Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

W.S. Van Dyke

Writers:

Dashiell Hammett (characters)
Harry Kurnitz (story)

Release Date:

November 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama | Mystery | Crime

Tagline:

Hey everybody, my folks are back on the trail of the dog-gondest mystery you ever saw! They're Wackier Than Ever!

Plot:

Nick and Nora are at their wise-cracking best as they investigate murder and racketeering at a local race-track.

Plot Keywords:

Jockey | Nick And Nora Charles | Murder | Debt | Detective

US Showtimes:

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Cast

William Powell	...	Nick
Myrna Loy	...	Nora
Barry Nelson	...	Paul Clarke - reporter
Donna Reed	...	Molly - Stephens' receptionist
Sam Levene	...	Lieutenant Abrams
Alan Baxter	...	'Whitey' Barrow
Henry O'Neill	...	Major Jason I. Sculley
Richard Hall	...	Nick, Jr. (as Dickie Hall)
Stella Adler	...	Claire Porter / Clara Peters
Loring Smith	...	'Link' Stephens - Gambling syndicate boss
Joseph Anthony	...	Fred Macy - Stephens' deputy
Lou Lubin	...	'Rainbow' Benny
Louise Beavers	...	Stella
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aldrich Bowker	...	Watchman (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #7707)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Debut of Barry Nelson.

Goofs:

Continuity: Prior to Nick going into "Whitey" Barrow's apartment, when the police have already searched it, the camera cuts to Asta with the leash on the floor. Next shot is Nick opening the door with the leash in his hand.

Quotes:

Nora Charles: He's getting more like his father everyday.
Estrellita: He sure is. This morning he was playing with a corkscrew.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hollywood Remembers: Myrna Loy - So Nice to Come Home to (1991) (TV)

Perhaps My Favorite Thin Man Story

I thought this was the best in the Thin Man series but, it should be pointed out, I was disappointed in the series as a whole. Of the six pictures, I only found two as "keepers."

This "episode" has less of the normal alcohol-worshiping, some great characters and some very funny lines. Some of those lines are very clever. Of course, there are a couple of really stupid people with dumb dialog, too, such as the cop in charge of the case. However, I really enjoyed the wild assortment of characters in this film and I always appreciate a film in which horse racing is involved.

The story can be confusing, but that's nothing new in these classic films in which the suspects are all rounded up Charlie Chan-style in one room and our hero divulges the crook despite hearing a bunch of excuses and accusations from all the suspects. Confusing or not, this is a fun story and interesting. It also was one of the few times I correctly guessed the killer!

Corny, but a very likable Thin Man story. William Powell, Myrna Loy, Barry Nelson, Donna Reed, Sam Levene, and Asta the dog all provide good entertainment.