Movies:
Shadow of the Thin Man
DVD Release
- Release Date: 2007
- Subtitles: English, Français & Español (Feature Film Only)
- cc
- Vintage short The Tell-Tale Heart
- Classic cartoon The Goose Goes South
- Theatrical trailer
- Rating:
- Genre: Mystery
- Movie Type: Comedy Thriller, Detective Film
- Themes: Murder Investigations
- Director: W.S. Van Dyke
- Main Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Barry Nelson, Donna Reed, Sam Levene
- Release Year: 1941
- Country: US
- Run Time: 97 minutes
Plot
This fourth entry in MGM's Thin Man series could just as well have been titled "Nick and Nora Charles Go to the Races". Officially retired from sleuthing, Nick Charles (William Powell) does his best to be a dutiful husband to his lovely wife Nora (Myrna Loy) and a good father to his young son Nick Jr. (Dickie Hall). But when murder rears its ugly head at the local race track, Nick is called in by Major Jason I. Sculley (Henry O'Neill), head of the New York athletic commission, to help solve the case. As usual, there is no shortage of suspects: This time the "rogue's gallery" includes high-rolling gamblers Link Stevens (Loring Smith) and Fred Macy (Joseph Anthony); Link's hoity-toity girlfriend Claire Porter (played by legendary acting teacher Stella Adler); two-bit tout "Rainbow" Benny Loomis (Lou Lubin); reporters Whitey Barrow (Paul Kelly) and Paul Clarke (Barry Nelson); and Clarke's sweetheart Molly Ford (Donna Reed). Highlights include a zany episode on a department-store merry-go-round, an outsized brawl at a fancy sea-food restaurant, and the inevitable gathering together of suspects in the offices of police lieutenant Abrams (Sam Levene). The flippant nature of Shadow of the Thin Man can be attributed to screenwriters Irving Brecher and Harry Kurnitz, both longtime friends and associates of comedian Groucho Marx. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie GuideReview
The series of films starring sophisticated sleuths Nick and Nora Charles are among the most treasured in the movie mystery genre. Unfortunately, Shadow of the Thin Man, while very decently entertaining, is far from the best entry in the series. Chief blame lies with screenwriters Irving Brecher and Harry Kurnitz and to a lesser extent with director W.S. Van Dyke. While our two leads are given the requisite number of witty bon mots and carefully turned phrases, the humorous approach to subsidiary characters is inappropriately low and broad. This is especially true of Sam Levene's Lieutenant Abrams, who at times seems to have wandered in from a 3 Stooges short. This uneasy mix of styles damages the film, as does the muddiness with which the plot is laid out; plot points are presented not casually (which would be quite effective) but carelessly (which is annoying). Fortunately, the chemistry between and stellar talents of William Powell and Myrma Loy make up for a great deal of the film's shortcomings. Both of them seem to be enjoying themselves immensely, and there's an especially appealing ease to Loy's entire performance that is hard to resist. Barry Nelson and a young Donna Reed offer fine support, and Stella Adler makes a great deal of what is essentially just another familiar film noir type. While Shadow lacks the champagne fizz of other Nick and Nora adventures, it still provides enough seltzer bubbles to tickle the nose. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie GuideCast
- William Powell - Nick Charles
- Myrna Loy - Nora Charles
- Barry Nelson - Paul Clarke
- Donna Reed - Molly Ford
- Sam Levene - Lieutenant Abrams
Alan Baxter - Whitey Barrow; Henry O'Neill - Maj. Jason I. Sculley; Dickie Hall - Nick Charles, Jr.; Loring Smith - Link Stephens; Joseph Anthony - Fred Macy; Stella Adler - Claire Porter; Lou Lubin - "Rainbow" Benny Loomis; Louise Beavers - Stella; Arthur Ayleswofth - Coroner; Arthur Belasco; John Berkes - Paleface; Oliver Blake - Fenster; Aldrich Bowker - Watchman; Charles Calvert - Referee; Ken Christy - Detective; Inez Cooper - Girl in Cab; Noel Cravat - Baku; Wee Willie Davis; Edgar Dearing - Motor Cop; Joe Devlin - Mugg; John Dilson; Abe Dinovitch; James Flavin - Cop; Jo Gilbert - Lana; Fred Graham - Waiters with Steaks; H.B. Haggerty; Edward Hearn; Jenny Jerome - Reporter; Tor Johnson - Jack the Ripper; Robert Kellard - Cop; Lyle Latell; George Lloyd - Pipey; Jerry Mandy - Waiter; Sid Melton - Fingers; Joey Ray - Stephen's Clerk; Adeline Reynolds - Landlady; Buddy Roosevelt; Jack Roper; Ray Teal - Cab Driver; Tito Vuolo - Luis; Fred Walburn - Kid on Merry-go-Round; Harry Wilson - Muggs; Will Wright - Maguire; Duke York - Valentino; Sam Bernard - Counterman; John Kelly - Meatballs Murphy; Harry Burns - Greek Janitor; Cliff Danielson; Jerry Jerome; Tommy Mack - Soft Drink Vendor; Dan Tobey - Announcer; Sailor Vincent; Bill Fisher; Hal LeSueur - Reporter; Eddie Simms; J. Lewis Smith; Roger Moore
