Reviews of The Thin Man 1934
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William Powell and Myrna Loy had an on-screen chemistry few could hope to match. This very entertaining start to the Thin Man series was only their second appearance together.
Witty, funny and filled with great lines. The plot is almost secondary to the characters but who cares, certainly not me.
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Super entertaining. I've also just been informed that there are 6 of these, so I'm going to be busy.
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Less about the convoluted procedural investigation into the murder plot than the crisp chemistry of Powell and Loy's Charles couple. The film's playful tone and success relies largely to the pair's on-screen chemistry and the lived-in sense of their relationship communicated through their banter. Some of the more overt slapstick elements are less easily sewn into the film, but the levity inserted through humour carries a genuine charm. Van Dyke's direction mostly stays out of the way of the actors,…
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A very interesting film, mostly due to the strangeness of some of the directorial choices. Stylistically it often resembles a noir but in terms of story and characters it is anything but.
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Funny and utterly enjoyable, plenty of one-liners, mostly about booze - all good clean fun.
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Although the 'The Thin Man' was a best seller for author Dashiell Hammet in its acquisition by MGM among other stories it was one that proved to be unpopular with film maker. Except for W.S. Van Dyke, who assigned Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich to write a number of scenes which highlighted the relationship between the two married characters as well as with their terrier dog.
Initially pleased, L.B. Mayer had reservations about the two stars cast as Nick and… -
Watched on DVD. Easily one of the best films to drink to. A noir-ish mystery where the mystery takes second billing to the witty banter of Nick and Nora Charles, played effortlessly by Powell and Loy. A fantastically quotable film, but the lines are so fast-paced that they're frequently lost under the next lines or the audience's laughter at previous ones. Takes a few viewings to catch everything, but it's well worth your time. The mystery kind of fizzles, but I love the finale with Nick shooting almost completely in the dark.
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Top-notch comedic entertainment. A brilliant and iconic performance from William Powell and an equally fantastic foil from Myrna Loy.
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Loy and Powell certainly have chemistry and its little wonder that this film begot as many sequels as it did, but, at 80 years, The Thin Man shows its age. The plotting isn't the tightest, nor are the mystery elements treated with any particular urgency; the stars of the film are the two leads and their witty repartee.
That said, I'm looking forward to seeing Powell and Loy in the rest of the series.
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So charming and delightful. Nick and Nora are everyone's ideal couple, right?
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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 wasn't a priority picture, meaning it…