Another Thin Man (1939) – Nick and Nora Charles (along with Asta the dog and their new baby Nicki) set out to solve another mystery of who is plotting against an old family friend.
Directed by W.S. Van Dyke Starring William Powell, Myrna Loy
Why You Will Like It: Perfect combination of light comedy and murder mystery.
MGM figured out that the team of Myrna Loy and William Powell was a winner in short order. They would co-star in 14 movies during their career. They shared that rare and wonderful thing called “chemistry”. In Nick and Nora Charles, they have the perfect vehicle to work their magic.
If you’re not familiar with the characters, Nick is a retired, hard-drinking detective. Nora is his younger, heiress wife who has no illusions about who her husband is. Together they are a very effective mystery solving team. Most of all they are fun to watch. It would be easy to dismiss Loy’s character as a lightweight young woman, but as you watch you realize Nora Charles plays off the social expectations of the day with a sharp mind and wit ready at all times. In the same way, Nick wants the world to believe that he’s a wastrel. In this movie, he not only shows his brilliance as an investigator but a wonderful touch as a dad as well.
Some parts of the movie show their age. Expectations and acceptable behaviors have changed quite a bit in 6 decades or so. Nick’s casual attitude towards alcohol and Nora’s “good little wife” moments will grate a little if you let them. But you would lose the opportunity to revel in the back and forth between two talented actors having fun. Because that’s what the “Thin Man” movies are all about. A lot of fun and smooth silliness.
Rating – *** Worth A Look
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