The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)

Outlaws come and go in Nick and Nora's lives. Now it's time to meet the in-laws. The debonair sleuths leave little Nicky Jr. at boarding school grab Asta and head to Nick's boyhood home of Sycamore Springs. Of course wherever they go murder has a way of showing up on the doorstep - a point proven in this fifth Thin Man. Nick can show off his gumshoe talents for his parents (Harry Davenport and Lucile Watson) when an artist is killed. And he'll do it without customary liquid inspirations because Nick (William Powell) is on the wagon. He's also on his game. As is Nora (Myrna Loy) wrestling a folding lawn chair tailing a presumed suspect through town igniting a pool-hall rumble and cracking wise as goodas she gets. Make yourself at home whodunit fans.Running Time: 101 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 012569518124 Manufacturer No: 65181 Product Description

THE THINNEST MAN

I am a devotee of the detective writer Dashiel Hammett. I believe that Nick and Nora Charles in the original Thin Man represented interesting transitional figures from the old amateur drawing room detectives to the modern hard-boiled detectives but enough is enough. As in current blockbuster films the desire to milk an original idea beyond its point of saturation is clear in this the fifth in the series. Oh, yes Nick and Nora are in love. Asta is, well Asta is Asta. Beyond that Nick's return home to solve a murder and make papa proud, all without alcohol, should have send everyone scurrying back to New York City or San Francisco on the next train-make that the next plane. August 22, 2007

The chemistry between Powell and Loy is still strong, but Nora is in danger of becoming Lucy Ricardo

Sycamore Springs is Nick Charles' home town, where his parents still live. It's small town Americana, MGM style. We half-way expect that the murderer, when Nick catches him, will turn out to be Andy Hardy. In this, the fifth of the Thin Man series, Nick and Nora (William Powell and Myrna Loy) journey from New York to celebrate his birthday with his parents. Dr. Charles is a medical man who disapproves of Nick's line of work as a "policeman." He had hoped his son would become a doctor and that they could work together. Nick's mother understands and loves them both and bustles around. And Nora, determined to show her father-in-law what such a smart and successful detective Nick really is, begins to leak the story that Nick is really in Sycamore Springs to solve an important case. "Nicky always says there's a skeleton in nearly every closet," Nora points out to her mother-in-law, "and if you rattle it hard enough something always happens."

It's not long before a number of things happen, including a young man shot by a sniper at the elder Charles' front door, an intense attempt by a shady character and his wife to buy or steal a second-rate painting of a windmill and the death by shotgun blast of a disturbed recluse. Nick has to deal with war plants and war plans, twenty-year-old secrets involving illicit love and an unexpected baby, innocent or not-so innocent theatrics and the impact of some of his street-wise friends on the respectability of his parents. All the way, the need to show his father that he is worthy of respect even if he is just a "policeman" keeps things humming. The conclusion, with everyone gathered around, the true motivation for the murders uncovered and the killer unmasked, ends satisfactorily with his father grinning in approval and a button on Nick's vest popping with pride, just as Nora predicted. This being wartime, Nick's exertions have had to be fueled by apple cider, not martinis.

The pleasure of this movie rests squarely on the personalities of Powell and Loy. They fit into being Nick and Nora with the grace and affection of old friends. That's how we see them, as actors and as Nick and Nora. They're good company and fun to be with. While the mystery itself may not be great shakes (the rationale for the murders seemed to come a little out of left field), the actors are a crowd of familiar faces and predictable and welcome personalities. We get Harry Davenport, everyone's favorite father or grandfather; Leon Ames; Donald Meek, small and always flustered; Edward Brophy, Donald MacBride, one of the master's of the double-take; Lloyd Corrigan; Helen Vinson; Lucille Watson and Anne Revere, such a fine actress whose career was ruined by the Hollywood witch-hunts of the late Forties and early Fifties. In a part that lasts probably no more than 20 seconds we even have Moose Malloy, I mean Mike Mazurki, in a barbershop.

