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William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell ... see more see more... , Porter Hall , Henry Wadsworth , William Henry , Harold Huber , Cesar Romero , Natalie Moorhead , Edward S. Brophy , Edward Ellis , Cyril Thornton , Polly Bailey , Arthur Belasco , Ruth Channing , Clay Clement , Nick Copeland , Pat Flaherty , Kenneth Gibson , Creighton Hale , Sherry Hall , Edward Hearn , Robert E. Homans , Walter Long , Fred Malatesta , Garry Owen , Bert Roach , Rolfe Sedan , Gertrude Short , Ben Taggart , Phil Tead , Dink Templeton , Harry Tenbrook , Huey White , Leo White , Douglas Fowley , John Larkin , Charles Williams , Raymond Brown , Thomas E. Jackson

Filmed on what MGM considered a B-picture budget and schedule (14 days, which at Universal or Columbia would have been considered extravagant), The Thin Man proved to be "sleeper," spawning a popular ... read more read more...film, radio, and television series. Contrary to popular belief, the title does not refer to star William Powell, but to Edward Ellis, playing the mean-spirited inventor who sets the plot in motion. The recently divorced Clyde Wynant (Ellis) discovers that his new girlfriend, Julia Wolf (Natalie Moorhead), has stolen 50,000 dollars and is carrying on with other men. Not long afterward, he disappears. Anxious to locate her father, Wynant' daughter, Dorothy (Maureen O'Sullivan), goes to private detective Nick Charles (William Powell) for help. Having just married the lovely and wealthy Nora (Myrna Loy), Nick has no desire to return to sleuthing, but the thrill-seeking Nora eagerly talks him into taking Dorothy's case. Shortly thereafter, Wynant's lady friend is murdered; so far as police detective John Guild (Nat Pendleton) is concerned, the still-missing Wynant is the guilty party. Nick is unsatisfied with this deduction, and with the help of his wire fox terrier, Asta, he manages to uncover several vital clues -- including a decomposed corpse. At a fancy dinner party, between cocktails and the first course, Nick solves the mystery and exposes a hidden murderer. The story itself, lifted almost verbatim by scenarists Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich from the Dashiell Hammett novel on which The Thin Man is based, hardly matters. The film's strong suit is the witty repartee between Nick and Nora Charles, who manage to behave like saucily illicit lovers throughout the film even though they're married. The chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy would be adroitly exploited by MGM in several subsequent films, including five additional Thin Man mysteries produced between 1936 and 1948. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

93% liked it

12,115 ratings

Critics

97% liked it

34 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: W.S. Van Dyke

Release Date: May 23, 1934

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DVD Release Date: October 1, 2002

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Stats: 994 reviews

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Asta Clay Clement, William Powell and Myrna Loy The Thin Man Myrna Loy and William Powell Myrna Loy and William Powell The Thin Man Myrna Loy and William Powell Myrna Loy, W.S. Van Dyke and William Powell Walter Long, William Powell and Myrna Loy Myrna Loy, William Powell and Maureen O'Sullivan The Thin Man The Thin Man Myrna Loy Nick & Nora from the Thin Man Maureen O'Sullivan, William Powell and W.S. Van Dyke The Thin Man Thin Man The Thin Man
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Flixster Reviews (994)

  • pier007
    March 5, 2011
    pier007
    Glorious, Joyous dinner date with murder and laughter hand in hand. Powell and Loy are one charming couple.
  • binky013
    February 9, 2011
    binky013
    Some friends gave me the complete Thin Man series for Christmas, and I have to say after several viewings of all six that the pairing of William Powell and Myrna Loy is one of those matches made in Hollywood Heaven. There are few teams that leap to mind as being better su... read moreited to each other; their screen energy is a beautiful phenomenon to behold. Powell is already on my very select all-time favorite actors list, and I'm thinking that Loy is going up there right after I finish writing these comments.

    What I find most interesting about the critical comments is not that almost everyone agrees that Powell and Loy are great, but that the series is short on story, flimsy of narrative, lacking in substance -- and one critic goes to far as to say that each successive film is weaker than the one before.

    Sorry, I have to disagree. I think the stories are interesting, cleverly conceived, and well written. They are so smartly written, in fact, that the writers have managed to let the plot play in the background so that we can all concentrate on the chemistry of Powell and Loy. Seriously, if I were looking for great literature, I'd turn to the book shelf and dig around for Shakespeare or something, but just like the live audience members back when this series played the theaters, I'm here to see Powell, Loy -- and Asta -- make their magic. And I definitely think that the last one, Song of the Thin Man, is just as magical as the first : )
  • ajv2688
    September 4, 2010
    ajv2688
    The first movie in the best detective series, The Thin Man series. Powell and Loy are like peas in a pod, they work so well together. The movies are hilarious and fun to watch. Everyone with a sense of humor will love these movies.
  • RossCollinsUK
    July 28, 2010
    RossCollinsUK
    Retired private eye is dragged into another case along with his laissez-faire attitude and deadpan humour. He, together with his wife and dog, spawned a bunch of identical looking sequels (judging by the trailers) that must have been one of the first comedy series.
  • groaningbitch
    January 3, 2008
    groaningbitch
    this flick is the best example of classic sophistication comedy which depicts the droll mannerishness of upper class, and william powell excercises his playful debonair charm to the utmost scale, and myrna loy resonates him greatly like a harmonical symphony.

