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The Thin Man
The Thin Man
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The Thin Man

The Thin Man

The Thin Man

1934
Romance, Comedy
1h 31m
Comedy-mystery featuring Nick and Nora Charles: a former detective and his rich, playful wife. They solve a murder case mostly for the fun of it. (imdb)

Directed by:

W.S. Van Dyke
WS-Van-Dyke
50 total credits
Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke II (Woody) (March 21, 1889 – February 5, 1943) was an American film director and writer who made several successful early sound films, including Tarzan the Ape Man in 1932, The Thin Man in 1934, San Francisco in 1936, and six popular musicals with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald.

Writers:

Albert Hackett
Albert-Hackett
24 total credits
Credits include: It's a Wonderful Life, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, The Thin Man and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
,
Dashiell Hammett
Dashiell-Hammett
18 total credits
Credits include: The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man, After the Thin Man, Another Thin Man and The Glass Key
,
Frances Goodrich
Frances-Goodrich
31 total credits
Credits include: It's a Wonderful Life, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, The Thin Man and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Starring:

Porter Hall
Porter-Hall
63 total credits
An American character actor who possessed a weak chin and shifty eyes, Hall played movie villains or comedic incompetent characters. He made his film debut in the 1931 drama Secrets of a Secretary. He later appeared in The Petrified Forest (1936), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), His Girl Friday (1940), Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944), Double Indemnity (1944), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), and Ace in the Hole (1951).
,
William Powell
William-Powell
96 total credits
A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times, for The Thin Man (1934), My Man Godfrey (1936) and Life with Father (1947).
,
Myrna Loy
Myrna-Loy
99 total credits
Credits include: The Best Years of Our Lives, The Thin Man, After the Thin Man, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and Love Me Tonight
,
Edward Ellis
Edward-Ellis
25 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, Fury, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, The Texas Rangers and Maid of Salem
,
Cesar Romero
Cesar-Romero
102 total credits
Credits include: Batman, The Thin Man, Ocean's Eleven, Around the World in 80 Days and Vera Cruz
,
Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen-OSullivan
67 total credits
Credits include: Hannah and Her Sisters, The Thin Man, Peggy Sue Got Married, A Day at the Races and The Big Clock
,
Henry Wadsworth
Henry-Wadsworth
9 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, Mark of the Vampire, Applause, The Show-Off and This Side of Heaven
,
Nat Pendleton
Nat-Pendleton
87 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, Another Thin Man, At the Circus, The Great Ziegfeld and Lady for a Day
,
Minna Gombell
Minna-Gombell
38 total credits
Credits include: The Best Years of Our Lives, The Thin Man, Make Way for Tomorrow, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Merry Widow
,
Natalie Moorhead
Natalie-Moorhead
37 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, Illicit, The Benson Murder Case, The Mind Reader and Three Wise Girls
,
Edward Brophy
Edward-Brophy
54 total credits
Credits include: Dumbo, The Thin Man, Mad Love, The Champ and It Happened on 5th Avenue
,
Harold Huber
Harold-Huber
50 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, San Francisco, Ladies They Talk About, Klondike Annie and Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo

Franchise:

The Thin Man

Country:

USA

Language:

