The Thin Man (1934)
May 23, 2016 9:31 AM - Subscribe
Nick and Nora Charles, a former detective and his rich, playful wife, investigate a murder case mostly for the fun of it.
Ebert: "[W]hat is it about? It is about personal style. About living life as a kind of artwork."
New Yorker, 1934: "The whole thing is fun, though perhaps not for the touchy."
Ebert: "[W]hat is it about? It is about personal style. About living life as a kind of artwork."
New Yorker, 1934: "The whole thing is fun, though perhaps not for the touchy."
Who did it?
I've watched the film a hundred times and always forget. It's the squirrely business manager, as I recall.
Love the family of eccentrics at the center of this movie. Cesar Romero is fantastic as the gigolo boyfriend. He has only one trick, which is to get quietly upset every single time someone points out he is a deadbeat, but my god is he good at it.
posted by maxsparber at 10:04 AM on May 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've watched the film a hundred times and always forget. It's the squirrely business manager, as I recall.
Love the family of eccentrics at the center of this movie. Cesar Romero is fantastic as the gigolo boyfriend. He has only one trick, which is to get quietly upset every single time someone points out he is a deadbeat, but my god is he good at it.
posted by maxsparber at 10:04 AM on May 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Are the sequels any good?
They're basically more of the same - fairly forgettable plots that are just vehicles to watch Nick and Nora be snarky and drink a lot. Watching Nick and Nora be snarky and drink a lot is highly entertaining though. AMC or TCM or one of those classic movie channels usually does a marathon of them on New Year's Eve and they're the perfect background-for-a-party movies, because they're stylish and fun and funny but not riveting.
posted by mstokes650 at 10:16 AM on May 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
They're basically more of the same - fairly forgettable plots that are just vehicles to watch Nick and Nora be snarky and drink a lot. Watching Nick and Nora be snarky and drink a lot is highly entertaining though. AMC or TCM or one of those classic movie channels usually does a marathon of them on New Year's Eve and they're the perfect background-for-a-party movies, because they're stylish and fun and funny but not riveting.
posted by mstokes650 at 10:16 AM on May 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
Are the sequels any good?
Pretty much the epitome of diminishing returns, particularly after the first sequel.
posted by entropicamericana at 10:28 AM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Pretty much the epitome of diminishing returns, particularly after the first sequel.
posted by entropicamericana at 10:28 AM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Jimmy Stewart is very young and very good in the first sequel. After the baby is born and Nick starts calling Nora "mother" I tune out.
posted by maxsparber at 10:39 AM on May 23, 2016
posted by maxsparber at 10:39 AM on May 23, 2016
"Is he working on a new case?"
"Yes, a case of Scotch. Pitch in and help him."
posted by dnash at 11:08 AM on May 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
"Yes, a case of Scotch. Pitch in and help him."
posted by dnash at 11:08 AM on May 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
Yeah, the sequels are not as great but that does not stop me from watching them whenever they are on.
(If I had been asked "who did it?" in the original, I would have probably responded "Was it Jimmy Stewart?" which probably means I've confused at least the first two films in my head anyway.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:55 AM on May 23, 2016
(If I had been asked "who did it?" in the original, I would have probably responded "Was it Jimmy Stewart?" which probably means I've confused at least the first two films in my head anyway.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:55 AM on May 23, 2016
The business manager killed the dad and then tried to cover it up by burying the body in fat man size clothes. However Nick figures it out because the Dad had some embedded shrapnel in his leg. That's why it's called "The Thin Man"; it hinges on the fact that the Dad was thin so they didn't think the body in fat clothes could be his.
I only know this because I've seen it like 100 times. The first 50 times I had no clue what was going on by the end. But I blame myself. I think they were purposely complicated and engaging.
My favorite thing about these movies is Nora and how she's allowed to be independently just as funny, intelligent, and drunk as her husband.
I personally think the sequels are just fine! You know, "fine" in the old sense.
posted by bleep at 12:03 PM on May 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
I only know this because I've seen it like 100 times. The first 50 times I had no clue what was going on by the end. But I blame myself. I think they were purposely complicated and engaging.
My favorite thing about these movies is Nora and how she's allowed to be independently just as funny, intelligent, and drunk as her husband.
I personally think the sequels are just fine! You know, "fine" in the old sense.
posted by bleep at 12:03 PM on May 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
On an "Old Movie Club" episode of the Incomparable Podcast, #253, they discuss "The Thin Man" and "The Maltese Falcon." It is agreed that the plots are a little wobbly, but the dialogue shoves aside those minor stylistic quibbles. If you've seen either of the movies, I promise that you will enjoy this podcast.
