"Mrs. Charles Always Wears Her Mouth Open with This Outfit."
Added 8/15/2009
Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) are attending a gambling charity event aboard the S.S. Fortune. The entertainment is being provided by a jazz band. The band's leader, Tommy Drake (Phillip Reed) has huge gambling debts and too many female admirers. So it is hardly surprising when he is shot before the cruise is over.
As always, Nick absolutely refuses to get involved. That is until he is shot at. With the case suddenly very personal, he and Nora infiltrate the hip world of 40's Jazz, guided by Clinker (Keenan Wynn). Can Nick find the killer one last time?
The mysteries in this series have gotten weaker over time, and this one is no exception. There was no way to figure out the killer before Nick. Having said that, there are enough revelations and twists along the way to keep you entertained.
But the real reason to watch these films is the banter between Nick and Nora. It's in top form here. I laughed and grinned plenty as the story progressed. It's absolutely entertaining. William Powell and Myrna Loy still have remarkable chemistry.
Of course, part of the laughs come from the fish out of water element with the jazz scene. Keenan Wynn was absolutely hilarious in the role as the guide. And it was fun for me to see him in a part outside of his Disney villain days. Also fun was a very young Dean Stockwell as Nick Jr.
This movie is not the best from the franchise. But it is a fun closer. If you enjoyed the earlier films, don't hesitate to watch this one.
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Do you like Keenan Wynn?
Added 2/6/2008
A must have if you already own the other Thin Man movies and are a fan of William Powell and Myrna Loy. Keenan Wynn is the treat in this movie. Without his performance the movie would not hold up. What a great actor he was. In my opinion he steals the show.
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So long, Asta
Added 11/23/2007
Elsewhere in this space I have praised to the sky Dashiell Hammet's contribution to American literature through innovative improvements in the detective genre. That remains true. I have also praised the original film of the Thin Man here as well. But in the present review we are down to the sixth and last sequel in this series and it shows. Gone is the bright repartee between Nick (played by William Powell) and Nora (played by Myrna Loy) that made the original work. As the series progressed these characteristic charms took a beating until at the end the two are basically working separate beats.
The plot here involves a murdered small time jazz bandleader who has admirers (mainly female) but also some deadly enemies. Nick and Nora are drawn into this one by an acquaintance who has recently married a local gambling boss who, as the bandleader's employer, turns out to be a prime suspect. The fight for `truth and justice' takes off from there ending in the inevitable gathering of all the possible suspects in one locale in order for Nick to sort things out. The one redeeming feature here is the snappy `hip' dialogue of the various white jazz musicians who form the background for the story, especially the lively Keenan Wynn. Otherwise, this film-take it or leave.
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"That's an old saying I just made up."
Added 8/8/2007
Song of the Thin Man is the last film of the highly popular detective series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. Here, the couple is dragged into another murder case when a man is killed at a popular nighclub. It seems that he was involved with several women and owed a few debts. He could have been killed by anyone, and the evidence points to several people. Inevitably, just when the duo gets close to solving the case, something happens to throw them off course.
It is obvious that the leading stars have aged quite a bit since the first film in the series, but this is appropriate with the story. There are references to their longtime involvement in solving crimes, and their dog Asta has found a loving companion in the Charles son, Nick Jr. (Dean Stockwell). This is a movie about a family, which appeals to sentimental types, but it includes jazz and action for other audiences. There is certainly something for everyone here. No wonder this series ran for so long.
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Swan Song of the Thin Man
Added 7/16/2007
The film shows a gambling ship used for a charity event. The Charles' play and win at roulette. The band leader has an issue with the lead clarinet player. This band leader owes a pile of money ($12,000) that must be paid back soon - or else. A man enters a cabin to break into a locked chest. A gun shoots him. The murder of Tommy Drake makes front page news. At home Nicky Jr. must practice the piano, not play baseball. His refusal calls for a spanking.