English

The Thin Man

1934
Romance, Comedy
1h 31m
Your probable score

Ratings & Reviews

Compact view
Compact view
Average Percentile: 68.97%
16 Aug 2008
95
92nd
There is nothing like this being made in current Hollywood. Powell and Loy are so great together that is just wonderful to watch them play off each other.
27 Sep 2007
90
95th
William and Myrna are tops. And it's 1934--right after Prohibition. And they're practically gloating about it! Definitely one to watch right after the keg arrives.
24 Dec 2011
90
83rd
A routine programmer . . . but then the magic happened. A fine Hackett-Goodrich screenplay, the great chemistry between Powell and Loy (two of the most charming, ironic actors ever to appear on screen) plus One Shot Woody's breezy no-nonsense direction and a memorable supporting cast helped create a whole much greater than the sum of its parts
09 Sep 2020
75
49th
The film is like most current tv sitcoms--and not due to the vaudevillian sense of humor. But because appreciation of it will depend on your affinity for the characters. While their drinking is ridiculous (and probably calls for an intervention), the back and forth bickering & relationship is cool. I wish a more time had been put into the actual mystery and the detective work of solving it; as even for classic Hollywood cinema the ending is rushed. Still, it has its charms.
25 Apr 2017
95
98th
I've watched this movie 5 times and still can't remember its twists and turns, nor even who done it, off the top of my head. But that doesn't matter. It's Nick and Nora (Powell and Loy) that make this movie, not a minor thing like the plot. They stand out in all of Hollywood for their chemistry, dialogue, comportment and drinking. The rest of the cast and script ain't too shabby either. May be the most downright enjoyable film I've seen.
15 Sep 2012
92
93rd
"I read you were shot 5 times in the tabloids." "It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids."
24 Dec 2008
95
95th
Great film, great story and the greatest pairing in film history. William Powell and Myrna Loy are perfect (they starred in a record 16 films together!) as Nick and Norah in a great adaption of a great book. The only downside is some poor acting by some of the supporting cast.
13 Aug 2007
73
45th
So-so detective story gets a boost from its comic touches. I'm not at all a fan of alcohol humor (or drunk acting, which is done badly 95% of the time), still I thought some of the one-liners were pretty good. The movie takes a bit too long to get going, it's 10 minutes before you even meet Nick & Nora, but after that the pace is solid. I'd watch another one of these, but I'm not really dying to. I liked Asta.
03 Apr 2021
100
96th
This adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's novel is a good mystery, but that's really beside the point. The mystery is a device for delivering a delightful screwball comedy where Powell and Loy are superhumanly charming and lob tipsy banter at each other. I'd watch the film if there was no mystery and I'd still love it. That said, when Powell does become fully engaged and solves the mystery in an almost off-hand way, it's equally delightful.
08 Dec 2015
83
77th
The murder mystery itself gets a little convoluted and hard-to-follow at times, but it doesn't really matter much since the entire appeal of this film comes from Loy and Powell's insanely infectious on-screen chemistry. Their relationship feels authentic and genuine and fun and the two of them are so charismatic and charming and witty that you just want to spend every minute watching them. That muddled mystery stuff? That's secondary, and the movie is better for it.
29 Oct 2015
79
75th
Carried primarily by the humor and chemistry of powell and loy. The mystery is ok; it gets a bit too madcap by the end and the resolution is abrupt. Very funny film though.
17 Apr 2015
68
76th
This is the world as seen by a drunk. The fact that there was a murder seems an afterthought to a series of comic dialogues showing how witty and humorous alcoholics think they are.
20 Nov 2013
60
43rd
I'm afraid I didn't see the big deal about this movie. I get that the chemistry between the two leads is meant to be the primary highlight, and it was nice, but hardly enough to sustain the entire film for me. They almost focused more on the dog, which was apparently quite famous in the '30s. I didn't find the mystery particularly intriguing, nor the resolution very shocking or satisfying. It has a couple of witty moments, but otherwise, I didn't think it was anything special.
21 Jan 2013
85
94th
Hammett's novel is quite different, with more focus on the mother and daughter as suspects and femme fatales. But amping up the comedy works splendidly, with Powell and Loy sharing terrific chemestry and performing hilariously. It's great!
04 Dec 2011
60
72nd
"Is there anything else you can tell me about this case?" "Yes, it's put me way behind on my drinking." A very convoluted whodunit I'm going to have to watch twice to figure it all out. I love the bantering between the two main characters. I had plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
25 Mar 2011
94
93rd
Funny, entertaining, witty with fantastic duet Powell Loy.
21 Mar 2011
92
61st
The best part about this movie is just how fantastic the two lead actors play off one another. You get a sense that their relationship is very real and that they are totally in love with each other. This leads to a mystery being solved with a playful air that really feels satisfying. You come to really like this couple and want to see them continue their escapades well after the curtain call.
15 Jan 2011
90
80th
William Powell and Myrna Loy are probably the greatest on-screen couple of all time and they are absolutely brilliant in The Thin Man. You can't care too much about the mystery, because it's all about them. Oh yeah, I can't forget Asta, cinema's most charming dog.
11 Mar 2009
82
74th
Very straightforward adaptation of Hammett, with one difference: the chemistry between Powell and Loy that lit up the screen and launched a thousand ships. Figuratively speaking.
08 Oct 2007
95
96th
Great writing, great acting. Myrna Loy is hot.
17 Sep 2007
82
89th
One of the greatest couples in movie history. Watch out or they drink you under the table.
13 Aug 2007
90
92nd
Ah, Nick Charles, the original alcoholic detective.
01 Mar 2007
55
49th
Classic.
11 Dec 2006
90
94th
Powell and Loy make a great team and the mystery aspect combines perfectly with the comedy.
28 Apr 2021
81
78th
Nick and Nora have such a lovely chemistry that it retroactively makes me wonder why most detective stories from the last 90 years do not star a bickering crime-solving couple of drunk vacationers.
18 Mar 2021
3
45th
The mystery isn't all that exciting, at least until a brilliant suspects-gathered finale, nor is it aesthetically very pleasing. It succeeds almost entirely by charm. The pre-code sauciness and eccentric chemistry between Loy and Powell have been this film's claim to fame, and rightfully so.
05 Apr 2020
65
87th
The amount of alcohol consumed in "The Thin Man" is cringe-worthy. However, the movie is lighthearted and enjoyable to watch.
31 Jan 2020
71
58th
All of the Powell/Loy banter is absolutely fantastic, their onscreen chemistry is astounding, they sparkle. The mystery around them... is really quite badly constructed? Despite long stretches of exposition (without the couple we came for), relevant details slip right by the viewer, and despite many cutaways to implicit perfidy, the true identity of the murderer is impossible to figure out before it's revealed. Nick and Nora are worth pushing thru for, but they deserve better support.
25 Dec 2018
62
60th
God I'd love a version of this with, like, 75% less plot and with John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands as Nick and Nora...
01 Jul 2018
98
98th
#couplegoals
28 Jun 2018
85
67th
Alcoholism: the movie.
11 Mar 2017
7
44th
Tales of a drunken detective and their cute dog.
31 Dec 2015
94
93rd
Não é um mistério muito intrincado, mas eu havia esquecido o quanto as personagens da Hollywood dos anos 30 são as mais charmosas da história do cinema, tanto em termos de carisma dos atores, quando de diálogos afiadíssimos.
02 Feb 2015
60
68th
It's a FUN movie for sure, but a lot of jokes feel outdated which is to be expected after 80 years. It's more amusing than really laugh-out-loud funny. Best things about it are the chemistry between Powell and Loy, constant sipping of cocktails (which feels very un-PC nowadays) and the sarcastic dialogue which is delivered at a rapid pace. There's a lot here that current Hollywood could learn from.
14 Jul 2014
60
36th
Wasn't as funny as advertised but it wasn't bad. Feels average it mostly every way.
26 Mar 2013
92
98th
May not be the best movie of the 1930's, but its combination of a wonderfully convoluted murder plot with two utterly charismatic leads, dropping almost Lubitsch-like innuendos may make it the perfect 1930's movie.
14 Mar 2013
80
54th
A well made screwball whodunit that is carried by great chemistry between the two leads. Enjoyable light movie that didn't particularly move me in anyway, but I respect the writing and sense of comedic timing.
01 Mar 2013
90
99th
Superb! One of the great drunken couples! William Powell & Myrna Loy teaming for the second time and the first time for real as this is where they find their chemistry. And what a complex and fast paced murder mystery filled with all kinds of characters and witty remarks. This is one of those movies that just gives you a great big smile! W.S. Van Dyke shot this film in just 12 days and it turned out to be great making a big profit and becoming one of the most entertaining movies of 1934!
27 Oct 2012
30
62nd
Powell and Loy are just so much fun together, that they more than make up for the clumsy directing.
04 Mar 2012
84
65th
A little slow to begin with, but once Nick and Norah are on the case, the time just flies. What a great couple.
01 Feb 2012
45
47th
