[.ca] Another Thin Man

VanDyke takes a different approach to this film!:
I've always liked ANOTHER THIN MAN. I never quite understood what made it different than the other THIN MAN FILMS until I read some of the other reviews listed here and at other sites. I guess it, as some have described, is darker film or perhaps grittier would be a better word. Anyway, the next three THIN MAN sequels all followed a very basic formula. All that changes were the names and faces but the people were all the same. Those three films were, in my opinion, targeted at the current fans. No doubt the fan base was large and guaranteed a good return at the box office. However, the love bickering that went on between Nick and Nora was no longer fresh. The plots all followed the same formula and even Asta the dog was no longer as amusing as he first was. In general all the other sequels followed the time old Hollywood tradition of redressing the same old story to lure fans back to the theater and wring some more money out of them. ANOTHER THIN MAN did seem to leave some of the overt comedy behind and focused on plot a little bit more. I didn't notice as big a change in the formulas as others have but it is clear that VanDyke was trying to approach the film from a different angle. As this was only the second sequel to the original THIN MAN the view, if he/she watches all six films in the order they were made, may not notice some of characteristic plot devices. More than anything else I think this is the last THIN MAN film that showed Nick and Nora's playful bickering and loving digs at each other and it still seemed believable to the viewers. By the fourth film it no longer seemed genuine or practical. Instead of falling into the dull married routine in later films Nick and Nora still playfully feel each other out and take pleasure in pushing each others buttons. To me this didn't seem that realistic for an old married couple but it was still fresh in ANOTHER THIN MAN. This film should appeal to all THIN MAN fans as well as the more casual viewer. If this is the first film you've seen of the THIN MAN movies I suggest watching THE THIN MAN and AFTER THE THIN MAN before watching any of the other THIN MAN films. Where is the DVD?

Keep Asta, Lose the Baby!:
In this third of the wonderful Thin Man series, Nick and Nora are joined by their baby, Nick Jr. It is totally jarring to see the sophisticated duo, Nick's cocktails et al., trying to go goo-goo at the same time. (Nick has taken to calling Nora Mommy!) But...So what. Baby or not, this movie is just a gem, and it sports one of the all-time lines, tossed off as only Myrna Loy could: When asked how their cross-country trip has been, she replies, "Nick was sober in Kansas City!" The plot is always secondary to the incomparable byplay between Powell and Loy, but the mystery is entertaining nevertheless. Just back from their trip, Nick and Nora are urgently summoned by Colonel MacFay, who fears for his life. Gathering up Asta and baby, the couple repairs to the colonel's country estate, where the mysterious goings-on are nonstop. The plot, as they say, thickens, and indeed, a murder does occur. A very young Sheldon Leonard plays Phil Church, a small-time hood who seems to be the villain of the piece. The baby's birthday party, while completely at odds with the normal tone of the Thin Man movies, still has its moments, as other reviewers have mentioned. The one-liners are delivered without a bat of the eye, which ultimately saves the movie from too much in the way of family values. This is not my favorite Thin Man movie, but it remains a worthy addition to anybody's collection of vintage, "they-just-don't-make-them-like-that-anymore" films.

Based on Dashiell Hammett's "The Farewell Murder":
The first movie in this series was based on a book with the same name as the movie "The thin Man" Which referred to the murder victim, not the detective. This movie instead of just basing it on the same story or making something up to keep the characters going is based on another writing from Dashiell Hammett. "The Farewell Murder" (1930) written as a part of a short story series "The Continental Op (Vintage Crime)". The promotional title of this movie is "Return of the Thin Man." Nick (William Powell) and Nora (Myrna Loy) are invited to visit an old partner of Nora's father. He is Col. MacFay (C. Aubrey Smith) and he is being threatened, more like blackmailed. You guessed it. Despite all precautions the Col. is a dead chicken. Who did it? Aside from all the standard creepy suspects, now the Nick and Nora have a little one to add to some of the comic relief and even suspense.

"Nick was Sober in Kansas City":
This series spanned years and each production was charming and witty fun for the movie going 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, a great cast, 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 tries to get out of going to Long Island as Colonel McFay (C. Aubrey Smith) only wants Nick 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. When it's Nick and Nora it's anything but quiet and there has to be some shady goings on, including 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 (The Uninvited) 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. Some of the Colonel's business dealings have been just a little on the shady side over the years since the death of his business partner, Nora's father, and Phil Church (Sheldon Leonard) has a score to settle with the Colonel, who of course, ends up dead. The interplay between Nick and Nora is fun and a body in the road and a pool house fire get things moving quickly in this light, breezy entertainment. Nat Pendelton is along as Lt. Guild and Marjorie Main has a nice turn as a funny landlady. Church's girlfriend Smitty (Muriel Hutchison in a nice role) and Abner Biberman as Church's menacing and loyal right hand 'Dum Dum' add to a story a little more complicated than you might think, especially when Nick finally reveals the killer. This time the gathering of suspects, including Don Costello as 'Diamond Back' Vogel, takes place at a bithday party for Nicky Jr. thrown by Nick's old 'pals'. Shemp Howard (The Three Stooges) has a funny role as Whacky, as does Harry Bellaver as 'Creeps'. Otto Kruger is on hand as A.D.A. Van Slack to watch Nick unmask the killer, which might just be a suprise. Nora's learning about Nick's former life, including his many girlfriends, and a fun time at The West Indies Club are just a couple of highlights as Nick and Nora track down a killer during their 'quiet weekend in the country'. This is enjoyable and wonderful, a fun time at the movies all around. You just can't miss this one...