The power of movie stars shouldn't be underestimated. A glamourous screen presence, a straight shot of charisma, can make even the least impressive piece of cinematic fluff into a must-see event. At the very least, the difference between unwatchable mediocrity and a jolly good time can often be someone who electrifies the screen with a look, someone who enchants the camera and conquers our attention with no effort. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better example of the wonders of stardom than The Thin Man series…
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Newly available on HBO Max, 1934's The Thin Man is an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's popular novel of the same name. It tells the misadventures of Nick and Nora Charles, the most glamourous pair of wisecracking alcoholics you'll ever find. They love each other as passionately as they love booze and, along with their adorable Fox Terrier named Asta, the married couple has a penchant for solving crimes. Nick may be a retired detective, but, like all the great screen investigators, he can't partake in any sort of travel without getting himself embroiled in some sort of murder mystery. As for Nora, she loves to watch.
Elegantly directed by W. S. Van Dyke, with silvery cinematography by James Wong Howe and delectable costumes courtesy of Dolly Tree, The Thin Man is irresistible. Watching it is like indulging in pure escapism, following along a convoluted criminal plot that's only there to facilitate the firing of witty one-liners. It's all very light, even slight, but one has to admire the exquisite perfection of its humor, pacing, and genuine entertainment value. If movies were desserts, The Thin Man would be a delicious confection, soaked in plenty of alcohol and laced with a zing of tartness, sweet but never cloying.
While all its elements work overtime to achieve this perfection, the key ingredients are the stars at the center of the comedy. Playing Nick and Nora Charles we find two of Old Hollywood's most delightful actors, the ever-charming William Powell and irresistible Myrna Loy. Each of them was a force of nature when alone. When paired together, they're even better, like a supernova of pure chemistry. They manage to paint one of cinema's great romances through acidic retorts and languorous hangovers, looking like they're devoted to one another while never allowing that love to get in the way of humor.
It's impossible to imagine The Thin Man being as successful as it is without these two stars. They hold it all together and elevate the marvelous comedy into the upper echelons of cinematic greatness. Pardon the hyperbole but, in these dark times, there's something particularly loveable about The Thin Man's brand of escapist entertainment. Whenever I'm feeling down, this is a good picture to return to. For 90 blissful minutes, the chaotic world we live in fades away from consciousness. In the Silver Screen, where Nick and Nora live forever enshrined in crystalline celluloid, things are always perfect. Well, perfect for the Charles couple, not for the dead bodies that tend to pop out at every corner.
As stated before, you can find The Thin Man , which was nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture, on HBO Max. As for its five sequels, they're available to rent from several other services and platforms. If the original movie doesn't convince you of the star charisma and acting talents of Powell and Loy, those continuations of the Charles' adventures certainly will. Even when the scripts falter and the direction loses some of its precision, the lead actors are always perfect. Are you similarly enchanted by William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles?