Silver Screen Icons: The Thin Man

The Thin Man (1934)

Originally slotted as one of M-G-M’s "B" pictures, this screwball comedy/murder mystery was boosted to box-office smash by the natural elegance and charm of its leads, William Powell and Myrna Loy, as Nick and Nora Charles. Nick is a carousing retired detective whose latest case puts him on the trail of a missing "thin man," Nora is his wealthy heiress wife, and Asta is their terrier pooch. W.S. Van Dyke directs from Dashiell Hammett's novel; with Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, and Edward Ellis. 91 min. BW/Rtg: NR

After The Thin Man (1936)

William Powell and Myrna Loy are back as society sleuths Nick and Nora in the second entry in the series. When Nora's cousin is wrongly accused of killing her husband, Nick must find the real murderer among the bluebloods of San Francisco. A young Jimmy Stewart co-stars as one of the many suspects. With Joseph Calleia, Jessie Ralph. 112 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Another Thin Man (1939)

In their third outing, the Charleses travel to the Long Island estate of a wealthy munitions mogul who's convinced his ex-business partner is out to kill him. And when his premonition comes eerily true, it's up to Nick and Nora to catch the murderer. Features the first appearance of Nick Charles, Jr. Myrna Loy, William Powell, C. Aubrey Smith star. 102 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Shadow Of The Thin Man (1941)

When murder occurs among the "horsey set," ostensibly retired husband and wife sleuths Nick and Nora Charles spend a day at the races sifting through the usual long list of suspects--including a pair of high-stakes gamblers, two reporters, and a low-level tout--to track down the killer. Fourth "Thin Man" entry stars William Powell, Myrna Loy, Barry Nelson, Donna Reed, Stella Adler. 97 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish.