The Thin Man (1934)

the audience applauded

Best movie ever!

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

"The Thin Man" is the first of half of dozen comedy mystery movies that William Powell and Myrna Loy would make together. Based on Dashiell Hammett's novel of the same title and year, this ushered in a new type of mystery show that would entertain audiences for the next four decades plus. It wasn't the first mystery to include comedy, but it solidly established the man and wife team in a mixed genre of comedy, romance, mystery and crime. Add to Powell and Loy a very talented pooch by the name of Asta, and some humorous antics happen as well. The series became known as the Thin Man films, although the name doesn't come from Powell as Nick Charles. Rather, it was the victim in this first film. Anyway, Nick Charles is a super sleuth who, as a private detective, was responsible for sending a large coterie of crooks of various types to prison. - or, "up the river," as more than one of them say in this film. However, on meeting and marrying the very wealthy Nora Charles, Nick has sworn off of sleuthing and instead gone to boozing. He's a heavy drinker, who appears tipsy at times in this film. For as much booze as he puts away, it's a wonder he could ever have a clear head to solve this mystery. But, the solution comes when he seems not to have been imbibing for some time. Nick and Nora otherwise lead a life of pleasure that includes many encounters with Nick's old friends. Many are ex-cons who swear that it was Nick who got them to go straight. Of course some haven't, as we see in this flick. Nora enjoys the party atmosphere and cocktails as well. And, she's fascinated by her hubby's former profession. Nick protests that he can't go back to sleuthing because his new work is to oversee his wife's fortune and investments, for which he married her. But, Nora's interest and nudging lead Nick back into his sleuthing, only now he has a sometimes intruder, sometimes helper, sometimes rescuer in his devoted Nora. This is a wonderfully entertaining film that led to a superb and enjoyable series of films. Powell and Loy made their first appearance together the same month that this film was released, in "Manhattan Melodrama," with Clark Gable. It wasn't a comedy, but Powell and Loy clicked. Credit Louis B. Mayer for spotting the talent match. Powell and Loy would be gold for MGM as the best-loved movie match couple for two decades. They may be the best match of all time. Their last of 14 total films together was "Song of the Thin Man" in 1947. In 1957-59, NBC ran a half-hour Thin Man series on TV. It had 72 episodes and starred Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk with another Asta. The man and wife mystery venue still proved to be popular when Universal and NBC teamed up for a long-running TV series, "McMillan & Wife" in 1971-77. The comedy was toned down considerably in this series, which took on a little more serious tone about crime. But, there still were some lighthearted moments, sometimes at the expense of John Schuck who played Sgt. Enright. "McMillan & Wife" had only 40 episodes over seven years, but they were full-fledged films of 90 to 120 minutes - all very entertaining.Here are some favorite lines. For more funny dialog, see the Quotes section under the IMDb Web page of the movie. Nora, "You know, that sounds like an interesting case. Why don't you take it? Nick, "I haven't time. I'm much too busy seeing that you don't lose any of the money I married you for."Nora gets out of bed to answer the doorbell late at night, and returns to the bedroom. "Someone to see you, dear," she says. Nick, "Well, that's good. I was afraid I'd have to go to sleep."Nick and Nora are reading the morning papers at the breakfast table. Nick, "Oh, I'm a hero. I was shot twice in the Tribune." Nora, "I read where you were shot five times in the tabloids." Nick, "It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near by tabloids."Nora, speaking to Asta before he leaves with Nick, "If you let anything happen to him, you'll ever wag that tail again."Nora, "Uh, waiter, will you serve the nuts. I mean will you serve the guests the nuts."Nora, "Is that him?" Nick, I don't know." Nora, "Then why are you saying it?" Nick, "It's the only way it makes sense." Nora, I hope you're well."Nor, "Oh, I'm glad you're not a detective."

