The Thin Man (1934)

The Thin Man
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