Search - Another Thin Man on DVD

Another enjoyable "Thin Man"

08/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nick and Nora are back, this time with a child, in this top-notch sequel. While the behavior of both Nick and Nora is slightly more reserved than in the first two entries, they still have delightful interaction with each other and with the new member of their family. Some really funny moments, such as Nora trying to identify her anonymous contact in the club - with Nick watching and Nick Jr.'s birthday party. The murder mystery pales in comparison to the first, but the performance of Powell and Loy is what really makes the series entertaining. A very worthy sequel!"

A Sparkling Long Island Weekend

Bobby Underwood | Manly NSW, Australia | 05/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Thin Man series spanned years and each production was charming and witty fun for the moviegoing public. Dashiell Hammet's Nick and Nora were perfectly portrayed by William Powell and Myrna Loy, and this third entry, like the others, is a breezy and fun comedy mystery done with style, class and top drawer production values from MGM at it's zenith.

In this one, little Nicky Jr. is a year old and proud parents Nick and Nora are having a ball. Nick is trying to get out of going to Long Island because Colonel McFay (C. Aubrey Smith) only wants him to go over financial reports and other mundane matters that might interfere with Nick's drinking. But there is also a threat on the Colonel's life and Nora wants a quiet weekend in the country, so off they go. It turns out anything but quiet, of course, and Nick has to solve another murder.

A sharp and clever script with snappy dialog keep this one moving along nicely. Pretty Virginia Grey is the Colonel's daughter Lois and Ruth Hussey plays little Nicky's nurse, Dorothy. Lois wants to marry Dudley Horn (Patrick Knowles), much to the chagrin of the Colonel and his secratery, Freddie (Tom Neal), who is in love with the lovely Lois as well. It seems some of the Colonel's business dealings have been just a little on the shady side since the death of Nora's father, his business partner. Phil Church (Sheldon Leonard) may have been on the wrong end of one of these shady deals and with all this going on you can guess what happens next.

The interplay between Nick and Nora about their quiet little weekend is a lot of fun. A body in the road and a pool house fire get things moving quickly in this light and breezy entry in the series. Nat Pendelton is along as Lt. Guild this time and Marjorie Main has a nice turn as a very funny landlady. Muriel Hutchison also has a nice role as Church's girlfriend, Smitty, in a mystery a little more complicated than you might think.

This time the gathering of suspects, including Don Costello as Diamond Back Vogel, takes place at a birthday party for Nicky Jr. thrown by Nick's old pals. Shemp Howard has a funny role as Whacky, as does Harry Bellaver as Creeps. Otto Kruger is on hand as A.D.A. Van Slack when Nick surprises everyone with the killer's identity.

One of the highlights in a film with many fine moments is a scene at The West Indies Club. Nora learns a little more about Nick's past there than he would like! This is a fun film to watch, and there is a magic here which can never be duplicated. This is five star entertainment you don't want to miss.



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Third Thin Man Film Offers Complex Mystery & Plenty of Wit

Gary F. Taylor | Biloxi, MS USA | 12/30/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although MGM continued to soften the characters of Nick and Norah Charles from the sharp-edged original (in this particular film the couple has a baby and Nora is described as no longer drinking), Powell and Loy retain their sparkle as a team and the script offers plenty of opportunity for them to shine.This particular film concerns Norah's financial manager, well played by C. Aubrey Smith at his most crusty, who is being threatened by a former business associate--and no sooner is Nick on the case than murder results. As in the previous "Thin Man" films, ANOTHER THIN MAN sports a remarkable cast: in addition to C. Aubrey Smith, there are extremely enjoyable performances from Marjorie Main, Ruth Hussey, Muriel Hutchison, Sheldon Leonard, and Abner Biberman. Every one is sure to enjoy the fun, particularly when Nora takes a hand by investigating a nightclub and both Nick and Nora meet Marjorie Main's "Mrs. Dolley." Recommended."

Whether it's solving a murder or sipping a Bacardi, Nick and

C. O. DeRiemer | San Antonio, Texas, USA | 07/26/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When a movie begins with C. Aubrey Smith, that craggy paragon of old-fashioned values, beaten, shot and stabbed to death and then finishes with Shemp Howard, one of the Stooges, dandling a baby, you might believe you're in some odd alternate universe. In a way, you are, but the universe is the world of Nick and Nora Charles and the movie is Another Thin Man. It's the third film William Powell and Myrna Loy made about the debonaire amateur sleuth and his wealthy wife. If it doesn't quite reach the heights of witty sophistication of the first two, it'll do.

Nick and Nora, together with their new baby and Asta, are at the Long Island estate of the aging and imperious Burr MacFay (Smith), the partner of Nora's father before her father died. He's a financial wizard who still manages much of Nora's wealth...and he believes he's a man under a death threat. Within hours of their arrival, late at night, a fire starts in the ornate bath house, a fuse apparently blows taking out all the lights, the huge dog of the house is found killed...and MacFay is discovered shot, beaten and stabbed. Yet everyone seems to have an alibi. And what a bunch there is: MacFay's adopted daughter, Lois MacFay; Dudley Horn, the man she plans to marry who seems to love her money as much as he says he loves her; Freddie Coleman, MacFay's young, baby-faced secretary who is smitten with Lois; Mrs. Bellam, the curiously uncurious housekeeper; and Dorothy Waters, the nanny Nora engaged to help look after Nickie, Jr., who suddenly disappears. Those are the ones in the mansion. Lurking outside is a former employee of MacFay, Phil Church, who went to prison and now has schemes to cash in, as well as his girl friend, his loyal goon and a slow-speaking piece of muscle who wears thick glasses. Nick and Nora head back to New York as soon as they can, but the mystery and the threats follow. It takes a visit to the apartment of a woman no one seems to have met and some clever thinking before Nick brings everyone together in the Charles' hotel apartment where the ruthless murderer is exposed. Even that is complicated by Nickie, Jr.'s boithday party thrown by some of Nick's disreputable acquaintances and their kids.

In the meantime, we get to enjoy the imperturbable, affectionate and wittily ironic relationship between Nick and Nora, and delight in the expert playing of William Powell and Myrna Loy. Nick and Nora, especially Nick, enjoys his martinis and scotch, but this time around it's a little less obvious and a little more fun. "A Bacardi," says Nick to the waiter in a latin nightclub. He glances over at Nora and adds, "Two Bacardis." Says Nora with a straight face to the waiter, "I'll have the same." The waiter brings four Bacardis. The movie's extended nightclub scene shows just how witty, light and affectionate Powell and Loy could be when they had enough time to work their characters together. They made 14 movies together over 20 years, including the six in the Thin Man series. Individually or together, Powell and Loy were class acts.

And yes, Shemp Howard really is there. So's a chest-thumping Marjorie Main."