The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Robert Riskin (story) and
Harry Kurnitz (story) ...

Release Date:

December 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Drama | Family | Romance

Plot:

Nick and Nora go on holiday, and end up involved in a murder.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Painting | Doctor | Nick And Nora Charles | Mother Son Relationship

Cast

William Powell	...	Nick Charles
Myrna Loy	...	Nora Charles
Lucile Watson	...	Mrs. Charles
Gloria DeHaven	...	Laura Ronson (as Gloria De Haven)
Anne Revere	...	Crazy Mary
Helen Vinson	...	Helena Draque
Harry Davenport	...	Dr. Bertram Charles
Leon Ames	...	Edgar Draque
Donald Meek	...	Willie Crump
Edward Brophy	...	Brogan
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Dr. Bruce Clayworth
Anita Sharp-Bolster	...	Hilda (as Anita Bolster)
Ralph Brooks	...	Peter Berton
Donald MacBride	...	Police Chief MacGregor
Morris Ankrum	...	Willoughby

Also Known As:

Aí Vem Nick (Portugal) [pt]
Der dünne Mann kehrt heim (Germany) [de]
Gäckande skuggan tar hem spelet (Sweden) [sv]
L'introuvable rentre chez lui (France) [fr]
L'uomo ombra torna a casa (Italy) [it]
Pettävä varjo voittaa pelin (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #10301) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) | UK:A (original rating)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Liberal drinking of alcohol, a mainstay of the first four "Thin Man" movies, was curtailed for this movie due to wartime liquor rationing.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The "Japanese Sniper Rifle" that is used to commit the murder is actually a British Light Machinegun, the Bren. A Czechoslovakian design with .303 Caliber Rifle bullets that, needless to say, still could have done the job.

Quotes:

Brogan: Well, cut off my legs and call me Shorty.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hollywood Remembers: Myrna Loy - So Nice to Come Home to (1991) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday to You

So good I popped my vest buttons!

This is the fourth sequel to the 1934 smash hit THE THIN MAN. Just when I would have thought the series was dead the producers and writers were able to add life to the franchise.

Nick goes home and of course gets dragged into another murder mystery. Nora, who by now should no longer be curious to see Nick solve a mystery, tries to get Nick to solve a murder mystery so he can impress his father the medical doctor. Nick's father had always hoped his son would have become a doctor and when Nick became a cop and then detective he looked down on him. As far as the mystery goes it follows the typical THIN MAN formula. A bunch of suspects are introduced and in the end Nick rounds them all up and reveals the killer.

The comedy is better than ever. Rather than have Nick always drinking and having jokes centered around his drinking Nick is now sober. The jokes are even funnier because everyone believes he is still a drunk and he just can't convince them otherwise. The scene in his Dad's parlor is hilarious. Nick is stone sober but due to a series of mishaps he is on the floor and appears to all to be drunk as ever. Also, when Nick recounts his childhood to Nora and tells her of his trips to the wood shed that brings back memories of my childhood and trips to the wood shed.

This is my second favorite THIN MAN movie. Right behind AFTER THE THIN MAN and just before the original THIN MAN. It is an almost perfect blend of mystery and comedy.