Founded: 1936
Defunct: 1939
Fate: Liquidation
Key People: Edward L. Alperson

Grand National Films, Inc. (or Grand National Pictures, Grand National Productions, and Grand National Film Distributing Co.)
An American independent motion picture production-distribution company in operation from 1936 to 1939. It had no relation to the British Grand National Pictures, despite sharing a similar logo.

History and Releases

Grand National Films, Inc., also known as Grand National Pictures, Grand National Productions, and Grand National Film Distributing Co., was an American independent motion picture production-distribution company active from 1936 to 1939. Founded by Edward L. Alperson, a film exchange manager, the company emerged from the assets of First Division Pictures, where Alperson had served on the board of directors. While First Division was a successful low-budget film distributor, Alperson rebranded it to focus on higher-grade features aimed at independent theaters, similar to the approach of Republic Pictures. By the summer of 1936, Grand National Productions was established in California, sharing facilities with Educational Pictures, and began releasing films by October of that year. The company's logo featured a futuristic clock tower, emphasizing the slogan, "it's time to see a Grand National picture."

Grand National initially gained prominence by featuring Tex Ritter, a singing cowboy, as its star attraction. The studio produced a range of Westerns, including those with established action star Ken Maynard, as well as two series featuring newcomers like Tex Fletcher and Dorothy Page. The studio's most consistent talent included comedy director Charles Lamont and producer George Hirliman, who used a two-color process called "Hirlicolor" for some films. Hirliman also produced a four-film series starring his wife Eleanor Hunt and Conrad Nagel. Silent-era star Rod LaRocque appeared in several mystery films as "The Shadow," and producer Franklyn Warner made four notable features under the name "Fine Arts Pictures."

The studio had an overseas distribution agreement with Associated British Pictures Corporation and released the British Boris Karloff film "Juggernaut" in 1937. Grand National also signed James Cagney in 1936, after his departure from Warner Bros., with Cagney starring in "Great Guy" and "Something to Sing About." However, these films did not perform well financially, partly due to their high costs and the company's focus on neighborhood theaters. This failure contributed to Grand National's eventual collapse.

In 1938, film executive Earle W. Hammons of Educational Pictures attempted to expand both companies, but the effort was unsuccessful. Grand National entered liquidation in 1939, with its completed but unreleased films sold to Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, and RKO Radio Pictures. The Grand National film library was divided among reissue distributors like Screencraft Pictures and Astor Pictures, while the physical plant was acquired by Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC).

Partial Filmography

• Captain Calamity (George Houston, 1936)

• The Devil on Horseback (Lili Damita, 1936)

• Headin' for the Rio Grande (Tex Ritter, 1936)

• Lonely Road (British, Clive Brook, 1936)

• Great Guy (James Cagney, 1936)

• Trailin' Trouble (Ken Maynard, 1937)

• Navy Spy (Conrad Nagel, Eleanor Hunt, 1937)

• Renfrew of the Royal Mounted (James Newill, 1937)

• Something to Sing About (James Cagney, 1937)

• Swing It, Sailor! (Wallace Ford, Ray Mayer, 1938)

• Here's Flash Casey (Eric Linden, 1938)

• Mr. Boggs Steps Out (Stuart Erwin, 1938)

• Long Shot (Gordon Jones, 1939)

• Exile Express (Anna Sten, 1939)

• Isle of Destiny (William Gargan, bought by RKO, released in 1940)

• Half a Sinner (Constance Collier, bought by Universal, released in 1940)

• Miracle on Main Street (Margo, bought by Columbia, released in 1940)

Grand National released a total of 100 films in its three-year run.

List of Grand National Pictures Films (1936–1939)

Grand National Pictures, originally known as Grand National Films, produced or distributed the following films between 1936 and 1939. The company also managed the American distribution of several British-made films.

• Captain Calamity – April 17, 1936 – John Reinhardt

• Too Much Beef – June 6, 1936 – Robert F. Hill

• In His Steps – September 22, 1936 – Karl Brown

• The Devil on Horseback – September 30, 1936 – Crane Wilbur

• Spy of Napoleon – October 10, 1936 – Maurice Elvey (Made in Britain)

• White Legion – October 25, 1936 – Karl Brown

• Yellow Cargo – November 8, 1936 – Crane Wilbur

• Song of the Gringo – November 22, 1936 – John P. McCarthy (First Tex Ritter film)

• Hats Off – December 6, 1936 – Boris Petroff

• We're in the Legion Now! – December 13, 1936 – Crane Wilbur

• Headin' for the Rio Grande – December 20, 1936 – Robert N. Bradbury

• Forget Me Not – December 31, 1936 – Zoltan Korda (Made in Britain)

• Great Guy – January 2, 1937 – John G. Blystone

• Lonely Road – January 23, 1937 – James Flood (Made in Britain)

• Arizona Days – January 30, 1937 – John English

• The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss – February 27, 1937 – Alfred Zeisler (Made in Britain)

