This will be tough to write because as much as i hate to say it- The Thin Man is not very good.
It has one huge asset but otherwise it's an extremely by-the-numbers detective story. I've not seen any films starring Myrna Loy or William Powell before this but I'll bet a gazillion dollars that they don't work half as well separately as they do together. These two guys together is like cinematic alchemy- they must be the one of the greatest on-screen couples in cinema. I must be clear-it's not that 'every-sigh-aches-with-love' bond or they have this explosive sexual chemistry sort of dealy.
They just have this great believable affectionate teasing, the same that all the greatest relationships have, down pat.
They have this luminescent bond that could survive anything.
They just have this great believable affectionate teasing, the same that all the greatest relationships have, down pat.
They have this luminescent bond that could survive anything.
At one point, Nick Charles punches his wife.
I guess the type of relationship they share is what one would expect from of a 30's/40's screwball comedy but their love is not used as a devise to make comedy, it's a delightful draw as well as the comedy; it's not about a developing relationship, it's about an already well-defined couple. It goes without saying that any scene without them makes the film flatline and sadly, there's a fair amount of that.
I mean to say the script by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich is titanium-strong on dialogue & kitten-weak on plot. The plot is stodgey at best- you feel like they're pushing through the exposition so they can get back to the fun-to-write 'talky' stuff. I don't know but I doubt this issue pervades the Dashiell Hammett book this was based on, but i plan to read it. A curious thing about this film is the jolly positive effect of alcohol. Nick and Nora Charles drink like fish. They inhale booze. Are there any negative effects? If anything their intake might make them more effective in their laisse faire style of sleuthing.
I think the following exchange epitomises their relationship-
'We're gonna invite all the suspects... here?'
'Yeah.'
'What if something happens to us?'
'Hmmm-i do really want to find out who did do it...'
It's strange because i liked this movie but i know it's not very good; It could be better so i'll no doubt be watching at least one more of the 6 'Thin Man' movies made...
I watched The Thin Man (1934) on DVD via LoveFilm.
My 2011 in Movies will return with Scarface (1932)...
I guess the type of relationship they share is what one would expect from of a 30's/40's screwball comedy but their love is not used as a devise to make comedy, it's a delightful draw as well as the comedy; it's not about a developing relationship, it's about an already well-defined couple. It goes without saying that any scene without them makes the film flatline and sadly, there's a fair amount of that.
I mean to say the script by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich is titanium-strong on dialogue & kitten-weak on plot. The plot is stodgey at best- you feel like they're pushing through the exposition so they can get back to the fun-to-write 'talky' stuff. I don't know but I doubt this issue pervades the Dashiell Hammett book this was based on, but i plan to read it. A curious thing about this film is the jolly positive effect of alcohol. Nick and Nora Charles drink like fish. They inhale booze. Are there any negative effects? If anything their intake might make them more effective in their laisse faire style of sleuthing.
I think the following exchange epitomises their relationship-
How much have you had to drink?
5 Martinis.
Humph...well, I'm gonna need 4more Martini's over here then....I guess at the time, The Thin Man must have been just a very idiosyncratic take on the murder mystery, complete with the mischievous drawing room group reveal of the murderer but the tone is that of our heroes saying-
'We're gonna invite all the suspects... here?'
'Yeah.'
'What if something happens to us?'
'Hmmm-i do really want to find out who did do it...'
It's strange because i liked this movie but i know it's not very good; It could be better so i'll no doubt be watching at least one more of the 6 'Thin Man' movies made...
I watched The Thin Man (1934) on DVD via LoveFilm.
My 2011 in Movies will return with Scarface (1932)...
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