    the thin man det... read moreective plot is simply operated on the formula of "who'dun'it!" but the point is not about the crime but its seemingly insipid detective who doesn't wanna tackle this case at the first place but gets involved due to the whim of his mischievous wife.

    the constant requirement of booze is one element in this flick to indicate the hedonism of the well-to-do but the point is they drink with class and glamour without objectionable gaffe. every moment is a joyous drinking time, and being leisure gracefully seems to be their sacred obligation to perform. the camera looms over powell's cynically mocking gestures for times as he exuberates the cigarette circles aloofly or his famours line "oh! bull's eyes!" and loy's comic flair could rival with powell with her perfect timing of grimaces toward his trivial mild jokes that is adorably likable as well.

    the best allure of thin man is also the cozy backset of gender symmetry with agreeable family picture, powell as good paternal image who respects his lovely wife who also expresses enough matron sophistication as a demure female. they sleep in seperate beds without contiminating audience's consecrated protype of parents, and there's one cute puppy who could only bark but hide during the gun shots. the whole picture arouses audience's thick nostalgia of soundly ideal family atmosphere as if you back to the easeful days of childhood without the complex misgivings of life as you burden in your adulthood.
  • McKittrick
    November 1, 2007
    McKittrick
    A film that combines two of my favourite genres at their peak: The Screwball Comedy and Detective Story. The detective story element is less important than the one-liners but it's testament to the film makers of the day that they invested a good deal of depth to both elements.
    O... read morene of the things I love about The Thin Man is that William Powell's character Nick is drunk from beginning to end! Playing a drunk is one of those things that looks so easy when it's done well but it's notoriously difficult to play it convincingly and Powell pulls it off for the length of the film!
    Myrna Loy & William Powell play their characters as hedonists - they are in this for the laughs and good times and it's what makes it so charming and seductive - it pulls you in for the ride!
    I love the scene as the two heroes lounge around enjoying their Christmas day. Nick shooting a pellet gun at the balloons on the tree and Nora looking on disapprovingly in a massive mink coat "Say, aren't you hot in that?" "Yes, I'm stifling, but it's SO pretty?"
    They made many sequels. After The Thin Man, the 2nd film, is ok, but they only got steadily more tiresome: Nick and Nora becoming 'respectable' - less of the inebriated Nick and even producing offspring!? (Asta was a true star and the baby of this family and didn't need 'real' children upstaging him!)
  • jennifxu
    September 15, 2007
    jennifxu
    Aww, Myrna Loy and William Powell are so cute together! The plot was messy but seeing those two together was amaazing.
  • moonrivers
    July 14, 2007
    moonrivers
    if you match this couple drink for drink the movie actually gets better, but i still don't know how it ends...maybe i should watch it sober once just to find out, but what i remember is very witty, very urbane, very smart...very "i wish i was them", which is what's called movie m... read moreagic
  • mjgildea
    April 30, 2007
    mjgildea
    A really cool and classy movie. Powell and Loy (who by the way is so cute she makes me want to kill something) have amazing chemistry together. It's easy to see why they made so many sequels which I'm sure are nowhere as good as this one. I still want to check them out though. I ... read morealso liked the pace, which seemed to be set by or move as quickly as the snappy dialogue between Powell and Loy. A lot of booze in this one--this may or may not enhance the viewing of this movie.
  • hypathio7
    December 2, 2010
    hypathio7
    It amazes me that this was shot in 12 days. The 30's style of dress, decor, and dialog is great fun. The mystery based on Hammett's book has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Lots of great one liners, many of them much naughtier than I expected for the time peri... read moreod. Powell and Loy as Nick and Nora Charles are a riot to watch. She is his Dr. Watson. He a boozy, reluctant Sherlock. The third member of the classic triangle is Pendleton as Lieutenant Guild, their Lestrade. Guild jumps to the wrong conclusions throughout fingering suspect after suspect as the murderer. The cast of suspects is an interesting bunch and the final dinner scene where Nick Charles unravels the plot is entertaining and suspenseful.

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Critic Reviews

Don Druker
February 10, 2012
Don Druker, Chicago Reader

One of the most popular comedies ever made. Full Review

Variety Staff
July 7, 2010
Variety Staff, Variety

The Thin Man was an entertaining novel, and now it's an entertaining picture. Full Review

Mordaunt Hall
May 20, 2003
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times

An excellent combination of comedy and excitement. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 6, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Thin Man was one of the most popular films of 1934, inspired five sequels, and was nominated for four Oscars (best picture, actor, direction and screenplay). Yet it was made as an inexpensive B-pi... Full Review

David Parkinson
February 10, 2012
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine

Tense and slick, this early thriller remains a true masterpiece. Full Review

February 10, 2012
Film4

Truly, a film in which there is never a dull moment. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
May 7, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

There's wonderful chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy, who make sleuthing, marriage and drinking cool and sexy Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
November 28, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

A style of pure ebullience Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz
July 14, 2009
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt

As charming as its headliners are, The Thin Man is brought down to the merely solid level by its flimsy narrative. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
August 9, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

One can't say enough good things about the playful interplay between Powell and Loy. Full Review

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    • Nora Charles: They say you were shot in the tabloids.
    • Nick Charles: They never got near my tabloids.
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