The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)

Nick and Nora visit Nick's hometown, and end up involved in a murder.

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Robert Riskin (screen play), Dwight Taylor (screen play)

Stars:

William Powell, Myrna Loy, Lucile Watson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Powell	...	Nick Charles
Myrna Loy	...	Nora Charles
Lucile Watson	...	Mrs. Charles
Gloria DeHaven	...	Laurabelle Ronson (as Gloria De Haven)
Anne Revere	...	Crazy Mary
Helen Vinson	...	Helena Draque
Harry Davenport	...	Dr. Bertram Charles
Leon Ames	...	Edgar Draque
Donald Meek	...	Willie Crump
Edward Brophy	...	Brogan
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Dr. Bruce Clayworth
Anita Sharp-Bolster	...	Hilda (as Anita Bolster)
Ralph Brooke	...	Peter Berton
Donald MacBride	...	Police Chief MacGregor
Morris Ankrum	...	Willoughby

Storyline

Nick and Nora head to Nick's hometown of Sycamore Springs to spend some time with his parents. His father, a prominent local physician, was always a bit disappointed with Nick's choice of profession in particular and his lifestyle in general. With Nick's arrival however the towns folk, including several of the local criminal element, are convinced that he must be there on a case despite his protestations that he's just there for rest and relaxation. When someone is shot dead on his doorstep however, Nick finds himself working on a case whether he wants to or not.

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Plot Keywords:

fifth part | screwball comedy | vacation | nick and nora charles | murder | 

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Taglines:

Together again in M-G-M's riotous comedy. (Title lobby card).

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Thin Man's Rival

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was to begin production in 1942, but Myrna Loy refused the part. Instead, she went to New York to marry car rental heir John Hertz, Jr., and worked for the Red Cross war-relief effort. The movie almost began shooting with Irene Dunne as Nora Charles.

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Goofs

In the baggage car scene, Asta twice hides behind a milk can; once running from the right and the second time, running from the left. In the second sequence, the writing on the crates behind her is backwards. This is because the film editor simply reversed the negative from the first sequence in order to "create" the second.

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Quotes

Nora Charles: I wonder if she's acting?

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Connections

Featured in Twenty Years After (1944)

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Soundtracks

Deep In The Heart Of Texas
(uncredited)
Music by Don Swander (1941)
Lyrics by June Hershey (1941)
Sung a cappella by William Powell with improvised lyrics

User Reviews

The Vacation That Wasn't

Nick & Nora Charles (William Powell, Myrna Loy) decide to go back to Nick's home town and visit his parents. It had been some time since the Charles family had been back to see Nick's parents, as relations between Nick and his father had been strained. We are introduced to a wide cast of characters in the small town and, as this took place in World War II, the themes of "wartime work" and "wartime security" became watchwords. As with any situation with "security", mysterious happenings soon take over, and a man is killed in front of the Charles house as he comes to Nick for help. In typical disavowal of taking on the case - preferring to leave the investigating to the local police - Nick finds himself getting more and more involved, as does Nora, both more by choice than by events. In the end, in the usual showdown of all potential subjects to the murders (there are others as the story develops), Nick uses his disarming wit and pointed questions to find the murders and traitors involved with wartime intrigue at the local manufacturing plant. This movie is quite entertaining, perhaps not as top-notch as other "Thin Man" movies, but very close, and in the process of solving the crime there is always the delightful word play and verbal sparring between the movies two stars, Powell and Loy. Watching them work together on the screen is a delight, as always.