The Thin Man
The Thin Man is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy-mystery film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and based on the 1934 novel by Dashiell Hammett. The film stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, a leisure-class couple who enjoy copious drinking and flirtatious banter. Nick is a retired private detective who left his very successful career when he married Nora, a wealthy heiress accustomed to high society. Their wire-haired fox terrier Asta was played by canine actor Skippy. In 1997, the film was added to the United States National Film Registry having been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Plot
Dorothy Wynant discusses her upcoming wedding with her father Clyde. She is surprised that her fiancé knows all about her family yet still wants to marry her. Later, her father discovers that bonds worth $50,000, intended as a wedding present for his daughter, are missing. The only other person who knows the combination of the safe in which they were kept is his secretary, Julia. When he confronts Julia about the missing bonds, she confesses that she cashed them in and has only $25,000 left. He threatens to call the police unless she comes up with the other $25,000.
Awards
More details
author | Albert Hackett Dashiell Hammett Frances Goodrich |
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award | National Board of Review: Top Ten Films |
contentLocation | New York City |
director | Lesley Selander W. S. Van Dyke |
editor | Robert J. Kern |
genre | comedy crime historical mystery thriller |
keywords | bury business trip clothe dinner guest dinner party fire escape kill medical examiner meet missing person murder murder case petty criminal police lieutenant prime suspect retire return home solve thin man true identity war wound wedding present |
musicBy | William Axt |
nomination | Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Director Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay |
producer | Hunt Stromberg |
productionCompany | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
publisher | Loews Cineplex Entertainment |
theme | comedy thriller crime comedy |