Song Of The Thin Man (1947)

Song Of The Thin Man - 1947

Our next film comes in the form of 1947's "Song Of The Thin Man", the final installment in the Nick and Nora Charles murder/mystery series.  When a man is killed on board a ship during a charity event, it's up to Nick Charles to ferret out the murderer and solve the crime.

The film's cast includes William Powell, Myrna Loy, Keenan Wynn, Dean Stockwell, Philip Reed, Patricia Morison, Leon Ames, Gloria Grahame, Jayne Meadows, Ralph Morgan, Bess Flowers, Don Taylor, Bruce Cowling, William Bishop, Marie Windsor, and Asta Jr.

Nick and Nora Charles are attending a charity event on board a gambling ship.  Nick wants to cut out early, which surprises Nora, who thinks he's slipping.  "Darling, give me my pipe, my slippers, and a beautiful woman...and you can have my pipe and slippers," he tells her.  "That's sweet," she replies sarcastically.

Once Nick and Nora are gone, things start to heat up.  Jazz band leader Tommy Drake is murdered aboard the ship, and the assailant is at large.

Oblivious to all of this, however, are Nick and Nora, who are trying to induce their son to practice the piano instead of baseball.

When he defies them, Nick Jr. is told that he must be punished.  Nick tells his son that he's sorry he has to induce this "corrective action".  Nick can't seem to bring himself to punish his son, remembering all the good times they had together when the boy was little.

Asta just watches, wondering what in the world is going on with Nick and Nora as they debate the merits of punishment.

When the two people accused of Tommy Drake's murder arrive at the Charles apartment and tell them what is going on, Nick is enlisted to help solve the case.

He's doubly intent on finding the murderer when a shot rings out from the hallway and shatters a bottle of his beloved liquor.

Nick takes Asta for some investigating at Tommy Drake's rooms on board the ship.  Initially, Asta finds someone hiding behind the curtains, but when things get a little dicey, Asta himself dives behind the curtains for protection.

Nick enlists the help of "Clinker", a musician who played in Tommy's band.  Clinker drags Nick and Nora from one jazz spot to the next looking for clues and interview subjects.  "Dig that music," says Clinker.  "It sends me out of this world!"  Nick just rolls his eyes and says, "Should've sent you a little sooner."

The list of suspects includes Tommy's girlfriend Fran, who is intent on selling some information she has.

The people accused of the murder in the papers are newlyweds Janet and Phil.  Janet is a wealthy socialite, and Phil is the owner of the gambling ship.  Phil is suspected because Tommy informed him that he would no longer be working for him.  Tommy made Phil a lot of money and wasn't pleased about that.

Janet's wealthy father David is also involved, especially as one of his guns is missing.  David protests that he was intent on scaring his son-in-law out of marrying his daughter.

Another musician in Tommy's band is Buddy Hollis, who also seems to know something about the murder.  He's committed to a mental hospital and he's not telling anything.

The Talbins (Phyllis and Mitchell) are also involved.  Tommy was supposed to leave Phil's gambling ship to work with Mitchell.

Also included in the list of suspects are the Amboys (Al and Helen).  Al is a gangster, and Tommy owed him a lot of money.

On top of a lengthy list of suspects, an expensive diamond necklace is also key to the case.

Trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, Nick, Nora, Clinker, and Asta sit down at a local restaurant and have a good think.

Of course, as he always does, Nick gets all of the suspects to return to the scene of the crime in hopes that one of them will make a mistake and reveal themselves as the killer.  "If the party gets rough, duck," he warns Nora.  "I'm practically under the table now, but not in the way I like to be," she responds.

After successfully revealing the murderer, Nick and Nora head home in time to tuck Nick Jr. and Asta in bed before they retire themselves.

Cast rundown:

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

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

   Keenan Wynn............................Clarence "Clinker" Krause

   Dean Stockwell..........................Nick Charles Jr.

   Phillip Reed...............................Tommy Eldon Drake

   Patricia Morison.........................Phyllis Talbin

   Leon Ames................................Mitchell Talbin

   Gloria Grahame.........................Fran Ledue Page

   Jayne Meadows..........................Janet Thayer

   Ralph Morgan............................David I. Thayer

   Bess Flowers..............................Jessica Thayer

   Don Taylor.................................Buddy Hollis

   Bruce Cowling............................Phil Orval Brant

   William Bishop...........................Al Amboy

   Marie Windsor............................Helen Amboy

   Asta Jr.......................................Asta

And that's all for Song Of The Thin Man.  This was the last film that Myrna Loy made for MGM Studios.  In her autobiography, Loy states that the movie was "a lackluster finish to a great series."  She also mentioned that she hated it.  Asta's son, Asta Jr., takes over the role of the beloved hound from his father, who by this time was in retirement.

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Rasputin And The Empress (1932)

Rasputin And The Empress - 1932

Our next film is 1932's "Rasputin And The Empress" and stars the three famous Barrymore siblings in the only picture they made together.  It's a familiar story: Rasputin comes to the Empress when she needs him most and he takes advantage of his position to undermine Russia.

The film's cast includes Ethel Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Ralph Morgan, Tad Alexander, John Barrymore, Diana Wynyard, C. Henry Gordon, Louise Closser Hale, and Mischa Auer.

Russians have gathered to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty, and they anxiously await the arrival of the Imperial Family at a celebratory church service.