Overrated. The first half was very boring. The playful banter between man and wife is nice and all but it doesnt make up a movie alone, most of other attempts at comedy were weak and unreal. Luckily it takes up some pace in the second half. Okish on overall.
27 Dec 2011
40
16th
This film is so poor technically that it takes away from its few charming aspects. Pretty pedestrian private dick flick.
06 Aug 2011
9
93rd
A supreme entertainment, a grand screenplay, a grand leading pair, grand flair for mixing comedy and crime mystery. And the perfectly timed and amusing bits with the dog. Do you want more? I certainly do.
23 Nov 2010
9
70th
Myrna Loy and William Powell are simply fantastic. Also, dear Asta I am a fan.
15 Jan 2010
94
89th
This thin man will give you your fill of witty dialogue, great acting chemistry......and Asta too!! highly recommended.
27 Jun 2009
73
44th
A strange perversion of a Hammett novel--anyone who has ever read Hammett would never think that the weird who-dunnit part would fit or especially the humor, but it makes up for it's failings by being original and has an impressive last twenty minutes that I quite enjoyed.
17 Jan 2009
39
24th
Too much murder plot, not enough drinking and being nonchalant. Yet respect has to be paid to Powell's and Loy's style and chemistry - all 15 min. worth of it.
15 Nov 2007
75
81st
love it.
23 Oct 2007
84
75th
Truly a delight. The dialogue is what's best here, the chemistry between Powell and Loy is palpable. In terms of tone and atmosphere, this strikes me as something of a forerunner of Soderbergh's Oceans movies.
31 Mar 2007
100
99th
Martinis and murder.
31 Aug 2025
80
92nd
My father claimed to have grown up in the poorest house on the poorest street in the poorest Jewish neighbourhood of Philadelphia. He would have been eleven years old when this movie came out, six months before THE GAY DIVORCEE, and for him Nick and Nora and Fred and Ginger were the projection of another world and the possibility of another way of living, based on prosperity, cosmopolitanism, romance, wit and sex. Watching this in 2025, when he would have been 103, it’s still easy to see why.
03 Jul 2024
90
86th
Playing with guns while intoxicated. That's the spirit.
31 Mar 2024
92
70th
Amid sparkling wit and effortless glamour, The Thin Man reveals more than mystery—it portrays a partnership unburdened by rigid roles, where play and intellect mingle freely. In its lightness lies a radical gesture: love and freedom intertwined, showing us that joy itself can be a serious philosophy. - Full Review
08 Sep 2022
77
68th
One of Hollywood's early jewels. It is entertaining, pacey, and funny at times. Not a great/smart detective movie by today's standards (or rather by 40's and 50's standards, today's standards are unfortunately awful), but one must remember that this was one of the earliest examples of sound era.
27 Mar 2022
85
93rd
Cute doggo, charismatic straight couple (I still can’t believe it!), fantastic comedy, cool mystery, good dialogue and wonderful introductions. An absolute blast :D, as Nick said: “For tomorrow may bring sorrow, so tonight let us be gay”
01 Mar 2021
86
89th
I don't think you can ask much more from a film: genuinely funny dialogue, fedoras, quick pace, a dog and a shit load of alcohol.
06 Dec 2020
62
47th
A bit of a weird narrative structure, but watch it for the unique scenes and witty repartee.
16 Feb 2020
80
81st
Powell and Loy showcase their dazzling chemistry as cinema's most lovable alcoholics, with witty, drunken banter taking centre stage over the thin detective mystery. It's barely to the film's detriment that it focuses so little on story though, because it's so charming and breezy that it's nigh impossible not to have a blast throughout.
26 Apr 2016
50
34th
I’d seen it before, and this time the mystery felt thinner (you probably guess the killer within 10 minutes). But Powell and Loy (and Asta!) remain a joy to watch, their chemistry outshining a forgettable plot. Van Dyke’s direction is solid, and there’s charm and humor throughout, even if the final act drags. Not as fun as I remembered, but still worth it for the leads.
18 Dec 2013
95
0th
I am already a huge fan of Noir detective novels, it is really no wonder why I love the movie with a twist of comedy in it. I wouldn't consider this a romance by any means, but the casting was impeccable. I do wish there was a little bit more in the filming--not just an occasional nod to noir films, but a full blown, noir lighting extravaganza. Just not enough shadows for me.
23 Jun 2013
75
67th
dedektiflik, polisiye, kayip, cinayet, bilim adami
07 Oct 2011
4
70th
Dyke isn't much as a stylist, but he doesn't interfere with the film's comic touches either, so credit for that much. And while the film is rarely laugh-out-loud funny, it's usually amusing, and the whodunit is nice and convoluted, with a particularly great climax. What stands out most is Nick and Nora's relationship: their playful banter and genuinely good-natured romance is surprisingly warm given their raging alcoholism and all that.
02 Mar 2008
62
39th
# 761

