Thoughts on The Thin Man: Essays on the Delightful Detective Work of Nick and Nora Charles

by Danny Reid (Editor)

Undoubtedly some of the most witty and urbane films of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the six movies that composed MGM’s Thin Man series showcased a pair of wealthy, inebriated detectives who solve murders in their down time. Through the series’ run from 1934 to 1947, William Powell and Myrna Loy turned Nick and Nora Charles into a cinematic institution, showcasing a marriage that was sexy, funny, and exciting, whether there was a gun pointed at them at any given moment or not. Thoughts On The Thin Man reflects on these famous films, looking back at Dashiell Hammett’s original inspiration, the genesis of the films, and the men and women who made them possible. This collection of essays covers all six movies, including detailed plot breakdowns, quotes, trivia, discussion of motifs, looks at the many spin-offs of the series, a couple of nostalgic odes, and even drinking games, including a custom cocktail devoted to the duo. Would you expect any less?

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Media Tie In, Film

223 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2014

About the author

Danny Reid is a librarian who has been writing about pre-Code Hollywood for over a decade at pre-Code.com. His published writing includes Murder on Celluloid: A Companion to the Hildegarde Withers Film Series and acting as editor for the essay collection Thoughts on the Thin Man. Danny has introduced pre-Code film screenings around the world and appeared on podcasts to discuss the era. He currently lives in Germany with his wife, two kids, and three very silly dogs.

Reviews

[Phoebe French · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Thin Man” and “After the Thin Man” are two of my favorite movies of all time (both are definitely in my Top 10 if not in my Top 5). They are nostalgic, funny, and charming. It also helps that I love a good murder mystery. I appreciated the solace that this book of essays gave me in that there are other people in this world that hold these wonderful movies close to their hearts as well.
However I didn’t like how some of the authors of the essays made it seem like humor and a good, suspenseful murder couldn’t live in the same universe (maybe I grossly misunderstood some of the essay’s messages). Take Margaret Rutherford’s 1960’s Miss Marple films. Lighthearted and funny, but doesn’t take away from a good murder mystery where you can be laughing while at the same time thinking “whodunit?”. Overall, I enjoyed the essays and learned a lot about the movies and characters that I’ve loved since I was 3 years old.

There were however a lot of typos…

[JES · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strictly on content, I'd give this 4 stars instead of 3. Wonderful insights, background, detailed recaps, trivia -- and scattered throughout, copious helpings of that wonderful dialogue. (One of the chapters consists of little more than an original recipe for a martini inspired by the films: the "Thin Ice.")

The book is a collection of essays (and blog posts?) written by different authors -- I believe they're all bloggers on classic-movie themes. Predictably, this results in uneven quality in the writing itself. This is pretty much the case with any anthology, of course. However, it also seemed to me not to have been edited by any one person, even the nominal "editor." So you might find a chapter beautifully written, clever, whatever... but full of typos. Another might be immaculately typo-free... and dull as dishwater. Very distracting, to the point that I bumped the overall rating down a star.

I do hope the editor (and/or individual authors) revisit the text for a later edition!

[Judy]

Full disclosure - I wrote a short piece included in this book, which is edited by Danny of the Pre-Code.com website. However, most of the other essays are much longer and more in-depth than mine - and I enjoyed reading this exploration of the Thin Man movies, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.

[Tom Stamper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The is a niche book for sure. You are going to have to like the Thin Man movies enough to enjoy the content without being such an aficionado to think there is nothing new here. I have seen all of the movies once and the early ones a few times and I enjoyed the musing here. Some of the essays are just recaps of the plots. Other essays explore very specific things like Asta's portrayal in the films versus the book and how the dog was used once to circumvent the Breen Code. There is a very interesting piece about the obscure character actor that played the actual Thin Man in the first movie and his subsequent career. Another essay explores how the musical score is used in each film by someone who understands music more than I do. Woody Van Dyke, the director of the first four films, is given a nice treatment of his career and responsibility for the success. William Powell and Myrna Loy get an essay about the other numerous movies they made together and how they compare in quality. It's the kind of book you can read at once as I did or here and there when you are in the mood. I would like to see this format adopted for other great movies.

[John M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Must Have Companion for those Who Enjoyed the Films

Dashiell Hammett is one of my favorite authors so it should come as no surprise that a book about the movies made of his 2 most famous sleuths should grace my Kindle collection. Is it possible to have too much information about Nick and Nora? No, it isn't.
Each section is written by good people "who know their onions". The real fun starts when you find information that you had not read previously. For me there was a good chunk and I enjoyed every new reveal. Now, I'll have a more scrupulous eye with the next viewing of the films.

[Brian Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful companion to The Thin Man series. Whether you are a die-hard fan who has seen them all multiple times or someone who has only just discovered the magic of these films, the essays and documentation in the book is sure to enhance your enjoyment.