The Thin Man

Starring: William Powell, Myra Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell, Porter Hall, Henry Wadsworth
Directed by: W.S. Van Dyke
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Comedy, Mystery
1934

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A former detective (William Powell) gets involved in investigating a murder, at the behest of his wife (Myrna Loy).

Review:

Tim: I cannot truly describe how much I love the interactions of William Powell and Myrna Loy in this film. As Nick and Nora Charles, they are absolutely magical together. There's something that you can't describe about their give-and-take, the charisma that leaps out from the screen. Words fail me as I try to describe their perfect interactions. They just seem so authentic- authentically in love, authentically fond and familiar of each other. It elevates this film immensely. I had a great time watching these two on screen.

You really can't discount the adorability (just made that up) of our two leads. The whole film is propelled because whatever they do together is entertaining. Now, because this was the 1930s, William Powell does get most of the great lines. Powell gives one of the greatest performances I've seen- not because it's necessarily exhibiting great range of acting talent, but everything he does feels effortless. It never feels like he's acting for a second. He's so damned likable, so funny, always ready with a quip and willing to make a joke at even the direst of circumstances. He's brilliant, totally in love with his wife, and modest. He's also a big drinker, which just creates more funny situations. Honestly, his Nick Charles is immediately an unforgettable character. I could watch him play this role over and over again. Myrna Loy is certainly strong as well, but she's relegated to the #2 position. Still, it's a meaty role and she works very, very well in it. She's tough and sassy and strong. I really enjoyed her here.

The central mystery is a good one. The film does a good job of setting up the mystery, then giving us a large collection of different characters who could potentially be guilty of the crime. The movie really keeps us guessing- I honestly had no idea who the killer actually was. It's fun to watch Nick move through the case. He's retired, so while he cares about finding the culprit, he's free of any sense of responsibility. This isn't his job, it's something he's volunteered to help with. This creates so many humorous situations. The mystery comes to a head at the dinner party sequences. This was fun cinematically, but felt a little farfetched. Nick brings together a huge group of people, most of them potential suspects. He talks and asks questions until the guilty one finally reveals their identity. It might not be logical, but it's fun to watch.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Thin Man. It's a great crime mystery, it's hilarious, and it features two wonderful actors giving exceptional performances. This is such a fun movie- it's one I could easily watch again and again.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: After the Thin Man, Another Thin Man, Shadow of the Thin Man