An Oldie But a Goodie- "The Thin Man" (1934)

An Oldie But a Goodie- "The Thin Man" (1934)

My last college semester begins with a film class on Classical Hollywood. The definition of that era, if we can really call it that, is after the Silent Film Era (which does deserve it's own era) and before The Era of Modern Movies (when everything got worse- according to film historians). I understand that Hollywood was the place to be at a point in time, and movies were one of the only forms of entertainment people had (there was a time when everyone didn't have a TV in their living room and Netfix on their iPhones). But I refuse to believe that Hollywood and the value of Hollywood-produced films declined after this great period. Can't we just say they were great? And old?

I will first turn to "The Thin Man" starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as adorable married couple Nick and Nora Charles. The plot goes that Nick used to be a detective but has decided to take a vacation away from it all with his lovely wife when trouble comes knocking at the door. All of the sudden, they are thrown into a murder mystery case complete with a bitter divorced woman and her two children, some gangsters, and an old man and his money.

I really enjoyed this film because of the incredible chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy. They laugh at each other, make fun of each other, push each other, and generally get along quite well. I also love that Nora Charles is no force to be reckoned with, unlike many of the women on screen at this time. Sure, her husband makes sure she stays out of the line of fire, but it is really Nora getting Nick to chase down the case. Nick brings the much needed sarcasm and humor to their relationship and the film, but Nora is the brawn.

And there's a dog. Who doesn't love a little terrier?

The film is a series of 6 total films including "After the Thin Man" (1936), "Another Thin Man" (1939), "Shadow of the Thin Man" (1941), "The Thin Man Goes Home" (1945), and "Song of the Thin Man" (1947). These are now all on my Watch List. Check it out! Any recommendations for films like this one?