So what could make a fan of Nick and Nora Charles queasy? Here's a hint. Says Nora outside a pool hall to Sycamore Springs' police chief, "There's a man here. I want you to arrest him." "What for?" says the chief. "Does it have to be for something," Nora asks with genuine innocence. Is this the smart, sophisticated Nora from the first two Thin Man movies? Not even close. With The Thin Man Comes Home, MGM has nearly finished the job of turning Nora Charles into an adoring wife and cutely innocent early version of Lucy Ricardo. The affectionate banter between Nick and Nora remains, but little is left of Nora as at least a semi-equal partner in her husband's adventures in murder and crime. Nora's role is to provide comic relief so that we can smile indulgently at the situations she gets herself involved in. I watched the movie with a smile because Powell and Loy are so good together. But in a sad way I also felt I was watching Nora Charles' death by the safe, middle class conventions of Hollywood.

The DVD transfer looks just fine, clear and sharp. There is a Robert Benchley short feature and a cartoon as extras. June 7, 2007

"That's alright. Pool rooms are so informal."

Nick and Nora are off to Nick's parents in Sycamore Springs in this fun outing for our favorite mystery duo. Nick has taken to apple cider in anticipation of his birthday visit hoping for a pat on the back from his disapproving dad, who wanted Nick to follow in his footsteps and become a doctor.

A good screenplay from Frank Capra's favorite writer, Robert Riskin, in collaboration with Dwight Taylor, has the couple becoming involved in another crime while being a bit more domestic visiting the folks. Everett Riskin produced this fun MGM entry in the series, directed nicely by Richard Thorpe this time. While it doesn't have the frantic snap of some of the other entries, the charm and witty byplay between the screen's most fun couple remains to make this one very enjoyable.

The mystery involves a painting of an old windmill Nora buys as a birthday gift for Nicky, much to her chagrin. It will turn out, however, to Nora's delight, to be the key to two murders that will force Nick into action and show his dad (Harry Davenport) just why he should be proud. There is the usual detective work from Nick and, of course, the suspects all gathered together as the murderer is exposed. But it is the fun getting there which makes "The Thin Man Goes Home" so much fun for fans.

Nora has some fine moments telling Nick's dad and mom (Lucile Watson) about Nick's capture of "Stinky" in an effort to impress them. It's also great fun as Nick rests in a hammock wearing his old high school uniform and reading detective magazines while Nora fruitlessly attempts to set up a lawn chair. The most fun, however, occurs when a solo Nora, tracking down a suspect, starts a brawl in a pool hall.

There is a solid supporting cast as always, led by Gloria DeHaven as the dramatic young Laura Belle Ronson. Donald Meek, Leon Ames, Anne Revere as "Crazy Mary," and lovely Helen Vinson round out the fine cast. It is nice to see Vinson, especially, as film buffs will remember her tender role in "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang."

Will Nick finally get that pat on the back from the old man and pop a button on his vest? You don't want to miss Nora getting a spanking from Nick while you find out. William Powell and Myrna Loy will forever hold a special place in the heart of every film buff for these wonderful films so full of entertainment. Don't miss Nora's wild dance with a sailor as Nick tries to ditch her in this one. That alone is worth the price of admission.

May 26, 2007

A shot in the night in Sycamore Springs.

W.S. Van Dyke, director of the first four "Thin Man" films committed suicide, February 5, 1943 at the age of 53.
Richard Thorpe is the director of this fifth film in the series.
Our mystery sleuths, Nick (William Powell) and Nora (Myrna Loy) have taken a train to Sycamore Springs to visit his mother (Lucille Watson) and his father (Harry Davenport). While in town, Nora was way too insistant on buying a windmill farm scene painting which belongs to someone else by special order. The saleman, Mr. Crump (Donald Meek) gave in and let Nora have it. When the owner of the painting, Helena (Helen Vinson) came in to pick up her painting, she was furious about the sale. Her husband, Edgar (Leon Ames), who is eager for the painting too, swears, "Somebody's going to pay plenty for that picture before we're though".
A nighttime, a young man, Peter (Ralph Brooke)comes to visit Nick Charles. Within seconds, a mystery person from outside quietly shoots the man at the doorway.
Also in the cast: Lloyd Corrigan, Wally Cassell, Gloria DeHaven, Jane Green, Connie Gilchrist.

