The Thin Man (1934)

This one is an oldie, but goodie. Don’t let the 1934 date stop you from watching it – it is a treat and you will get to see William Powell and Myrna Loy teach the actors and actresses that came after them – a thing or two about chemistry.

There are six Thin Man movies. This one is the first and to me the best in the series as it introduces us to Nick Charles (William Powell), Nora Charles (Myrna Loy), and their dog Asta (Skippy).

Nick and Nora introduced us to two techniques that have been used by Remington Steele, Hart to Hart, Moonlighting, Crossing Jordan, Bones, Castle and just about every cop/detective/medical examiner/private investigator show with a romantic subplot for the male and female lead characters….. I call it biting “banter” and the double entendre.

You REALLY have to watch and listen to this movie or you will miss something.

Side Note: There is a rumor circulating the internet this past summer that Johnny Depp is planning a remake of this movie where he plays the Nick Charles character. Johnny Depp as Nick Charles? Yes please.

But who would play this generation’s Nora Charles? She needs to be someone who can project a combination of brains, beauty, and cojenes.
Angelina Jolie? Katherine Heigl? Ideas?

Quotes
(Reporter asking Nora Charles about her husband Nick)
Reporter: Say listen, is he working on a case?
Nora Charles: Yes, he is.
Reporter: What case?
Nora Charles: A case of scotch. Pitch in and help him.

Nora Charles: Waiter, will you serve the nuts? I mean, will you serve the guests the nuts?

Plot Summary
Based on a book my Dashiell Hammett The Thin Man tells the story of Nick Charles (William Powell), a retired detective, and his, wealthy heiress, wife Nora (Myrna Loy). Nick is pulled back into service by a friend's disappearance and possible involvement in a murder. The friend, Clyde Wynant (Edward Ellis) (the "thin man"), has mysteriously vanished just after his former girlfriend, Julia Wolf (Natalie Moorhead), was found dead. Wynant quickly becomes the prime suspect, but his daughter Dorothy (Maureen O'Sullivan) can't believe he did it. She convinces Nick to take the case much to the amusement of his socialite wife. Nick pieces things together through intensive investigation and the murderer is finally revealed in a classic dinner-party scene that features all of the suspects.

Life Lessons
Love, Bantering, and other stuff…..

If you are a solid couple who has built a good foundation you have hashed over just about everything from soup to nuts by the time you reach your 25th wedding anniversary and know what topics to stay away from or to tackle if you want a good old fashioned debate…what this means is you have settled into the comfortable pattern of being friends.

Changing gears and moods just a little….

Here’s something to ponder on the next time you want to crown your fellow because he leaves his socks on the floor or you have to move that dresser for her for the 16th time.

A pal lost her husband recently … she was not prepared to let him go and it was an unexpected blow….illness diagnosed and in the matter of days he was gone.

I’m going to be blunt and shoot straight from the hip and heart…being last man or last woman standing after years of loving someone…just sucks. My pal’s description, not mine…but, I agree 100%.

One day, in the hundred acre wood, Winnie the Pooh and his best friend were talking things over. Pooh turned to Piglet and said, “If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day so I never have to live without you.”

Winnie (thanks to author A. A. Milne) is one wise golden bear.

The Thin Man Cast
• William Powell as Nick Charles
• Myrna Loy as Nora Charles
• Skippy as Asta, their dog
• Maureen O'Sullivan as Dorothy Wynant
• Nat Pendleton as Lt. John Guild
• Minna Gombell as Mimi Wynant Jorgenson
• Porter Hall as Herbert MacCaulay
• Henry Wadsworth as Tommy
• William Henry as Gilbert Wynant
• Harold Huber as Arthur Nunheim
• Cesar Romero as Chris Jorgenson
• Natalie Moorhead as Julia Wolf
• Edward Ellis as Clyde Wynant
• Edward Brophy as Joe Morelli
• And Others