The Thin Man: Cheers to An Enchanting Investigation
- donna31489
- Jun 16, 2015
- 2 min read
Brilliant the first time you see it. Extraordinary the second time you see it. And superb the third time you see it.
The Thin Man is a film that gets richer with every viewing.
A low-budget picture shot in only 12 days, it was a smash success that helped set the tone and style of the newly emerging screwball comedy genre at the time. One of the brightest classic mystery comedies ever made, it is still as fast paced, fresh and hilarious now as it was in 1934. And there are several reasons for that.
To start, this film redefined the screen depiction of marriage, showcasing a carefree couple playfully in love without children or marital melodrama. A breath of fresh air for moviegoers at the time, Nick and Nora Charles viewed life as an exciting adventure, sharing a deep intellectual affinity for each other.
Nick (William Powell) is a slick, retired private detective with an art for sleuthing. He’s married to Nora (Myrna Loy), a glamorous whirlwind of class and sass. Together, they live in an eternal cocktail hour with their pet mascot, Asta, solving crimes in their spare time.
While on a holiday vacation, Nick reluctantly takes on a case for a missing acquaintance, more for the amusement than the mystery. What results is a marvelous blend of marriage, murder and martinis.
A murder mystery in which the plot is peripheral to the performances, the real appeal of The Thin Man is its two leading stars. Powell and Loy’s chemistry is as intoxicating as the amount of alcohol they consume. Together, they create a balanced rhythm of snappy banter that never misses a beat, despite their affinity for liquor.
Between Loy’s wisecracking one-liners and Powell’s wickedly droll delivery of dialogue, there is never a dull moment. Loy is the perfect foil to Powell’s personal style, knowing when to pull back and when to come up to his level. You can’t imagine anyone else in these roles when you watch this film because they are harmoniously unforgettable together.
Launching Powell and Loy into box-office stardom, The Thin Man spawned five successful sequels, all of which saw Powell and Loy reprise their roles as the famous detective team.
The beauty of this film is that you can watch it over and over, still be entertained and pick up something new from the dialogue each time. That’s because the comedy is quick, but more importantly it's intelligent—something films today could learn a lesson from. The Thin Man exudes the mantra "less is more" in every aspect, which is why the comedy is still relevant over 80 years later.
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