Nick Charles, a retired private detective, is pressed back into service by Dorothy Wynant, a young woman worried by the disappearance of her businessman father Clyde. The case starts out as a simple missing person inquiry, but when Wynant's former secretary and mistress, Julia Wolf, is found dead, it becomes a murder. The police believe that Wynant is the obvious suspect, but Nick is not convinced. The mystery is eventually solved at a classic Agatha Christie-style dinner party at which all the suspects are present. The "Thin Man" of the title is Clyde Wynant; the fact that he is thin rather than fat turns out to be an important plot point, although I will not say what its significance is as that would be to give away too much of the ending. Audiences, however, frequently assumed that Nick himself was the "Thin Man", and five sequels were made between 1936 and 1947, all with the words "Thin Man" in the title. The film was made in 1934, just before the Production Code came into force. (Had it been made a bit later, the Hays Office might have taken exception to the fact that the hard-drinking Nick is seldom seem without a glass in his hand). Although it involves a murder case it is much lighter and more comedic in tone than the films noirs which were to dominate the crime genre in the American cinema a few years later. Nick's wife Nora, who helps her husband solve the mystery, is as important a character as he is, and their light-hearted bantering exchanges are a notable feature of the film. The third member of their team is their wire-haired fox terrier Asta, who frequently steals the scene from both Nick and Nora, although it is said that Asta, real name Skippy, was not as engaging away from the cameras as he appears on screen. (He is said to have bitten Myrna Loy in one encounter). The characters were originally invented in a novel by Dashiell Hammett, who based them upon his own difficult relationship with Lillian Hellman. The screenplay was written by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich, themselves a married couple. The film stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora. Neither would have been the first choice of the studio, MGM, but the director W. S. Van Dyke persuaded the studio bosses that they were right for the roles. Van Dyke's instinct was a happy one, because it is the chemistry between these two which is largely responsible for lifting "The Thin Man" out of the category of "run-of-the-mill whodunit and turning it into a stylishly entertaining classic, still fondly remembered today more than eighty years after it was made. 8/10

An Inventor is gone for a planned trip. He promised to attend his daughter's wedding before Christmas. As he didn't show up for a long time, his daughter is suspicious. Coincidentally, she meets a former detective and their family friend, Nick Charles. She asks him to find where her father was. Nick was retired from his job and enjoys the countless wealth of his wife's dead father. he has no interest in returning to his detective job. Suddenly, the came to know that the Investor is back. But, he was suspected for the murder of his secretary. Everyone thinks that the Detective is taken up the case, and everyone bothers him about it. Later, for fun sake, just out of his wife's curiosity, he decides to investigate the case.It's really interesting crime thriller with a lot to laugh. There is nothing slapstick. The characterization and actors performance made it a really enjoyable movie ever. Mr & Mrs Nick makes it a really worth watch movie. Hats off to William Powell and Myrna Loy.The movie was shot just in about two weeks with a very limited budget, but the result was amazing, the movie became a block buster as well as a classic.A must watch movie. Highly recommended.#KiduMovie

A Charming Who Done It with a Charming Alcoholic Couple. The Camaraderie of William Powell and Myrna Loy as the Classic Nick and Nora Charles and the Relentless Snappy Patter are what makes this one of the Most Popular Films of All Time. But there is more.The Plot is Complicated and Manages to keep Viewers Guessing. The Cast is Equipped with Good Actors Playing Interesting Characters that are Fleshed Out and that is Unusual for a B-Movie. All are Distinctive and Quirky. There isn't One Character On Screen that is not Full Blooded Including the Dog.The "gather all the suspects in one room and unveil the Murderer" is the only Thing that is rather Standard in this Always Engaging, Rapid Fire, Combination of a Screwball, Slapstick, Mystery, Movie with some Impressionism and Dark Undertones. It is one of those Rare Occasions when a Movie Fires on All Cylinders and is a Tightly Wrapped Package. There are many Quotable Lines with most of the Humor Derived from Drinking and the Rich, Married Couples Breezy Relationship.It is an Artifact of its Age in Regards to Attitudes about Alcohol and Drinking. Here it is all done with Funny Quips and there is Never a Hint about the Dangers of Excess as Nick and Nora are more than Competent Drunks and because They are Extremely Wealthy, without a Care in the World They Easily get away with it. The Film Shows in Stark Terms just how the Cultural Considerations can Drastically Change with the Current Hypocrisy (the War on Drugs) that will be ever so Clear with the Passage of Time.