Cast & Info

Directed by:

W.S. Van Dyke
WS-Van-Dyke
50 total credits
Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke II (Woody) (March 21, 1889 – February 5, 1943) was an American film director and writer who made several successful early sound films, including Tarzan the Ape Man in 1932, The Thin Man in 1934, San Francisco in 1936, and six popular musicals with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald.

Writers:

Albert Hackett
Albert-Hackett
24 total credits
Credits include: It's a Wonderful Life, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, The Thin Man and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
,
Dashiell Hammett
Dashiell-Hammett
18 total credits
Credits include: The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man, After the Thin Man, Another Thin Man and The Glass Key
,
Frances Goodrich
Frances-Goodrich
31 total credits
Credits include: It's a Wonderful Life, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, The Thin Man and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Starring:

Porter Hall
Porter-Hall
63 total credits
An American character actor who possessed a weak chin and shifty eyes, Hall played movie villains or comedic incompetent characters. He made his film debut in the 1931 drama Secrets of a Secretary. He later appeared in The Petrified Forest (1936), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), His Girl Friday (1940), Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944), Double Indemnity (1944), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), and Ace in the Hole (1951).
,
William Powell
William-Powell
96 total credits
A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times, for The Thin Man (1934), My Man Godfrey (1936) and Life with Father (1947).
,
Myrna Loy
Myrna-Loy
99 total credits
Credits include: The Best Years of Our Lives, The Thin Man, After the Thin Man, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and Love Me Tonight
,
Edward Ellis
Edward-Ellis
25 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, Fury, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, The Texas Rangers and Maid of Salem
,
Cesar Romero
Cesar-Romero
102 total credits
Credits include: Batman, The Thin Man, Ocean's Eleven, Around the World in 80 Days and Vera Cruz
,
Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen-OSullivan
67 total credits
Credits include: Hannah and Her Sisters, The Thin Man, Peggy Sue Got Married, A Day at the Races and The Big Clock
,
Henry Wadsworth
Henry-Wadsworth
9 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, Mark of the Vampire, Applause, The Show-Off and This Side of Heaven
,
Nat Pendleton
Nat-Pendleton
87 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, Another Thin Man, At the Circus, The Great Ziegfeld and Lady for a Day
,
Minna Gombell
Minna-Gombell
38 total credits
Credits include: The Best Years of Our Lives, The Thin Man, Make Way for Tomorrow, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Merry Widow
,
Natalie Moorhead
Natalie-Moorhead
37 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, Illicit, The Benson Murder Case, The Mind Reader and Three Wise Girls
,
Edward Brophy
Edward-Brophy
54 total credits
Credits include: Dumbo, The Thin Man, Mad Love, The Champ and It Happened on 5th Avenue
,
Harold Huber
Harold-Huber
50 total credits
Credits include: The Thin Man, San Francisco, Ladies They Talk About, Klondike Annie and Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo

Franchise:

The Thin Man

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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