Special Features: Theatrical Trailer, 9-minute short "Why Daddy", MGM Technicolor cartoon "Screball Squirrel".

Leon Ames also appears in the last film, SONG OF THE THIN MAN (1947). September 15, 2006

"Just keep on doing what you're doing; I'll have the cocoa in a few minutes."

10 years later, Nick and Nora Charles (and Asta) are back for a delightful fifth installment in the Thin Man series. This time, on Nick's birthday, the Charles are visiting Nick's parents in the rural, small town of Sycamore Springs. But all is not well between Nick and his dad, Dr. Bertram Charles (Harry Davenport). Nora is distressed to find out that Dr. Charles patronizingly looks down at Nick's "policeman" profession, and she asks Mrs. Charles if there are any cases lying about which Nick could solve to impress his father. If he could just make his father proud once, Nick'll pop a vest button. Well, no sooner asked than granted. One evening, a man is murdered at the Charles' front door and Nick and Nora find themselves suddenly embroiled in another humdinger of a murder mystery. Yes, this is a bit of a departure from the usual cosmopolitan settings in which we routinely see the Charles. However, it doesn't take long for Nick to start feeling right at home again as he strives to crack the case, despite the number of corpses piling up. En route, he unearths several small town secrets and uncovers a murderer and a spy ring. But is it enough to make a father proud?

True, Nick and Nora Charles, formerly the lives-of-the-cocktail-party, may have settled down a bit (after all, they have a brat now), and Nick now imbibes cider rather than martinis. But, even after all this time, Powell and Loy's dazzling chemistry is still very much intact. As usual, the murder mystery is secondary to the charming play between Nick and Nora. In fact, the mystery isn't even introduced until 30 minutes into the picture, as director Richard Thorpe first has the film leisurely wallow in an amusing train escapade, several introductions of quirky character actors, Nora's virtuoso breakdown of the case of Stinky Davis, and Nora's epic cage match with a lawn chair.

But even with the advent of the mystery element, the film still takes time to indulge in Nick and Nora frolickings. There's a little scene with Nick and Nora and her frustrated attempts to introduce his birthday present, a painting of a windmill from Nick's childhood. There's Nora's amateurish shadowing of a "suspect," with Nora, in turn, being followed, which all climaxes in a pool room brawl. And what about Nick foisting off his wife onto a partnerless sailor who longs to dance at a charity event? Jitterbug, anyone?

I get a kick out of how Nick Charles's urbane sophistication seems to strand him in the face of his father's low expectations. Dr. Charles never got over the disappointment of Nick not following him in the doctoring biz. A nice touch early on, which whets the viewer's appetite, is the scene of Nick ineptly fixing an endtable, only to have it fall apart and bushwhack him, leaving him prone on the carpet, which is exactly where his father finds him. Nick has to insist that Dr. Charles take a sip of his cider drink to convince him he isn't inebriated.

The dialogue as usual is smart and snappy; the plot is convoluted but is ably enlivened by two leads in full rapport with each other. The character actors, a great staple of the series, once again sparkle and divert. Lucile Watson as Mrs. Charles, Harry Davenport as Dr. Charles, Donald Meek as the pawnshop owner Mr. Crump, Gloria DeHaven as the overly dramatic Laura Ronson, Anne Revere as Crazy Mary, and Anita Sharp-Bolster as the suspicious Charles' housekeeper all do very credible work. The Thin Man Goes Home may not have the fresh and seminal quality of the first Thin Man, but at this point, any Thin Man installment is like comfort food or hot cocoa, brimming with warmth and nostalgia. This fifth offering is actually my second favorite of the series, after The Thin Man, and mostly because of the family dynamics brought in. The underlying theme of the film is Nick trying to make his father proud of him, and I'm on board with that.

I'm not one for suggesting that people spend their money frivolously, but the Thin Man series is that rare case where every film is worth its weight in gold. So my recommendation for folks thinking of purchasing a Thin Man movie: just go ahead and buy the entire box set collection. Trust me, if you own one Thin Man, you'll want to own the rest.
August 1, 2006

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