Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

Nick and Nora are at their wisecracking best as they investigate murder and racketeering at a local race track.

Director:

W.S. Van Dyke (as Maj. W.S. Van Dyke II)

Writers:

Irving Brecher (screen play), Harry Kurnitz (screen play)

Stars:

William Powell, Myrna Loy, Barry Nelson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Powell	...	Nick Charles
Myrna Loy	...	Nora Charles
Barry Nelson	...	Paul Clarke
Donna Reed	...	Molly Ford
Sam Levene	...	Police Lt. Abrams
Alan Baxter	...	'Whitey' Barrow
Henry O'Neill	...	Maj. Jason I. Sculley
Richard Hall	...	Nick Charles Jr. (as Dickie Hall)
Stella Adler	...	Claire Porter
Loring Smith	...	'Link' Stephens
Joseph Anthony	...	Fred Macy
Lou Lubin	...	'Rainbow' Benny Lumis
Louise Beavers	...	Stella
Asta	...	Asta

Storyline

Nick and Nora's hopes for a pleasant afternoon at the local race track are dashed when a jockey is found shot dead in the locker room. Nick's friend Lt. Abrams wants him to help out but Nick is enjoying the good life too much to get involved. However, he is subsequently approached by Major Scully to look into corruption and the role of organized crime in gambling. Others are killed but in the end, Nick gathers all of the suspects into a room and identifies the killer.

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | fourth part | screwball comedy | nick and nora charles | murder | 

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Taglines:

FUNNIER THAN EVER in their first new laugh-thriller in 2 years!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'ombra dell'uomo ombra

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The backdrop footage behind Nick and Nora after leaving the Bay Bridge traveling to the racetrack is authentic and rather historical, as one reared in the Bay Area can testify. They are driving the then new East Shore Highway, now known as the East Shore Freeway, formerly US40 now I-80.

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Goofs

When Nick is lighting Claire's cigarette she has the glove in her hand but then they show her getting her smoke lite and no glove in hand.

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Quotes

Claire Porter aka Clara Peters: And I haven't killed a jockey in weeks - really.

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Connections

References The Thin Man (1934)

User Reviews

Nick and Nora at it again

"Shadow of the Thin Man" is another addition to the "Thin Man" series starring that wonderful couple, Nick and Nora Charles, played to perfection by William Powell and Myrna Loy. In this film, they have a son, Nicky, who's adorable and keeps Daddy on his toes. In one scene, Nick has to drink milk (instead of his cocktail) so that Nicky will drink his; in another, so as not embarrass his son, Nick rides the carousel and gets quite dizzy. So does Asta - we see him hugging a fire hydrant for dear life once the ride ends.

The movie starts out innocently enough with Nick reading the racing forms to his son as if it's a story. When Nick and Nora get to the track, a murder has been committed and the two become immediately involved. Donna Reed has a small role as a secretary for a thug, and she's giving information to her boyfriend, a reporter, played by Barry Nelson. This was the stage actor's first film, and he's right out of college.

There are some very funny scenes in this film - the best being the one in the restaurant. But Nora and Nick attending a wrestling match is another goodie. That brilliant actor, Asta, really has a good supporting role. It's one of his better performances.

The murder mystery is interesting, but like all the "Thin Man" movies, the style, the repartee, and the humor are what make Nick and Nora fun and even today, keep them popular. And their little dog too.