The Thin Man

A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2005 Filmcritic.com

You can save yourself the trouble of sending me hate mail, I already know what you're gonna say. The Thin Man, produced way back in 1934, just isn't that funny any more. The jokes are worn to the bone, the plot setup has been reworked into oblivion, and frankly the acting is spotty in parts. Still, William Powell and Myrna Loy have good chemistry -- and even better body language -- throughout this watershed crime story cum slapstick comedy. (He's a former P.I., she's a society maven, together they solve murders, and they have a dog.) You can see how this would be funny, but, like fine wine, even classic movies start to fade over time. Not that it isn't still without some of its old merits, of course.

Rating

3.0 out of 5 Stars

  • Director: W.S. Van Dyke
  • Producer: Hunt Stromberg
  • Screenwriter: Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich
  • Stars: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell, Porter Hall
  • MPAA Rating: NR

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