After the Thin Man

Released Dec 25, 1936

1h 53m

Comedy

Drama

List

100%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Recently returned home from vacation, private detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his socialite wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), are back on the case when Nora's cousin, Selma (Elissa Landi), reports her husband Robert (Alan Marshal) missing. As the duo search for the disreputable Robert, Selma's friend David Graham (James Stewart), who secretly pines for her, aids the investigation. When the three begin to unravel Robert's secret life, the missing persons case turns into one of murder.

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Steve D

Unless you find drunks hilarious skip it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

Russ

"After the Thin Man" aka "The Further Adventures of Nick and Nora, featuring Astra the Wonder Dog." A hefty measure of character actors thrown in, plus Jimmy Stewart in an early role.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

Full Review

Joel H

I thoroughly enjoyed The Thin Man, so I was excited to see this follow-up film, After the Thin Man. William Powell & Myrna Loy still make a wonderful pair, although it seems like this film gives Loy less to do, which was disappointing. She's a talented actress. I also felt the storyline of this sequel was a little more difficult to follow than the original movie, or maybe I was just tired. I may need to give it another viewing. Nevertheless, I was entertained while watching it, and it was fun to see a young Jimmy Stewart. I look forward to seeing the next film in this franchise, Another Thin Man.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

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Lydia M

Funny classic movie that holds up today. I love the chemistry between Nick and Nora.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/23

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Deke P

LOVE ALL the original THIN MAN movies. This one features JIMMY STEWART~!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/23

Full Review

matthew d

Perhaps even funnier than the first Thin Man film! Director W.S. Van Dyke's romantic comedy mystery After the Thin Man (1936) is as charming and hysterical as The Thin Man. Nick and Nora are likable day drinking detectives with a loving affectionate passion that's impossible to hate. Van Dyke's direction takes on this freewheeling attitude of Nick with Nora's adventurous compassion to help their romance and comedy scenes. There's immediate intrigue into their family and all the clues are fun to think about before the final reveal. After the Thin Man is so funny and nonchalant that it's hard to think of any flaws. Author Dashiell Hammett's novel adapted by writers Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett brings a neat mystery about Nora's cousin's missing husband Robert. I like that the mystery involved figures in Nick and Nora's own family for some intrigue and hilarity involving Nick loathing his in-laws. Nick and Nora are so pleasantly fun and empathetic. You always root for them to solve the case and stay madly in love with one another. I think the jokes are more creative this time around like the mystery narrative too. I really like the bit that every old friend of Nick's is a crook just getting out of prison. Overall, there's just a neat charm and whimsy to these Thin Man movies and After the Thin Man nails the romance, humor, and mystery all in one. William Powell packing away liquor and flirting with Myrna Loy is just too cute and charming as Nick Charles. His desire to retire and relax, always getting interrupted is such a fun gag. His hatred of his in-laws and nosy neighbors is relatable. No wonder audiences loved William Powell as Nick. He's very charismatic, handsome, funny, and astute. His dry sarcastic comments and adoring affections for Nora are a delight to watch. William Powell and Myrna Loy have romantic chemistry and playful personalities that meld nicely. Myrna Loy is lovely and hilarious as Nora Charles. She's so naturally expressive and has a fun rapport with Powell's Nick. She feels very elegant, prim, and proper since Nora comes from wealth, yet sweet and adoring in her romantic relationship with Nick. Nora's concern for her cousin Selma is as endearing as her playful prodding of her husband Nick. She really gets insulted by the mugs, slapped on the back, and shoved out of the way of a phone booth. Loy pulls off gorgeous looks of disdain and adoration alike towards Nick with an effortless charm as Nora. Loy has this cute pouting frown and a neat distant stare that works wonders for Nora. Nora desperately wants to be involved in Nick's detective work and her curiosity is very endearing. Myrna Loy is seriously phenomenal in After the Thin Man. I just love her! James Stewart features as David Graham in his first acting role in After the Thin Man! He acts nice to seem like the perfect guy for Selma. He feels forlorn as he's getting blackmailed by Robert so that he'd give up Selma for Stewart's David. Elissa Landi is sympathetic as Nora's cousin Selma seeking her philandering husband Robert. Teddy Hart is funny as the eager shyster lawyer Floyd Casper. Joseph Calleia is interesting as the shady Dancer. Jessie Ralph is crazy as Nora's commanding Aunt Katherine. Alan Marshal is great as Selma's sleazy no good husband Robert Landis with his nonchalant dismissal of Selma's feelings. His casual theft and blackmail is something else. Penny Singleton is pitiable as Polly the showgirl getting hurt by her brother, but also hilarious as she tries to get away with Robert's money from David. William Law is fun as the amiable gangster Lum Kee. Sam Levene is fun as the bossy Lieutenant Abrams. Paul Fix is cruel as Polly's no good brother Phil. George Zucco is strange as the shifty Dr. Kammer. Skippy the dog is incredibly well trained and an adorably cuddly canine named Asta. He's so playful and curious. There's an insane joke about a black terrier fathering a black terrier puppy with Mrs. Asta, a cute fluffy white terrier. Asta is very naughty and aggressive this time around because of his family troubles. Editor Robert Kern cuts very quickly from wide to close-up shots with a brisk pace for 112 minutes. I like how fastly cut After the Thin Man feels compared to the slower original. Cinematographer Oliver T. Marsh uses shadows and bright light to really draw out the stark blacks and brilliant whites in the scene. I love the look of old film noir pictures. After the Thin Man has so many funny shots of Asta being a bad dog this time to the hysterical close-up on Nick with a Do Not Disturb sign around his neck. Art direction from Cedric Gibbons, Edwin B. Willis, and Harry McAfee create shady nightclubs, lavish aristocratic homes, and dingy apartments for the mugs. From faint lights in the dark to Asta growling in daylight, After the Thin Man's visuals are mesmerizing. Myrna Loy's dresses look so luxurious and flattering on her. She looks like a regal princess. Robert J. Schiffer's make-up is lovely on her delicate face. Composers Herbert Stothart and Edward Ward create energetic jazz tunes and romantic themes that fit the lively vibe of After the Thin Man. In all, this movie is as delightful as The Thin Man.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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W. S. Van Dyke II

