concealed in it. Soon afterward, Pelton, who has become squeamish over the grand jury investigation, decides to skip town. While emptying the safe, Pelton is accosted by a gun wielding young man, and in the ensuing skirmish, the gun discharges into John's briefcase. As the young man falls unconscious to the floor, Reedy enters and shoots Pelton. When the police arrive, the young man is charged with Pelton's murder and Mike is assigned to the case. Meanwhile, John, who has been fired for drunkenness, is told by his editor that he will be rehired if he uncovers the mystery killer. Posing as a priest, John visits the accused in prison, where the young man confesses that Pelton tried to blackmail his father. When Mike learns of his brother's duplicity, he orders his arrest, and John is brought before the grand jury to testify. For refusing to betray the young man's confidence, John is jailed for contempt. While in jail, John's friend brings him the briefcase, and when John sees the bullet hole, he realizes that the young man is innocent. Begging his brother for a chance to make amends, John is released and goes to Reedy's office, where he digs a bullet from the desk. At that moment, Reedy enters and orders John into his car at gunpoint. Using the radio hidden in his briefcase, John broadcasts his location in Morse code, and ham radio operators pick it up and radio for help. As the district attorney and grand jury listen in, a motorcade surrounds the car and Reedy shoots John. Reedy tries to escape, but is captured by the police, and John is taken to the hospital, where he is reinstated by the paper.

Cast

as John Keefe *

as Agnes Carren *

as Bright Eyes *

as Mrs. Keefe *

as Anthony Pelton *

as Michael Keefe *John Hartley as Robson *

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as Robert Austin / Norman Hazlitt *

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as Miss Clark *

Morgan Conway Morgan Conway (born Sidney Conway, March 16, 1903 – November 16, 1981) was an American actor, best known for his portrayals of Dick Tracy. Early life and career Conway was educated at Columbia University in New York City. He had a bro ...

as Thomas Reedy *

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as Doyle *

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as Murph * Frank M. Thomas as Benton *Eddie Marr as Malin

Trivia

In the TV series Friends, the film's poster hangs in Joey's and Chandler's living room.

References

External links

* {{James P. Hogan 1939 films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films Paramount Pictures films American mystery films 1939 mystery films Films directed by James Patrick Hogan 1930s American films