wes-connors In New Jersey, hidden from camera range, ex-chorus girl Jill Esmond (as Yvette Gordon) kills her husband. She is charged with murder, but claims the gun went off accidentally. The case goes to jury trial. Despite being pushy and over-talkative, wealthy society matron Edna May Oliver (as Mrs. Crane) is accepted as a juror. She creates chaos in the courtroom. As you will surely guess, Ms. Oliver has a contrary opinion in the deliberation room. Oliver would be more amusing if the comedy worked. For example, have Oliver blurt out a question from the jury box and be overruled; an Oliver muttering and mugging after being scolded would be funnier. This was based on a play, so RKO and director Lowell Sherman presumably adhered to the original. It was titled "Ladies of the Jury" too, despite having a jury consisting of both "ladies and gentlemen." A better title would have been "Lady of the Jury", although even that is a judgment call.**** Ladies of the Jury (2/5/32) Lowell Sherman ~ Edna May Oliver, Jill Esmond, Helene Millard, Leyland Hodgson

small45-670-264771 It's too bad that real trials aren't like the one depicted in this film. The trial and jury deliberations shown in this film are completely unrealistic, but what does that have to do with good movie making? I love Edna May Oliver's rendition in the Hildegard Withers series, which this film is NOT part of. It is, however, a worthy precursor of her later sleuthing roles.The film is something of a comic version of 12 Angry Men. A single juror votes not guilty, then, using appeals to the prejudices and passions of the other jurors more than reason, persuades other jurors to change their vote to "Not Guilty" until the final scene where the innocence of the accused is "proved". A fast wrap up has the jury declaring, in voice over on the end credit, that they find the defendant "Not Guilty".You won't find realistic situations anywhere in this film. What you will find is an acting tour de force by Edna May Oliver, excellent characterizations by the rest of the cast, an excellent period piece of the early 1930's.This is not a film for everyone. It is a film for true cinephiles. Not a classic, but a classic example of early talkies.I'm sorry I could not explain it's appeal better, but it's appeal is ephemeral. Good acting, good humor, good story - good, good, good. Good enough to make it's flaws worth ignoring.

Neil Doyle LADIES OF THE JURY is a little programmer boosted by the performance of leading player EDNA MAY OLIVER as a Bostonian aristocrat who is allowed to ask questions of the woman on trial for her life (JILL ESMOND), accused of murdering her husband.Edna May is the only member of the jury who believes the woman "not guilty" on the first ballot. The balance of the courtroom scenes show how she turns everyone around to thinking differently.Surprisingly, GUINN ("BIG BOY") WILLIAMS, who livens up the proceedings with some characteristic humor and facial expressions, is not even credited in the film's cast. Among the supporting players, he's the one that stands out.Unfortunately, the script is uneven and the treatment is less than routine with the outcome assured. The abrupt ending makes no impact at all even though the last word goes to Miss Oliver.The humor is scanty and it's surprising to see KEN MURRAY cast as a flippant juror whose attempt at comedy is not really successful.

SkippyDevereaux If you love Edna Mae Oliver, then see this film. It's hers all the way as she destroys the jury system in this comedy. A close second would have to go to Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, who is also a riot. It's too bad the studios never gave this great actress more opportunities to shine in the lead roles.