Director

William Powell

Nick Charles

Myrna Loy

Nora Charles

James Stewart

David Graham

Elissa Landi

Selma Landis, Nora's Cousin

Joseph Calleia

Lichee Club Owner

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Variety Staff

Variety

The two leading players seem to have a swell time throughout.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Tom Milne

Time Out

Surprisingly successful sequel to the delightful, Dashiell Hammett-based comedy-mystery, The Thin Man, with Powell and Loy as charmingly witty as ever.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Frank S. Nugent

New York Times

If After the Thin Man is not quite the delight The Thin Man was, it is, at the very least, one of the most urbane comedies of the season.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Pare Lorentz

McCall's

I am happy to report that, while it will not be as fresh to you as the original Dashiell Hammett production, After The Thin Man is a very successful sequel.

Dec 27, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... it’s the cocktail chemistry between the blasé Powell and the elegantly sexy Loy that makes this snappy sequel crackle.

Dec 16, 2023

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

While sequels generally disappoint, After the Thin Man demonstrates its predecessor's nimble juggling act between comedy and murder mystery, once again finding that rare balance between suspense and laughs.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 15, 2022

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Synopsis

Recently returned home from vacation, private detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his socialite wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), are back on the case when Nora's cousin, Selma (Elissa Landi), reports her husband Robert (Alan Marshal) missing. As the duo search for the disreputable Robert, Selma's friend David Graham (James Stewart), who secretly pines for her, aids the investigation. When the three begin to unravel Robert's secret life, the missing persons case turns into one of murder.

Director: W. S. Van Dyke II
Screenwriter: Dashiell Hammett, Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1936, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 53m

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