The Thin Man (1934)

A laugh tops every thrilling moment!


Directed by: W.S. Van Dyke
Written by: Dashiell Hammett (novel), Albert Hackett (screenplay), Frances Goodrich (screenplay)
Produced by: Hunt Stromberg
Starring: William Powell as Nick Charles, Myrna Loy as Nora Charles, Maureen O'Sullivan as Dorothy Wynant, Natalie Moorehead as Julia Wolf, Edward Ellis as Wynant/The Thin Man, Porter Hall as Herbert MacCaulay, Harold Huber as Arthur Nunheim, Nat Pendleton as Lieutenant Guild, and Minna Gombell as Mimi Jorgenson
Music by: Dr. William Axt

Movies such as this just aren't made anymore. I don't care how many funny cop couplings or romantic mix ups you throw at me - you'll never match the Charles' team. Retired detective Nick Charles and his wife Nora are on vacation and trying to avoid anything more exciting than walking their dog, Asta, or the next great dry martini. But when one of Nick's old friends goes missing and people who were close to him start dying - Nora convinces Nick to jump on the case.

I know I use the word "chemistry" a lot - and for that reason I won't use it to describe what happens between Powell and Loy. Besides, it's more like electricity. The two fit together like a trenchcoat and gumshoe and the banter between them will keep you falling off your seat - while the mystery will keep you attempting to cling to the edge. I love the fact that neither of the Charles' could be considered the typical bumbling detective - no matter what you've heard. Both involve themselves in questionable capers as well as find trouble when they aren't looking for it. But it's done with such smooth and good-natured responses that it always seems like they might have planned it.

This movie (from a book) spawned an entire series of films starring Powell and Loy, and all were enormous hits. Ironically, the Thin Man mentioned in the title is the missing person in the first movie and doesn't appear in any of the following ones. But so many fans thought the Thin Man referred to Nick - that the studio kept the moniker.

I strongly encourage that you watch, if not the entire six film series, then at least this first one. There's comedy, action, alcohol, crooks, murders, the latest in 1930's forensic technology, and not to mention one of the greatest detectives of the last century. Nick and Nora get five dry martinis out of a possible five (5/5).