The Thin Man (1934)

Former detective Nick Charles and his wealthy wife Nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it.

Director:

W.S. Van Dyke

Writers:

Albert Hackett (screen play), Frances Goodrich (screen play)

Stars:

William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 3 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Powell	...	Nick Charles
Myrna Loy	...	Nora Charles
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Dorothy Wynant
Nat Pendleton	...	Guild
Minna Gombell	...	Mimi Wynant Jorgenson
Porter Hall	...	MacCaulay
Henry Wadsworth	...	Tommy
William Henry	...	Gilbert Wynant
Harold Huber	...	Nunheim
Cesar Romero	...	Chris Jorgenson
Natalie Moorhead	...	Julia Wolf
Edward Brophy	...	Morelli
Edward Ellis	...	Clyde Wynant
Cyril Thornton	...	Tanner

Storyline

After a four year absence, one time detective Nick Charles returns to New York with his new wife Nora and their dog, Asta. Nick re-connects with many of his old cronies, several of whom are eccentric characters, to say the least. He's also approached by Dorothy Wynant whose inventor father Clyde Wynant is suspected of murdering her father's mistress (his former secretary ).. Her father had left on a planned trip some months before and she has had no contact with him. Nick isn't all that keen on resuming his former profession but egged-on by wife Nora, who thinks this all very exciting, he agrees to help out. He solves the case, announcing the identity of the killer at a dinner party for all of the suspects.

---

Plot Keywords:

based on novel | husband wife relationship | christmas party | police detective | shot in the back | 

---

Taglines:

M-G-M's new kind of mystery with more warm-blooded romance than cold-blooded murder. (Print Ad- New York Sun, ((New York NY)) 27 June 1934)

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to film historian Rich Drees, MGM paid Dashiell Hammett $21,000 for the screen rights to the novel, $4,000 less than Paramount had paid for Hammett's "The Glass Key."

---

Goofs

During Nick and Nora's Christmas Eve party, the handkerchief in Nick's jacket pocket keeps changing in appearance.

---

Quotes

Tom: [first lines]
Tom: Your daughter's here, Mr. Wynant. Mr. Wynant! Mr. Wynant!
Clyde Wynant, the thin man: Haven't you got any more sense than to shout at me like that?

---

Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown with the original novel by D. Hammett in the background.

---

Connections

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies (2000)

---

Soundtracks

California, Here I Come
(1924) (uncredited)
Music by Joseph Meyer
Played in the score at the end

User Reviews

Forget the plot, enjoy the banter.

Never mind trying to follow plot, instead follow the banter between Nick and Nora Charles, as portrayed by William Powell and Myrna Loy in this delightful comic mystery. Between the banter and the sexual innuendoes, the constant guzzling and shennanigans, this sophisticated couple actually do manage to solve a murder or three.

This seventy year old film still holds up well today and the reason is that the screenwriters knew how to write dialogue and character and were not dependent on action sequences to fill in the blanks like so many of today's screenwriters and directors, who are too busy chasing the big dollar to make a movie that is going to stand up over time. How many of today's action movies will we be watching seventy years from now?

Admittedly, there is some clumsy acting by some of the minor characters, at least viewed from today's point of view, but don't let that, like the plot, get in your way or you will miss out on what this charming film has to offer. And say, who was that Thin Man, anyway?

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 June 1934 (Canada)

Also Known As:

The Thin Man

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$226,408 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cosmopolitan Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1