After the Thin Man (1936)

"And You Call Yourself a Detective"

There's more fun to be had in this 1936 sequel to The Thin Man.

Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) are returning home to San Francisco just in time for New Years. Instead of the early evening they had planned, they are summoned to a family dinner at Nora's Aunt Katherine's (Jessie Ralph). Only after dinner do they learn that Cousin Selma (Elissa Landi) is missing her husband. And they can't go to the police and get their names in the paper. So a reluctant Nick agrees to find Robert (Alan Marshal).

The case seems to be over pretty quickly when Nick and Nora find Robert at a night club. But then the dead bodies start piling up. Can Nick sort this all out?

Once again, we have a fun mix of the comedic and the mysterious. While the climax is once again the "gather everyone in one room cliche," Nick does solve things this time. And there are several fun comedic moments along the way, not to mention the great chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy. That makes their barbs all the funnier as they tease each other back and forth. There are truly some funny lines here.

Frankly, I haven't heard of most of the cast. The exception is Jimmy Stewart is an early role.

While I enjoyed it, I found I had to work hard to keep all the men straight. Most of them looked to similar to me to remember who was who. And there are a couple fun but pointless scenes. Heck, I'm still not sure I get the sub-plot involving Asta the dog.

But if you enjoy old movies and are looking for a funny mystery, you can't go wrong with this film. July 7, 2008

Arguably greatest of the THIN MAN series

I bought the entire set (The Complete Thin Man Collection) to get this, my perennial favorite, before it was released individually. What W.S. Van Dyke did so well in The Thin Man, he topped and delivered even more of in this superb sequel. Even more affectionate banter between Nick and Nora, even more harebrained, screwy upper crusters, and the usual mob of colorful bottom dwellers from Nick's former life as a "flat foot." Everything about this film is better, including the photography, the sets, dialogue, plot complications, location shooting (including a surprise that always gets San Francisco natives chuckling; watch for the semi-completed Golden Gate Bridge in the background of a location shot). And Jimmy Stewart. Yep, Jimmy Stewart. Has no one mentioned a very, very young James Stewart in a supporting role? His charisma and talent are apparent even in this thankless part. You might also recognize Dorothy McNulty's voice as the nightclub singer ... later (as Penny Singleton) she was the voice of Jane Jetson.

The product number of this individual release is different from the version in the collection, so I can only assume that the extras are lacking here: a Robert Benchley short ("How To Be a Detective"), cartoon, radio show with Powell and Loy, theatrical trailer. If you'd like those extras, go ahead, get the entire set. THE THIN MAN, ANOTHER THIN, and SHADOW OF THE THIN MAN are all entertaining in the same vein, though AFTER THE THIN MAN truly stands out. July 4, 2008

A sequel that matches the original.

W.S. Van Dyke's "After the Thin Man," the first of five sequels to the original "Thin Man," is the best of the five and the only one that truly matched the consistent thrills and sprightly fun of the original. It picks up where the first movie left off, as Nick (William Powell) and Nora (Myrna Loy) come home to San Francisco from New York, where they receive a less-than-warm welcome from Nora's staid relatives, especially her choleric, cane-wielding Aunt Catherine (Jessie Ralph). Cousin Selma (Elissa Landi), the one family member close to Nick and Nora, is being driven to distraction by her louse of a husband (Alan Marshall), and asks for Nick and Nora's help. The story that follows is a phantasmagoria of murder, blackmail, skulduggery, and many, many martinis. And, to top it off, Asta has woman trouble. Above all, it's a joy to see Powell and Loy, who could teach Tracy and Hepburn a few lessons about on-screen chemistry, and the usual excellent supporting cast including the very young James Stewart, in what appears to be a dress rehearsal for his later Hitchcock roles. The extras on the disc include "How to Be a Detective," a delightful short by the great and too-little-remembered Robert Benchley, and a vintage cartoon, "The Early Bird and the Worm." February 3, 2008

Moronic Magic

William Powell and Myrna Loy had a rapport that transcended the script in the many movies they made together. In the Thin Man series they had the aid of Asta (who often stole the show). The dialogue is often moronic but the end result is pure magic. November 20, 2007

Another Murder Mystery

The `Sunset Limited', using two engines, arrives in California. It was a three day trip from New York. A crowd of reporters greets Nick Charles. Their home overlooks San Francisco and the Bay bridge. They hoped for a quiet New Year's Eve, but a surprise party is in full blast. Nora's cousin telephones for help; Selma is afraid. Aunt Catherine invites them to a family dinner. [The partying and drinking must contrast to the viewer's lives at that time.] At the dinner they hear that Selma's husband Robert is missing. A fear of newspaper publicity prevents them from calling the police. A friend, David Graham, has heard from the missing Robert. Singer and dancer Polly has a problem with her brother Phil. Nick and Nora find Robert at a nightclub. Polly is friendly with Robert. [Selma's troubles with her husband tell something about the lives of the very rich.] David pays Robert as part of a deal.

We see the suspicious activities of a number of people. A shot is fired and Robert falls to the ground. Selma is the suspect in this shooting. Lt. Abrams questions some of the people. Then the lights go out, shots are fired, and Dancer escaped. [Too much comedy for a murder mystery?] The kitchen shows a quart glass bottle of milk with a wired-on cap. The film explains how to identify a forged signature. Lt. Abrams finds Phil Byrnes, but he won't talk. Nick Charles investigates Polly's flat, and notices something up high. Then another body falls to the floor. The janitor at that building used to work for Nora's father.

Following the conventions of those times, all the people involved have been brought to that empty flat for questioning in order to try to solve the mystery. One of the people there makes a mistake, and this registers on Nick's expression. The questioning brings out surprising facts about some of the people. Then Nick unmasks the murderer and explains the reasoning. The ending has a new surprise for Nick. [Viewer polling to get a larger audience?]

This film is slower paced and not as good as the original. The actress playing "Polly Byrnes" (Dorothy McNulty) adds sparkle or stage presence to her scenes. The film documents life in those days as viewed by Hollywood.
June 28, 2007

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