Although his studio was sinking into oblivion by it's release date, studio boss Edward L. Alperson (see bio for details) gave this film an elaborate promotional build-up (at least by Grand National's standards), betting on the renown of author Clarence Budington Kelland, whose Mr. Deeds Goes to Town became a major hit for Columbia. It didn't work and within a year Grand National was gone.
Film trailers for this film were supplied by National Screen Service, headquartered at 630 Ninth Ave, NY, which maintained 7 other offices in the U.S. Theater owners were reminded that their most potent advertising medium was their own screen along with the wisdom of ordering early.
Three of Hollywood's then-oldest active character actors appeared in this film. Spencer Charters (as "Angus Tubbs") was 65 and had 41 years on stage prior to entering films. Otis Harlan (as "Abner Katz") was 72 and had begun acting in New York in 1887. Tully Marshall (as "Morton Ross") was 73 and had nearly a fifty year acting resume and was once prominent on Broadway.