The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)

The Thin Man Goes Home - 1944

Coming up next, we have 1944's "The Thin Man Goes Home", in which we see the continuing story of Nick and Nora Charles as they solve yet another murder case and save the day.

The film's cast includes William Powell, Myrna Loy, Lucile Watson, Gloria DeHaven, Anne Revere, Helen Vinson, Harry Davenport, Leon Ames, Donald Meek, Edward Brophy, Donald MacBride, Anita Sharp-Bolster, Minor Watson, Irving Bacon, Etta McDaniel, and Asta.

Nick and Nora Charles, along with their faithful hound Asta, are going on a trip to Nick's hometown of Sycamore Springs.  Leaving their son at school, the Charles's are looking forward to getting away for a brief time to relax and recharge their batteries.

Asta, of course, makes things difficult at the train station when he sees a girl he likes.  He runs after her, and Nick runs after him.

Knowing animals must ride in the baggage car, Nick and Nora disguise Asta under Nora's fur coat.  The conductor comes by and sees the coat and says, "All animals must go in the baggage car."  "That's not an animal," Nora protests, "that's my fur coat."  To which the conductor replies, "If it can wag its tail, it goes in the baggage car."  Nick and Nora don't make Asta ride alone.  They intend to go where he goes.

Some goats scare Asta, and he scampers up on a crate that holds some geese.  Unfortunately, one of them bites his tail.  It's not a very fun trip for the poor little guy.

Once in Sycamore Springs, Nick's parents are glad to see them.  Nick's father, however, doesn't really think that Nick's chosen profession is worthwhile.

When a murder happens right at their front door, Nick gets a chance to show his father what he can do.

The suspects are wide and varied.  There's a man who seems to know Nick pretty well.  He also seems to show up at the time when he could've had opportunity to commit the crime.

A well-to-do young lady and her father anxious to cover up any involvement in the scandal continually try and antagonize Nick into stopping any investigation.

Crazy Mary, the town character, is particularly violent when it comes to revealing any information.  Nick is eager to question her, too.

And a husband and wife team who have a particular interest in a painting that Nora buys Nick for his birthday also come under suspicion.

During the course of the investigation, Nick and Nora attend a local charity dance.  When Nora wants to help, Nick puts her off by handing her over to a very eager young sailor to dance.  Poor Nora is flipped upside down and whirled mercilessly around the dance floor.

Nick can only watch in amazement as his wife gets more than she bargained for while dancing.

Afterwards, Nora staggers off to find Nick.  She's in a daze from her experience, and it's no wonder!

As always and in true Nick Charles fashion, Nick gathers up all the suspects and tells them how the murder happened.  He even draws out the murderer, which causes the police to arrest him and the case is closed.

When all is said and done, Nick's father congratulates his son on a job well done.  Nick is so full of pride that he puffs out his chest and a few buttons pop on his vest to the delight of the onlookers.

Cast rundown:

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

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

   Lucile Watson............................Mrs. Charles

   Gloria DeHaven.........................Laurabelle Ronson

   Anne Revere.............................Crazy Mary

   Helen Vinson.............................Helena Draque

   Harry Davenport........................Dr. Bertram Charles

   Leon Ames................................Edgar Draque

   Donald Meek.............................Willie Crump

   Edward Brophy...........................Brogan

   Donald MacBride........................Police Inspector MacGregor

   Anita Sharp-Bolster....................Hilda

   Minor Watson............................Sam Ronson

   Irving Bacon.............................Tom

   Etta McDaniel............................Ronson's Maid

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

And that's it for The Thin Man Goes Home.  This was the first film that Myrna Loy starred in after a brief acting hiatus during World War II to work for the Red Cross.  Her last film had been 1941's "Shadow Of The Thin Man".  It was thought that Irene Dunne would replace Loy in the Thin Man series, but audiences demanded that Nora Charles could only be played by Myrna Loy.

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