After The Thin Man (1936)

After The Thin Man - 1936

Our next film is the second installment of The Thin Man series.  1936's "After The Thin Man" follows Nick and Nora Charles as they return home to San Francisco.  They are barely home when murder and mystery come right into their midst, and it's up to Nick to uncover who is the murderer.

The film's cast includes William Powell, Myrna Loy, James Stewart, Elissa Landi, Joseph Calleia, Jessie Ralph, Alan Marshal, Sam Levene, Penny Singleton, George Zucco, Asta, and Mrs. Asta.

Picking up right were we left off in the last film, Nick and Nora Charles return to San Francisco after solving a murder case in New York City.  While riding in their car, Nick is recognized by what seems to be every newspaper boy, prize fighter, and other characters.  Nick is overjoyed to see everyone.  Nora just smiles politely.

When someone of Nora's acquaintance passes and says hello, Nora returns their greeting.  "Who was that?" asks Nick.  To which Nora slyly responds, "Oh, you wouldn't know them, darling.  They're respectable."

Once at their sprawling estate, dog Asta is so excited to be roaming around the grounds again.

He heads straight to the kennels, where he sees Mrs. Asta with several youngsters around her to welcome him home.

No sooner are they home then Nick and Nora get a call from Nora's cousin Selma.  Her husband is missing and she would like Nick to help find him.  When her husband later turns up dead, the case takes a turn as Nick now has to find a murderer how may be closer among them.

The suspects include Selma, the victim's wife.  It turns out her husband was spending increasing periods away from home and had been carrying on with another woman.

Selma's mother micromanages her daughter and seems to control her every thought and movement.  She never liked Selma's husband in the first place.

A former fiance of Selma's is also included in the mix.  He still likes to come over and visit, having never gotten over how Selma threw him over for her husband.

Another suspect is the manager of a nightclub who was involved in some strange business dealings with the victim.

The victim's songbird girlfriend is also a suspect.  What she lacks in brains, she makes up for with a beautiful singing voice.  She lets on just how uneducated she is later when she talks to Nick.  Nick talks about big words.  "You see, when it comes to words like that, an illiterate person..." He gets cut off by our songstress.  "What do you mean illiterate?  My mother and father were married right here in the city hall!"

During the course of the investigation, Asta makes off with a piece of evidence and he refuses to give it up.  Nick is engaged in a game of cat and mouse with the hound before he gets his hand on the vital clue.

In true Nick Charles fashion, he rounds up all the suspects and presents them with the facts of the case.  He succeeds in drawing out the killer, who in turn draws out a gun!  Will Nick and the rest of the gang escape the room without another murder happening?

Once the murderer is caught and Nick and Nora finally have some time alone, Nick is shocked to learn that Nora is expecting a baby.  "Why, Mrs. Charles!" he exclaims in surprise.

The two exchange a kiss, and Asta howls his approval as the credits roll.

Cast rundown:

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

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

   James Stewart......................................David Graham

   Elissa Landi...........................................Selma Landis

   Joseph Calleia........................................Dancer

   Jessie Ralph..........................................Aunt Katherine Forrest

   Alan Marshal.........................................Robert Landis

   Sam Levene..........................................Police Lt. Abrams

   Penny Singleton.....................................Polly Byrnes

   George Zucco........................................Dr. Adolph Kammer

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

   Mrs. Asta..............................................Mrs. Asta

And that's it for After The Thin Man.  True to form, Nick and Nora exchange some witty banter throughout the entire film.  "Did I ever tell you that you’re the most fascinating woman this side of the Rockies?" asks Nick.  "Wait 'til you see me on the other side," quips Nora.

An amusing moment in the film comes when Asta is visiting his wife and children in the kennel.  He begins to suspect her of infidelity when he sees a dark-colored puppy.  Even more confusing is a dark-colored dog who appears from a hole under the fence.  (You can just barely make out the strings attached to Asta's ears used by the filmmakers to make them stand up.)  After he chases the intruder away, Asta turns his back to the hole and begins to fill it in.

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