Average Rating: 
Rating:  - "I'm not illiterate! My parents were married!"
If you are ready for great fun, this detective film also qualifies as a classic comedy. After a hilarious return to San Francisco, Nick and Nora encounter a murder on New Year's Eve. The witty and sophisticated repartee of William Powell and Myrna Loy remains the primary appeal of the Thin Man series. The key word is "sophisticated." We are not speaking of slapstick and pratfalls. Nick and Nora demonstrate that it is fun to be married, especially in a relationship of equals. They are wealthy, but Nick relishes his working class background. He is a favorite of cab drivers, newsboys, and beer truck drivers. Nora's chutzpah enables her to keep pace. This time, Nora's snooty family is in for some ribbing. It seems that most people related to Nora are over the age of 70. Although the family disapproves of Nick's background as a "flatfoot," they ask him to investigate cousin Selma's missing husband. The sets up several funny sequences ranging from dinner at haughty Aunt Catherine's to the New Year's Eve party at the Li Chi club. When recently released convict Willie the Weeper and his cronies join Nick and Nora's party at the Li Chi, the humor flies fast and furious. A strong supporting cast was another hallmark of the series. A young Jimmy Stewart plays Selma's old boy friend, who wants her back. Dorothy McNaulty is the cabaret singer. Later, she changed her hair color, changed name to Penny Singleton, and played Blondie in the old movie series. The entertainment is as fresh and vital as it was almost 70 years ago. Enjoy the fun. ;-)
Rating: - Hollywood's first great sequel!
"After the Thin Man" is the second of five sequels in "The Thin Man" series. It was released in 1936, two years after the original movie, and literally takes up where the first one left off - aboard the Sunset Limited headed from New York to California. Having had their Christmas holidays in New York interrupted by a murder mystery [much to Nick Charles' dismay and wife Nora's delight], the couple is looking forward to a quiet New Year's Eve at home. This is not to be. Their house, it seems, has a huge cocktail party going on in it. And - you guessed it - there's another mystery brewing. Nora's cousin's husband has gone missing, and scandal threatens her stuffy, socialite family. Nick could care less. He has no use for his holier-than-thou in-laws. Nora is concerned - and not a little thrilled at the prospect of another adventure. William Powell and Myna Loy are, as always, Nick and Nora. They are one of the great screen couples of all time. Their relationship is often hysterically funny, sometimes touching, and more than a little complicated. A very young James Stewart has a meaty supporting role. The star quality is easy to see. Selma Landis is in top form as the neurotic cousin who is under the thumb of her frightfully domineering mother. "After the Thin Man" [great sequel title!] is only slightly less entertaining than its predecessor and is certainly superior to most of the comedies of today. That superiority is due to great screen writing, true star power and a genuine zest for life that rarely is seen today - at least in the movies. By the way, there IS no thin man!
Rating:  - Watch For A Young James Stewart
In AFTER THE THIN MAN Nick tries to get one of Nora's female relatives out of jail after she is put there for the murder of her husband. The story takes place in the vicinity of San Francisco's Nob Hill.The movie was released in 1936 two years following THE THIN MAN. Again Hunt Stromberg was the producer and the director was W.S. Van Dyke. Francis Goodrich and Albert Hackert returned to handle the screenplay. William Powell and Myrna Loy were backed up by another large supporting cast which included James Stewart. AFTER THE THIN MAN was a high quality sequel which did much to ensure the continued popularity of the series. Before the end of the film Nora told Nick that she was pregnant with their first child. AFTER THE THIN MAN received an Oscar nomination in 1936 for Best Screenplay.
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