Review of The Thin Man (1934) by Devon B — 06 Jul 2009
The first in a series of films based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett, The Thin Man is a murder mystery revolving around a drunken, retired detective and his wife who are reluctantly drawn into solve the case.
An inventor has gone missing and the family thinks foul play is involved. Right up til the very end, the audience is kept guessing as to who the killer really is. Everyone seems to be a suspect. But the real focus of the film is Detective Nick and his wife Nora (and their little dog, Asta).
The two share an incredibly charming and witty relationship, which owes a great deal to the chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy. And while the drunk is played for laughs, it's not a completely unreasonable situation.
Nick just wants to enjoy his retirement, but due to circumstances, everyone involved in the case just seems to wind up at his door, til finally, at the chiding of his wife, he solves the case. There's a rael cast of kooks involved in the goings-on as well, including Tommy (Henry Wadsworth) the overly nerdy and socially inept son of the missing inventor.
At times, the movie can get a little bogged down in the details, but it's a highly entertaining film from the 1930s.
This review of The Thin Man (1934) was written by Devon B on 06 Jul 2009.
The Thin Man has generally received very positive reviews.
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