Review of The Thin Man (1934) by William S — 01 Nov 2007
A film that combines two of my favourite genres at their peak: The Screwball Comedy and Detective Story. The detective story element is less important than the one-liners but it's testament to the film makers of the day that they invested a good deal of depth to both elements.
One of the things I love about The Thin Man is that William Powell's character Nick is drunk from beginning to end! Playing a drunk is one of those things that looks so easy when it's done well but it's notoriously difficult to play it convincingly and Powell pulls it off for the length of the film!
Myrna Loy & William Powell play their characters as hedonists - they are in this for the laughs and good times and it's what makes it so charming and seductive - it pulls you in for the ride!
I love the scene as the two heroes lounge around enjoying their Christmas day. Nick shooting a pellet gun at the balloons on the tree and Nora looking on disapprovingly in a massive mink coat "Say, aren't you hot in that?" "Yes, I'm stifling, but it's SO pretty?".
They made many sequels. After The Thin Man, the 2nd film, is ok, but they only got steadily more tiresome: Nick and Nora becoming 'respectable' - less of the inebriated Nick and even producing offspring!? (Asta was a true star and the baby of this family and didn't need 'real' children upstaging him!).
This review of The Thin Man (1934) was written by William S on 01 Nov 2007.
The Thin Man has generally received very positive reviews.
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