Phil Brant is wanted for the murder. He just got married to a wealthy heiress. After they arrive at the Charles' the police show up to arrest him. Nick explains his reasons. So now Nick will investigate the murder. Nick visits the gambling ship to view the crime scene. [Note how a double is used for stunts and rough action.] The film shows musicians gathering for a good time. No drinking or smoking for these hep cats. Has a receipt for $12,000 gone up in smoke?
Mr. Thayer tells Nick about an antique gun. [This is not the revolver shown earlier!] There is a phone call that takes Mrs. Brant away. Nick deduces the address written on a paper pad. A clue brings Nick and Nora to Poughkeepsie NY. They find Buddy Hollis at a rest home; his mind is "shattered". Can anyone believe what he says? They discover a clue on the trip back home to Manhattan. Nick thinks up a ruse to expose the killer. [False clues have been spread around.] The suspects are all assembled on the gambling ship. There is a confession and a surprise ending. [Does it remind you of "Murder, My Sweet"?]
This film is not as good as the earlier films. It is the last of the series, but a better story could have perhaps avoided this [unless that was its purpose]. This story seems to wander too much and waste the viewer's time. But its all right for fans of this series.
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One Of The Greatest Film Series In Cinema History
Added 10/26/2009
All classic-film lovers must own this wonderful set. Sparkling, sophisticated, witty. . . loads of fun!
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Not thin on quality
Added 9/25/2009
Chemistry. In movies, it can be an essential element when two actors are paired together. It doesn't matter how good the actors are, if they don't click - make their pairing more than the sum of their parts - you are going to have a mediocre movie. Take the recent movie, Righteous Kill, with two Oscar-winning actors, Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. With little chemistry between them, the movie suffered (although bad writing didn't help either). The characters don't even have to get along: look at Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, or Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. In each case, the actors enhance each other other's performance.
Chemistry is what makes The Complete Thin Man Collection so great. In fact, the stories themselves are relatively lightweight, but each one is sustained by the byplay between William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. The general premise of the series of movies is that Nora is an heiress who has recently married retired detective Nick. They adore each other and would like nothing more than to live a pleasantly idle life (with lots of drinking); unfortunately, murders always pop up and Nick is recruited to discover the killer.
There are six movies total. The Thin Man is the original and best of the sextet, introducing the pair as well their faithful (if a bit cowardly) dog Asta. The framework for the whole series can be seen in this film. Nick, against his will, is brought in to assist on a murder case. Nora will prod him to do so and usually will want to assist. Between martinis (and other drinks), Nick will slowly piece things together, leading to a climactic scene where all the suspects are gathered and the killer (usually the least likely suspect) is revealed. Maureen O'Sullivan is also in this original movie as the daughter of the victim, an inventor with a duplicitous lover.
After The Thin Man has Nick and Nora looking into the murder of a wayward husband. Among the other actors is a young Jimmy Stewart. The title to Another Thin Man refers to Nick, Jr., who appears for the first time as an infant. The victim in this case is also the man who oversees Nora's estate. Shadow of the Thin Man has the couple going to the races and looking into shady goings-on. The Thin Man Goes Home gives us a look at Nick's family, while Song of the Thin Man deals with murder in the world of music.
If I'm gliding over the plots, that's because they're almost not important. Sure, there's enough story in each one to be interesting, but it's the characters, particularly Nick and Nora that make things entertaining. They may not be true classics, but they're all fun (and safe for kids to view as well).
Extras include various short subjects and cartoons as well as a supplemental disc. This extra disc has biographies of both Loy and Powell and also an episode of The Thin Man TV series from the 1950s. The TV episode is pretty weak, but it'll make you appreciate the movies even more. With all the movies being four-stars or better, the collection overall rates five stars and shows that humor and entertainment can be timeless.
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Great Movies
Added 9/7/2009
Bought this set for my brother, who is extremely happy to have these movies. Besides being shipped quickly, the quality of the set is great and makes for great movie nights.
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