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The Thin Man
(1934),
Director: W.S. Van Dyke, rated TV-PG
Dashiell Hammett's
Master Mystery
  Starring:
William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell,
Porter Hall, Henry Wadsworth, William Henry, Harold Huber, Cesar Romero, Skippy
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"Waiter, will you
serve the nuts? I mean, will you serve the guests the nuts?" -
Nora Charles
Why watch this?
This is screwball comedy ground zero, and it's wonderful.
Plot Summary:
When an eccentric inventor mysteriously vanishes and his former
associate is found murdered, his desperate daughter pleads with
a retired private detective to take the case. Although initially
reluctant, the laid-back investigator and his sharp, wealthy
wife dive into the increasingly tangled investigation for their
own entertainment. The couple navigates a web of eccentric
suspects and dangerous encounters, ultimately hosting an elegant
dinner party to expose the true culprit.
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Dad's Preview:
This lovely film, based on the Dashiell Hammett novel, harkens
back to a time when it was considered cheeky to solve mysteries
while half drunk. We are introduced to Nick and Nora Charles, a
leisurely (and married) detective team always looking for a
case. The star of this caper is Nick (William Powell) and Nora's
(Myrna Loy) witty banter. I remember thinking I wanted my
marriage to be like theirs. This popular film series spawned
five sequels - quite a feat for those days. Of course, I must
mention Asta, the wonder terrier - the most famous Hollywood
mutt since Lassie! Without that furry sleuth, they would never
have solved a crime. |
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Hunt Stromberg,
Cosmopolitan Prod.,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc. |
