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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Out To Sea (1997)

Out To Sea - 1997

Our next film is the fantastically funny "Out To Sea".  This 1997 film stars two of comedy's greatest legends and features them as they join a cruise as dance hosts.  The two guys find two gals to fall in love with and a riotous time is had by all.

The film's cast includes Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Dyan Cannon, Gloria DeHaven, Brent Spiner, Elaine Stritch, Rue McClanahan, Hal Linden, Donald O'Connor, Edward Mulhare, Estelle Harris, Sean O'Bryan, Alexandra Powers, and Esther Scott.

Charlie (Matthau) and Herb (Lemmon) are two brothers-in-law who couldn't be more different.  Charlie convinces Herb to go on an all expense paid cruise with him in an effort to bring him out of the sad state he's been in since his wife's death.

Things don't go well when they find their airplane seats are in the last row.  Herb figures they are the seats used to transport criminals.  In front of them, they have a baby that throws up.

Once on the cruise ship, the two guys poke around a very expensive stateroom.  There, they run into Liz LaBreche and her mother, Mavis, who is not very happy that the guys are there.  "I have been on a plane for three hours.  I have been in a taxi for an hour and a half.  I need to take a crap and a nap and I do not need an audience!" says Mavis.  To which Herb quips, "Sounds like a party we can miss."

Once they get to their own stateroom deep in the bowels of the ship, Herb begins to suspect that something is up.  "A good fart will give you a concussion," he says as he looks around.  Charlie has to explain to him that the reason that everything is paid is because they are working the cruise as dance hosts.  Herb is furious, but there's nothing he can do.  It's either work or pay the full price.

They meet their boss later that night.  A strict guy named Gil Godwyn.  "I'm your worst nightmare," he says to Charlie and Herb, "A song and dance man raised on a military base."

As they watch his absurd opening number, Herb leans in to Charlie and asks, "What could his parents ever have done to him?"

Appearances on the boat are important, because the ship's owner, Mrs. Carruthers, is aboard.

Charlie gets out of dancing (because he complains of "taking on a lot of water in the forward compartment") and heads off to the casino where he meets up with Liz LaBreche.  The two have an instant chemistry.

Herb meets Vivian while dancing.  The two also hit it off and spend a good portion of the evening dancing and talking.

The next day Charlie and Liz spend even more time together when he gets out of dancing again and heads into port with her.

Of course, Gil Godwyn corners Charlie and threatens his job.  Charlie's got to dance or pay.  Charlie prevails upon Herb to teach him the finer points of dancing.

When the time comes for him to dance, Charlie sets his sights (unknowingly) on Mrs. Carruthers, who accepts his invitation gladly.

When Liz comes into the ballroom, Charlie has to maneuver his way around the room without her finding out that he's a dance host.  Poor Mrs. Carruthers finds herself in the middle of some unconventional dance moves.  When she asks Charlie the name of a particular dance step, he says, "This is called the Brazilian Creep.  In Brazil, of course, it's just called The Creep."

After fortifying herself with a drink, Mrs. Carruthers returns to Charlie and says, "I feel ravaged...thank you."  Gil is shocked, because he's seen the way that Charlie and Mrs. Carruthers were "dancing".

Also dancing that night are Herb and Vivian.  An earlier misunderstanding causes Vivian to behave icily towards Herb, but they soon patch up their troubles.

A hilarious moment in the film comes when Mavis LaBreche enters the ballroom.  She points to the dance host of her choice and tells his partner to "take a hike".

The two then proceed to do a rather aerobic dance routine, much to the delight of the other passengers.

Troubles abound for both of our couples during the course of the film.  The two guys even have to commandeer a lifeboat and shoot off flares to signal a plane that the ladies have chartered to take them away.  Will they succeed?  Will love conquer all?

Cast rundown:

   Jack Lemmon............................Herb Sullivan

   Walter Matthau..........................Charlie Gordon

   Dyan Cannon.............................Liz LaBreche

   Gloria DeHaven..........................Vivian

   Brent Spiner...............................Gil Godwyn

   Elaine Stritch.............................Mavis LaBreche

   Rue McClanahan.........................Ellen Carruthers

   Hal Linden.................................Mac Valor

   Donald O'Connor.........................Jonathan Devereaux

   Edward Mulhare.........................Cullen Carswell

   Estelle Harris.............................Bridget

   Sean O'Bryan.............................Allan

   Alexandra Powers.......................Shelly

   Esther Scott..............................Maria Collins

And that's it for Out To Sea.  An interesting fact concerns Elaine Stritch and Dyan Cannon.  Although they play mother and daughter, Elaine Stritch was only twelve years older than Dyan Cannon.  This was the final film appearance of Donald O'Connor and Edward Mulhare.

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