The Thin Man

1934 Comedy - Mystery

Cast:

Nick Charles: William Powell

Nora Charles: Myrna Loy

Dorothy Wynant: Maureen O'Sullivan

Lt. John Guild: Nat Pendleton

Mimi Jorgensen: Minna Gombell

Clyde Wynant: Edward Ellis

Asta: Asta

Director:

W.S. Van Dyke

An eccentric inventor disappears, suspected of murdering his mistress. His daughter approaches an old family friend, a retired detective, to investigate the disappearance.

Nick Charles is the detective and at first is not interested, but his wife, Nora convinces him to pursue the case.

Clyde Wynant (Ellis), an inventor, promises his daughter, Dorothy (O'Sullivan) to give her away at her wedding but he must make a trip out of town first. He never returns.

Before Wynant leaves town he catches his mistress, who is also his secretary, with another man. He also suspects her of stealing from him. Shortly afterwards, she is found murdered in her apartment. Wynant becomes the prime suspect.

When Dorothy Wynant encounters Nick Charles at a Hotel bar just before Christmas, she begs him for his help in finding her father.

Nick is enjoying a comfortable retirement managing his wife's wealthy estate and drinking martinis. He's reluctant to get back into detective work. However, his wife, Nora (Loy), thinks it would be great fun and he decides to take on the case.

They quickly become entangled in a very dangerous situation with some very unsavory characters. Everyone becomes a suspect, even Nick.

Wynant's ex-wife, Mimi is used to living a lavish lifestyle. She's been trying to get money from Wynant by any means possible. She's currently married to a sleazy gigolo who is encouraging her to squeeze her ex for as much as she can get.

Wynant's mistress was involved with a few criminal types as well and they are all under suspicion.

There are so many suspects that the plot can sometimes be hard to follow, but the scenes are so entertaining, it really doesn't matter.

Nick and Nora are great fun to watch. They have a terrifying encounter with a suspect and the police an Christmas Eve. Nick is slightly wounded. They are reading the newspapers Christmas morning. Nora says "I read you were shot twice in the tabloids." to which Nick replies "That's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids."

The Charles' fox terrier, Asta watches the goings on with a bit of disdain. When used as a threat against an armed suspect, he is found trembling in fear under a wardrobe.

I enjoy the entire Thin Man franchise. The first sequel "After the Thin Man" is every bit as entertaining.

I'm a big fan of William Powell. He's so suave, sophisticated and witty. Myrna Loy is also one of my favorites. She was great in "Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House" with Cary Grant. I'll post about that one soon.

Boffo Buff