Directed by W. S. Van Dyke
1934/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Umpteenth viewing
#138 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
IMDb Users say 8.0/10; I say 9.0/10
Nick Charles: I’m a hero. I was shot twice in the Tribune.
Nora Charles: I read where you were shot 5 times in the tabloids.
Nick Charles: It’s not true. He didn’t come anywhere near my tabloids.
An inventor mysteriously disappears and is blamed for the murder of his girlfriend and her possible paramour. His daughter (Margaret O’Sullivan) appeals to retired detective Nick Charles (William Powell). Charles would prefer to enjoy the high life with his rich, beautiful, and witty wife Nora (Myrna Loy) but she thinks it would be exciting for him to pursue the case.
Having a Merry Christmas
I have seen this many times and I always forget who the murderer is. That is because the mystery is just a vehicle to showcase the fantastic repartee of Loy and Powell. They make the perfect married couple, playfully bickering but obviously in love. It is also the ideal escapist fare when one has, say, spent a whole day watching a manhunt in Boston and thinking about people who have lost their lives and limbs.
Trailer
What a great team Powell and Loy were. Any movie they are in is worth seeing.
I agree! Thank goodness there are several more left for me to enjoy.
this would be a great movie any day. The film is a party in itself and is sure to make you happy.
I agree that this movie would be the perfect antidote to the horrors of reality.
This movie… this is one of my favorite movies of all time. It was one of the very first movies I watched once I decided to go through “1001 Movies,” and it was instrumental in devoting me to my journey. If I hadn’t hit upon a movie like “The Thin Man” so early, I might have only been half-hearted in my viewing, but if there were such treasures as this to uncover, then my goodness, full speed ahead!
A year and a half ago, I spent New Year’s Eve at the cinema watching The Thin Man with my sister and my husband. My husband is not a classic film fan, but holy crap, he was laughing and giggling and snorting through the whole thing. When we came home, he wanted to watch the sequel. He loooooooooooooved William Powell. I was nervous having him watch it because I didn’t know if he’d love it like I do, but what’s not to love about The Thin Man?
Powell and Loy are easily my favorite screen couple. I have two of their DVD box sets (The Thin Man films and Powell&Loy) and they are such happy, happy movies.
The jokes are just really funny! My husband likes this too.
I also love this one – it feels really great to know that there are several more to enjoy!
I just revisited THE THIN MAN. I too never remember the killer. Why did he do it? Who cares! You’ve had a delightful time with Loy and Powell!
Agree completely. There was never a more perfect movie couple.