And I agree, bleep: Nora is fantastic! My high school friends & I watched these movies in mixed company and we loved the fact that Nora is entirely her husband's equal -- it's obviously why they're such a perfect pair.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:29 PM on May 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
And I agree, bleep: Nora is fantastic! My high school friends & I watched these movies in mixed company and we loved the fact that Nora is entirely her husband's equal -- it's obviously why they're such a perfect pair.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:29 PM on May 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is my counterpoint to arguments that the leads in a TV show should never hook up. This is a prime example of how to do it right.
I love the fact that Nick is trying to get a way from his old life and just live it up, but keeps getting pulled back in. Usually by his wife.
posted by beowulf573 at 1:51 PM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love the fact that Nick is trying to get a way from his old life and just live it up, but keeps getting pulled back in. Usually by his wife.
posted by beowulf573 at 1:51 PM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
After the baby is born and Nick starts calling Nora "mother" I tune out.
Yeah, pretty much this. Before the baby, though, they're worth watching. The first two are definitely the best of the lot.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:40 PM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, pretty much this. Before the baby, though, they're worth watching. The first two are definitely the best of the lot.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:40 PM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I read where you were shot five times in the tabloids.
It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids.
posted by RobotHero at 5:41 PM on May 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids.
posted by RobotHero at 5:41 PM on May 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
One of the few DVD box sets I own is these films. Sharing them with both my first and my current wife has always been a joy.
posted by mwhybark at 7:25 PM on May 23, 2016
posted by mwhybark at 7:25 PM on May 23, 2016
These two are my role models.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:38 PM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:38 PM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Myrna Loy is just awesome in this and her faux-naive delivery:
posted by mark k at 9:03 PM on May 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Would-be Intimidating Cop: Haven't you heard of the Solomon Act?Unfairly ignored IMHO is another Powell/Loy vehicle, Love Crazy.
Nora: Oh that's OK, officer, we're married.
posted by mark k at 9:03 PM on May 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Nora Charles: How many drinks have you had?
Nick Charles: This will make six Martinis.
Nora Charles: All right. Will you bring me five more Martinis, Leo? Line them right up here.
Nora is badass.
posted by gingerest at 6:29 AM on May 24, 2016 [6 favorites]
Nick Charles: This will make six Martinis.
Nora Charles: All right. Will you bring me five more Martinis, Leo? Line them right up here.
Nora is badass.
posted by gingerest at 6:29 AM on May 24, 2016 [6 favorites]
Nora is badass.
That she is. She's the best.
I bought the first four movies in a box set the other day, after I mentioned "Nick and Nora" to my beau, and was met with confusion, as he had not heard of them. This was something to be rectified immediately!
I love, love, love Nick and Nora's relationship. The banter, the chemistry, the fact that they are both interesting characters who make no excuses.
I actually found the latter two sequels a bit easier to follow than the first one, because the style is more of the same, and the writing is not as convoluted (but less clever). Still decent movies, and I'm going to make the beau watch the fourth one, since we have it and everything! (However, I'm probably not going to go out of my way to find the fifth one on DVD or anything. The first four were in the set, and that's good enough for me.)
posted by PearlRose at 6:44 AM on May 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
That she is. She's the best.
I bought the first four movies in a box set the other day, after I mentioned "Nick and Nora" to my beau, and was met with confusion, as he had not heard of them. This was something to be rectified immediately!
I love, love, love Nick and Nora's relationship. The banter, the chemistry, the fact that they are both interesting characters who make no excuses.
I actually found the latter two sequels a bit easier to follow than the first one, because the style is more of the same, and the writing is not as convoluted (but less clever). Still decent movies, and I'm going to make the beau watch the fourth one, since we have it and everything! (However, I'm probably not going to go out of my way to find the fifth one on DVD or anything. The first four were in the set, and that's good enough for me.)
posted by PearlRose at 6:44 AM on May 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Asta was played by Skippy who was also in The Awful Truth, Bringing Up Baby, and Topper Takes a Trip.
posted by Ideefixe at 12:35 PM on May 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 12:35 PM on May 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
Unfairly ignored IMHO is another Powell/Loy vehicle, Love Crazy.
I caught that one on TMC, loved it. (I set up a wish-list for my tivo to auto-record anything with Loy + Powell.) I Love You Again was another fun one.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:46 AM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
I caught that one on TMC, loved it. (I set up a wish-list for my tivo to auto-record anything with Loy + Powell.) I Love You Again was another fun one.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:46 AM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
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The actual murder mystery is completely impenetrable. Who did it? I don't even remember, except that rather disappointingly it wasn't the tidy oddball with the giant book.
Are the sequels any good?
posted by theodolite at 9:58 AM on May 23, 2016 [1 favorite]