After his parents arrive, the Czarevitch brings a smile to the faces of all who see him in the cathedral.

He is followed by his sisters, and the family makes their way through the cathedral to the altar.

Prayers are recited for the health and protection of the Romanovs.  The Czar also says a prayer for the prosperity for Russia and its people.

In one part of the cathedral, sadness mars the occasion.  Princess Natasha, lady-in-waiting to the Empress, has just been informed that her father, Grand Duke Serge, has been assassinated.  Her uncle, Grand Duke Igor, tells her that her place is by the Empress's side no matter the circumstance.  She gathers all her strength and (with the help of her fiance Prince Paul) maintains her composure.

After the service, the Imperial family receives their distinguished guests in an audience.

They are horribly disturbed when one of the guests offers his condolences on the death of Grand Duke Serge, which they had been unaware of.  The Czar orders that the audience be canceled.

He and the Empress retreat to the privacy of their apartments, where they think about Serge and reminisce about happier times for themselves and for Russia.

Later on, the Czarevitch has a fall, which instantly worries the Empress.  He is packed off into the palace.

It is revealed by the doctor to Prince Paul that the Czarevitch is suffering from an illness of the blood which he inherited from his mother.  His condition is very serious, and it's true nature has been kept a secret from the public.  The Empress prays for a miracle.

Natasha comes to the Empress with Rasputin, a mystic who has had a great success with healings.  The Empress is unsure, but she allows Rasputin to pray for her son.

Alone with the boy, Rasputin does more than pray.  He hypnotizes the Czarevitch so that he is completely under his power.

Later on after the boy's recovery, Rasputin uses his position at court to influence appointments within Russia's government.  He uses his access to police documents to blackmail individuals to doing his will.  He also visits the wives of important men and has them trade sexual favors in exchange for their husbands' advancement.

At a party given for Rasputin by Natasha, Paul confides to her that he is very uncomfortable with Rasputin.

Paul goes to the Empress and tries to convince her that her son has been hypnotized by Rasputin, but all she can see is that her son is well again.  Paul knows that something must be done about Rasputin's evil influence.

Princess Natasha goes to Rasputin and tells him that his life is in danger, and that Paul is plotting against him.

Paul does indeed attack Rasputin.  When the two are alone, he pulls out a gun and shoots him.  Rasputin, being forewarned, is wearing a metal breastplate and is unharmed.

Later, during a military review, Rasputin continues to show that the Czarevitch is under his control.

Rasputin goes to the Czar with his complaint that Prince Paul tried to murder him.  The Czar asks Paul for his resignation from his Imperial duties.

Still believing in his own invincibility, Rasputin begins to make advances towards one of the Czar's daughters.  Princess Natasha finds out about it, confronts Rasputin, and threatens to go to the Empress.  He overpowers her and puts her into a deep trance.

The Empress comes in and Rasputin tries to divert her attention away from Natasha.  (Note that the Empress is wearing a pendant of a swastika.  The inclusion of this piece of jewelry is extremely strange, as this film was released just after Hitler's takeover of Germany.  The swastika was a very popular religious decoration during the period which the film portrays, but its usage during this time in the 1930s was strongly discouraged by Hollywood.  It's interesting that it slipped through in this film.)

The Empress shakes Natasha out of her trance, and she tells the Empress what she observed Rasputin doing.  He calls Natasha a liar and strikes her, causing her to fall.  The Empress is furious and orders him out of the palace.

Before he goes, he tells her that he is the real Czar of Russia, and anything she orders or sends to the Czar will never reach him.

The Empress has one hope left.  She sends for Prince Paul, who comes to her during her work at a hospital.  He tells her that he knows what to do.

A large party is organized with Rasputin being the guest of honor.  During the party, he's served a large quantity of alcohol and cakes.  He recognizes one of the butlers as an employee of Prince Paul.  Rasputin has the entire place searched.

Prince Paul is indeed found.  Rasputin takes him by gunpoint to the cellar.

Once in the cellar, Paul tells Rasputin that the cakes he has been eating all night were poisoned.  A fight ensues and Rasputin is injured.  He tells Paul that if he dies, Russia dies.  Eventually, Rasputin is killed, drowning in a frozen river after he escapes from the cellar.

At the moment of Rasputin's death, the Czarevitch comes out of his trance, and he hugs his mother.

Things go from bad to worse in Russia.  The Imperial Family is removed from power and they are eventually taken to Siberia, where they are murdered.

Cast rundown:

   Ethel Barrymore......................................The Czarina

   Lionel Barrymore.....................................Rasputin

   Ralph Morgan..........................................The Czar

   Tad Alexander..........................................The Czarevitch

   John Barrymore.......................................Prince Paul Chegodieff

   Diana Wynyard........................................Princess Natasha

   C. Henry Gordon......................................Grand Duke Igor

   Louise Closser Hale..................................Princess

   Mischa Auer.............................................Butler

And that's it for Rasputin And The Empress.  This was Ethel Barrymore's debut in a sound film.  This film also caused a lawsuit which resulted in a disclaimer being put on nearly all future films which read: "This motion picture is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental".  The character of Princess Natasha was modeled on Princess Irina Yusupov, whose husband Prince Felix was mixed in the plot to kill Rasputin.  The Yusupovs sued the film company and received over $1 million in compensation.

The film is also notable because it contains real footage of the Romanov family, which MGM purchased from a collector.

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