The Thin Man (1934)

The Thin Man - 1934

Coming up next is 1934's "The Thin Man", a film which follows super sleuth Nick Charles and his wife, Nora, as they solve a murder on their honeymoon.  This film was insanely popular when it was released and spawned the production of five sequels.

The film's cast includes William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell, Porter Hall, Henry Wadsworth, William Henry, Harold Huber, Cesar Romero, Natalie Moorhead, Edward Ellis, Edward Brophy, and Asta.

Clyde Wynant (The Thin Man) is a man who is going on a business trip.  He promises to be back for his daughter's forthcoming marriage.  On his way out of town, he visits his secretary/girlfriend Julia to find out what happened to $50,000 in bonds that he wants to make as a wedding present to his daughter.  He is never heard from again.

Clyde's disappearance becomes all the more strange when Julia is found murdered in her apartment.

Enter Nick and Nora Charles (with their lovable dog Asta), who are honeymooning in New York.  Nick is a retired detective, and Nora is a wealthy heiress.  Clyde's daughter meets Nick by chance and asks him to take the case and find out what happened to her father.  Nora also wants a chance to see Nick in action.  "You know, it sounds like an interesting case.  Why don't you take it?" asks Nora.  Nick smiles and says, "I haven't time.  I'm much too busy seeing that you don't lose any of the money I married you for."  Nick ultimately gives in and takes the case.

And the suspect list is an interesting one.  We have Clyde's ex-wife, Mimi, and her new husband.  Mimi is desperate for money, and her husband is ready to walk out on her.

And gangster Joe Morelli is mixed up somehow too.  When Nick suggests that Morelli talk to the police, Morelli scoffs, "That’d be very smart.  That’s be about the smartest thing I ever did.  Me!  The police captain’s been in the hospital three weeks on account of we had an argument.  The boys would like for me to come in and ask questions."

There's an ex-con who knows a little too much about what really happened at the time that Julia was murdered.

And Clyde's attorney and representative claims to be in contact with Clyde.  Yet no one has seen or heard from him themselves.

Clyde's children even come under suspicion for a while, especially his son, who is obsessed with criminal psychology.

Eventually, Nick figures it all out.  In order to confront everyone, he decides to have Nora throw a big, fancy dinner with all the suspects as the honored guests.

The gathered guests listen anxiously as Nick tells them what he thinks happened to Clyde and who murdered Julia.

He must be on the right track, because suddenly a gun is produced and shots are fired, narrowly missing Nick.  The suspect is then arrested.

Nora rushes to Nick's side and tells him that he could've been killed.  She is so thankful that he isn't a detective.  Nick's mouth drops open in amazement as he remembers that it was Nora who insisted that he take the case in the first place.  After it's all over, Nick and Nora get on a train and head home to San Francisco.

Cast rundown:

   William Powell..................................Nick Charles

   Myrna Loy........................................Nora Charles

   Maureen O'Sullivan...........................Dorothy Wynant

   Nat Pendleton...................................Lt. John Guild

   Minna Gombell..................................Mimi Wynant Jorgensen

   Porter Hall........................................Herbert MacCauley

   Henry Wadsworth..............................Tommy

   William Henry...................................Gilbert Wynant

   Harold Huber.....................................Arthur Nunheim

   Cesar Romero...................................Chris Jorgensen

   Natalie Moorhead...............................Julia Wolf

   Edward Ellis......................................Clyde Wynant

   Edward Brophy...................................Joe Morelli

   Asta.................................................Asta

And that's all for The Thin Man.  It's the only one of the Thin Man films that is actually based on the novel of the same name.  I love the interactions between Nick and Nora, and the way that their dialogue is so naturally funny.  When Nora fears that Nick is doing something too dangerous, she tells him that he brought her to New York to make a widow out of her.  Nick says, "You wouldn't be a widow long."  Nora coyly smiles and says, "You bet I wouldn't."  Casually, Nick remarks, "Not with all your money."

Of course one of the best characters in the film is Asta.  In her memoirs, Myrna Loy said that the actors were not allowed to interact with the dog between takes.  Asta (or Skippy as he was then called) was a highly trained canine who was rewarded for his stunts with a squeaky mouse and a biscuit.

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