• Trouble in Texas – March 6, 1937 – Robert N. Bradbury

• Navy Spy – March 13, 1937 – Crane Wilbur (First Conrad Nagel Federal Agent series)

• 23 1/2 Hours Leave – March 21, 1937 – John G. Blystone

• Girl Loves Boy – March 27, 1937 – Duncan Mansfield

• Hittin' the Trail – April 3, 1937 – Robert N. Bradbury

• The Gold Racket – April 10, 1937 – Louis J. Gasnier

• The Man in the Mirror – April 24, 1937 – Maurice Elvey (Made in Britain)

• Juggernaut – April 30, 1937 – Henry Edwards (Made in Britain)

• A Woman Alone – May 8, 1937 – Eugene Frenke (Made in Britain)

• Damaged Goods – May 22, 1937 – Phil Goldstone

• Sing, Cowboy, Sing – May 22, 1937 – Robert N. Bradbury

• Bank Alarm – June 7, 1937 – Louis J. Gasnier

• Sweetheart of the Navy – June 8, 1937 – Duncan Mansfield

• Riders of the Rockies – July 2, 1937 – Robert N. Bradbury

• Boots of Destiny – July 16, 1937 – Arthur Rosson

• Dusty Ermine – July 23, 1937 – Bernard Vorhaus (Made in Britain)

• The Mystery of the Hooded Horsemen – August 6, 1937 – Ray Taylor

• Trailin' Trouble – August 27, 1937 – Arthur Rosson

• Small Town Boy – September 24, 1937 – Glenn Tryon

• Renfrew of the Royal Mounted – September 29, 1937 – Albert Herman (First Renfrew of the Royal Mounted film)

• Something to Sing About – September 30, 1937 – Victor Schertzinger

• The Girl Said No – October 15, 1937 – Andrew L. Stone

• The Shadow Strikes – October 29, 1937 – Lynn Shores (First The Shadow film)

• Love Takes Flight – November 5, 1937 – Conrad Nagel

• Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts – November 26, 1937 – Ray Taylor

• Wallaby Jim of the Islands – December 14, 1937 – Charles Lamont

• Here's Flash Casey – January 7, 1938 – Lynn Shores

• Spirit of Youth – January 20, 1938 – Harry L. Fraser

• Mr. Boggs Steps Out – February 18, 1938 – Gordon Wiles

• Swing It, Sailor! – February 4, 1938 – Raymond Cannon

• Frontier Town – March 4, 1938 – Ray Taylor

• Stardust – March 25, 1938 – Melville W. Brown

• International Crime – April 22, 1938 – Charles Lamont

• Whirlwind Horseman – April 29, 1938 – Robert F. Hill

• Six-Shootin' Sheriff – May 20, 1938 – Harry L. Fraser

• Songs and Saddles – June 1, 1938 – Harry L. Fraser

• The Singing Cowgirl – June 2, 1938 – Samuel Diege (First Dorothy Page singing cowgirl film)

• Held for Ransom – June 17, 1938 – Clarence Bricker

• Secret Lives – July 1, 1938 – Edmond T. Gréville (Made in Britain)

• Rollin' Plains – July 8, 1938 – Albert Herman

• The High Command – July 15, 1938 – Thorold Dickinson (Made in Britain)

• On the Great White Trail – July 22, 1938 – Albert Herman

• The Marines Come Thru – August 5, 1938 – Louis J. Gasnier

• The Utah Trail – August 12, 1938 – Albert Herman

• Frontier Scout – September 16, 1938 – Sam Newfield

• Shadows Over Shanghai – October 14, 1938 – Charles Lamont

• Cipher Bureau – October 26, 1938 – Charles Lamont

• Brief Ecstasy – October 28, 1938 – Edmond T. Gréville (Made in Britain)

• Titans of the Deep – October 28, 1938 – Otis Barton

• King of the Sierras – November 9, 1938 – Arthur Rosson

• Sunset Murder Case – November 11, 1938 – Louis J. Gasnier

• Long Shot – January 6, 1939 – Charles Lamont

• Water Rustlers – January 6, 1939 – Samuel Diege

• Trigger Pals – January 13, 1939 – Sam Newfield

• Ride 'em, Cowgirl – January 20, 1939 – Samuel Diege

• Six-Gun Rhythm – February 17, 1939 – Sam Newfield

• The Mind of Mr. Reeder – March 11, 1939 – Jack Raymond (Made in Britain)

• Panama Patrol – March 20, 1939 – Charles Lamont

• Exile Express – May 27, 1939 – Otis Garrett

• I Killed the Count – September 2, 1939 – Frederic Zelnik (Made in Britain)

• I Met a Murderer – October 1, 1939 – Roy Kellino (Made in Britain)

• Miracle on Main Street – December 19, 1939 – Steve Sekely (Distributed by Columbia Pictures)

• Isle of Destiny – March 8, 1940 – Elmer Clifton (Distributed by RKO Pictures)