The Thin Man

Rating:
Summary: The greatest screen couple in film history
Review: This movie is a lot of fun, with wonderful dialogue, dated but charming glimpses of old New York, and an interesting mystery. But what makes it really memorable is the astounding chemistry between Loy and Powell. Loy proves here that she is that most rare of screen beauties--funny without trying to be, acting without seeming to be. It's no coincidence my wife and I named our daughter "Nora".

Rating:
Summary: Proof of the greatness of "PG" movies
Review: If you believe that a movie can be absolutely top notch without the use of graphic violence, gratuitous sex, or foul language, then this one will surely back you up. Myrna Loy is the epitome of female coolness, and William Powell (while perhaps a bit tipsy at times) is the model for all male detective's wit and understanding in nearly all subsequent mysteries for the next few decades. Of course being in black and white only adds to the flavor of the film. This is absolutely a must see for anyone interested in the genre of mystery films, or urban comedies for that matter. The Thin Man series is one of the few that manages to keep its high standards through out its run.

Rating:
Summary: These two are pure magic together!
Review: watching William Powell and Mryna Loy together is such a joy, they seem to be made for each other. they share a joke and let you in on it. You must watch all of the thin man movies, they are pure magic.

Rating:
Summary: Loy and Powell have a pefect on screen chemistry,
Review: Myrna Loy and William Powell lead an all-star cast of this adaptation of Daheill(Maltese Falcoln) Hammett's novel of the same name. The chemistry of the characters as portrayed by Loy and Powell worked so well that they made 5 sequles. The movie follows the book fairly well. Loy plays the role of Nora, a rich thirty something heiress. Powell plays the role of Nick Charlse, a ace detective who from the beginig of the series has wanted only to remain in retierment and live comfortably in Manhattan off of his wife's inheritence, but some how gets suckered in to taking another case after another. The story of the first one works quite well because Hammett himself was a writting consultant. The key to its success is that the situations that they encounter when trying to solve the crime are some what more plausable than other detective films of this era. This is no doubt due to the fact that Hammeett himself before he retired and went into writing full time wwas a detectivefor the Manhattan Police department in the 19teens &20's. Not only did their chemistry together as the Charlses worked, but MGM's top brassw thought it could be continued over to other films. They were right. Ironically since they were always staring people eventually just came to asume they were in real life too. This just goes to prove how strong a chemistry they had, and that it worked magnifcently.

Rating:
Summary: Class, Style, Comedy
Review: William Powell and Myrna Loy were one of the most remarkable screen couples of their age, or any other. The plot has something to do with a missing Thin Man, but the plot and the mystery are secordary to the reparte between the stars. This is what is called chemistry and is something Hollywood can't seem to capture these days.

Rating:
Summary: Nick and Nora Charles murder mystery
Review: I couldn't get past the hopelessly outdated nature of this 1934 film, "The Thin Man". William Powell strains believability as Nick Charles, an erstwhile superlative detective being in an almost state of inebriation. He and his wife Nora played by the alluring Myrna Loy are vacationing in New York. Powell has retired from the sleuthing business and is looking after his wife's vast holdings.
When a former friend and client, inventor Clyde Wynant becomes involved in foul play, Powell is coaxed to investigate by Wynant's daughter Dorothy played by a youthful Maureen O'Sullivan.

Unfortunately the actors playing the various cops and hoodlums seemed more like caricatures then authentic characters. The one saving grace to the movie was the comedic interplay between Powell and Loy. The star of the movie was their pet terrier, Asta. Also of note was a young Cesar Romero complete with pencil thin moustache but sans the famous white mane.

Rating:
Summary: Just Plain Good Stuff !!!
Review: The sound and picture quality of this 1934 B&W clasic is suprisingly clean. The story is quick moving and filled with light humor and the dialogue is delivered with the absence of background music (you don't notice).
Powell and Loy are better than Tracy and Hepburn. Powell's love for a drink is a sign of the time and Loy is just funny and sexy in a 1934 sort of way (check the train ride home scene).
It's just Good Stuff all around.

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS--BOX SET PLEASE!
Review: The world needs the DVD box set!

[...] Why not just believe in the quality of these movies and get them out to the public regardless of what the numbers show. Maybe something magical will happen, maybe you'll find yourself enthusiastically pushing something that's terrific, entertaining, civilized, funny-as-heck, and good for the world! And maybe the world will respond!

Anyway...

I wish I could give this ten stars! I can't say enough good things about this film and the whole series. Powell and Loy are incredible--most of my favorite lines in all film come from these movies (the rest are from Marx Bros. and W.C. Fields flicks). Powell has this almost Buddha-like comedic presence; somebody once called his comedy "effortless." This quality to his work actually improves and develops through the series to the point where by the last films his feet are barely touching the ground. And catch this guy's diction! My God, you don't hear the King's English spoken like this anywhere anymore!

This is the ultimate in urbane, witty, and sophisticated dialogue. A fellow further down mentions his preference for this over current films. I agree. Watch this and the other five in the series and see what's been missing from film for too many years.

[Aha! Maybe that's why they don't seem to want to release the rest of the series. People will realize the film industry's been [...] on them for years!]

Rating:
Summary: Powell and Loy in a Classic, Amusing Murder Mystery
Review: If anyone wanted to get a feel for what Thirties' escapism was all about -- the style, the insouciance -- they couldn't do better than watching The Thin Man or the Astaire-Rogers movies. In The Thin Man, a scientist with money disappears, many people could benefit, and Nick and Nora Charles are drawn into the mystery. William Powell and Myrna Loy are captivating. Nick and Nora may be drunks, or at least have cast iron livers, but they are a smart, sophisticated, funny and affectionate couple. I'm not sure any two leading actors ever showed such great chemistry together as Powell and Loy did.

Roger Ebert has said that The Thin Man is essentially a drawing room comedy with dead bodies. While the mystery is interesting, it's the style of the movie, the funny, urbane dialogue, the elegant look of the thing (and the elegant looks of Loy and Powell), that keep you watching with a smile. "I'm a hero," Nick says. "I was shot two times in the Tribune." "I read where you were shot five times in the tabloids," says Nora. "It's not true," Nick says. "He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids." The close of the movie, a dinner party at Nick and Nora's apartment where the guests are all suspects and the waiters are all cops, and where Nick unmasks the killer with Nora's wry encouragment, is a clever and amusing set piece. "Waiter,' Nora says, "will you serve the nuts? I mean, will you serve the guests the nuts?"

Five sequels were made. I've seen three. While the name "The Thin Man" lived on, the thin man himself didn't survive this first movie. He was what the mystery was all about.

It is amazing to think that this film is 70 years old. It looks great on DVD and is just as watchable on cable.

Rating:
Summary: WE WANT THE D-V-D BOX SET
Review: Those of you who love screwball comedies, film noir, and all those witty urbane detectives of cinematic and TV history like Remington Steele, Hart to Hart and others will find that the Thin Man series is the father of them all.