Another Thin Man

Released Nov 17, 1939

1h 45m

Comedy

Drama

List

86%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

85%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

In this third film in the "Thin Man" series based on characters created by mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, retired detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), accept an invitation to visit family friend Col. Burr MacFay (C. Aubrey Smith) at his Long Island, N.Y., estate. Soon after arriving with their new son, Nick Jr., and family dog Asta in tow, MacFay is murdered, and the Charles family must unravel a mystery that may implicate the most unlikely of suspects.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 30

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent Another Thin Man on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Times (UK) Staff

Times (UK)

Perhaps it is best to enjoy the detail without making too much effort to follow the plot, and certainly without any attempt to spot the murderer or to follow the logic of the detective's search for him. This detail is often very entertaining.

Oct 16, 2020

Full Review

Frank S. Nugent

New York Times

We're still appreciative, but we found too many chestnuts in the dressing.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 28, 2006

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Jun 12, 2003

Full Review

Pare Lorentz

McCall's

William Powell and Myrna Loy are the most charming married couple we've ever had on the screen, and certainly seem to be people you'd enjoy meeting up with on a New Year's Eve, even if they casually duck bullets and knives as they stroll from bar to bar.

Oct 30, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Although the comedic antics take a backseat to the dangers of the plot, this third go-round once again reminds us that marriage doesn't necessarily have to be devoid of love and good humor, even with an infant in tow.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 15, 2022

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

William Powell and Myrna Loy are a delight as always, even if their repartee doesn't feel quite as witty as in the previous two films, and they make the most of what they're given.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 4, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Joel H

It's official. I'm a fan of the Thin Man series. Even though I was confused by some of the plot points in Another Thin Man, I just enjoy seeing William Powell and Myrna Loy (as Nick and Nora Charles) play off of each other and interact with other characters in the movie. The chemistry between these two actors is fantastic. I am even impressed by Asta, the Wire Fox Terrier, and his "acting" abilities. To be honest, the baby didn't bring much to the story, since Nick & Nora left him with a nanny almost the entire time, but I'm looking forward to seeing what the next three Thin Man films have to offer.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

Full Review

matthew d

A joyful sequel with Nick, Nora, Asta, and a baby! Director W.S. Van Dyke's romantic-comedy mystery Another Thin Man (1939) continues his incredible franchise of artful and pleasant Thin Man movies. Nick and Nora are effortlessly charming and likable with a loving relationship that's very playful. William Powell and Myrna Loy are so fun to watch together. Author Dashiell Hammett's novel is adapted by writers Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett with a whimsical humor and adoring romantic feel. They nail writing funny lines for the married couple about drinking, loyalty, and murder cases. The mystery is interesting as Goodrich and Hackett have to balance the couple newly becoming parents with tracking down a murderer in Long Island. I like how all the cops stupidly frame Nick, making Nick look all the smarter. William Powell is as charming as ever as the nonchalant Nick Charles with his endless day drinking and casual joking manner. He's always jesting with Nora, so they have this believable couple dynamic. He now calls her Mommy, which is fun and an endearing term. Powell is incredibly charismatic and funny as Nick Charles. He feels like a real detective as he casually walks around, never rushes, except to punch a man threatening Nora. Myrna Loy is devastatingly gorgeous as Nora Charles and hilarious as she jokes around with Powell's Nick. Her line about always taking Nick for a laugh about cheating and drinking is as funny as her commenting about how nice Nick's friends are, since they are all criminals he sent to prison previously. I like her stealing Colonel MacFay's keys for a drink. Her desire to sleuth alongside Nick is just so delightfully cute. Nora running off to sleuth for clues on her own is a cool development and a unique opportunity for Loy to play around in her role. I cannot take my eyes off of Myrna Loy whenever she's on the silver screen. Skippy is cute as Asta the dog, now playing with a bone and barking up a storm. I love that he likes to wag his little tail all the time. Jesse the wolfhound is a fun dog partner to scare Asta, until his untimely demise. I liked Asta barking at a skunk and following Nick closely. I adore Asta, especially when he jumps right into the dresser drawer to sleep. Can you believe Asta does a backflip out of nowhere? Virginia Grey is very pretty and friendly as Lois MacFay. I found her immediately charming. Her devastation over her dog Jesse being killed is believable and understandable. She's excitable and kind with a nice personality. Otto Kruger is a lot of fun as the deadpan Assistant District Attorney Van Slack. His ultra serious delivery of details of the murders is funny as he sarcastically tries to implicate Nick. Seeing Otto Kruger opposite William Powell is quite neat. I loved seeing Nat Pendleton back as the tough guy Lieutenant John Guild. C. Aubrey Smith is very mean and intense as the insistent and commanding Colonel Burr MacFay. He barks orders around like he's Asta. Ruth Hussey is lovely as the Charles family's nanny Dorothy Walters. You can tell she had something to hide with her suspicious glances and sneaking off in the dead of night. Patric Knowles is curious and jealous as Lois's fiancé Dudley Horn. I was shocked when he started shooting as Lois and Nick. Tom Neal is very indignant and protective of Lois as Freddie Coleman, MacFay's secretary. Sheldon Leonard is very nervous and shifty as the crook Phil Church. His idle threats and cautious nature are fun opposite Powell's cool Nick. Don Costello is really creepy as the blunt Diamondback Vogel. Harry Bellaver is hysterical as the friendly crook Creeps, who throws a birthday party for Nick and Nora Charles' baby boy. Muriel Hutchison is pretty, amiable, and underhanded as Church's gun toting lady Smitty. Abner Biberman is intriguing as the threatening henchman Dum-Dum. Editor Fredrick Y. Smith cuts frequently within scenes and transitions fastly for a quickly paced 103 minutes. I like how he lets characters talk before cutting away for a reaction or wide shot of the room. Every character can breathe and say their part without interruption. Smith cuts to Asta often for reaction shots just to remind us he's there. Cinematographers William H. Daniels and Oliver T. Marsh shoots plenty of Asta for these cute reaction close-up shots. Their wide shots are nice of rooms, but it's their striking close-ups of Nick and Nora reacting to people that are so staggeringly great looking. They know what we need to see as viewers. They smoothly pan the camera around the room with a neat floating quality. Art direction from Cedric Gibbons and John S. Detlie painted a luxurious image of the Colonel's lavish estate. Edwin B. Willis' ornate furnishings really have all these neat wooden tables and chairs everywhere. Composer Edward Ward creates a lively score for Another Thin Man. Sound editor Douglas Shearer captures Asta's loud barks and the gunman's louder shots. Dolly Tree's lovely dresses, stunning robes, and cute suit jackets are very becoming on Myrna Loy. In all, Another Thin Man is another delightful picture with a fantastic dynamic between William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

william d

Not as good as the first two movies in the franchise.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wouldn't it be great if they made movies like this anymore. Nick and Nora ride again!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

deke p

never saw until tv 6-2020. What a great couple. I'm still in love with that MYRNA LOY.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Frances H

Just love these movies! Good mysteries, witty, and clever with sparkling scripts and the Powell and Loy combination just can't be beat!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/20

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

W. S. Van Dyke II

Director

William Powell

Nick Charles

Myrna Loy

Nora Charles

Virginia Grey

Lois MacFay

Otto Kruger

Assistant District Attorney Van Slack

C. Aubrey Smith

Colonel Burr MacFay

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

75%

79%

The Thin Man Goes Home

83%

68%

The Human Comedy

17%

71%

The Catered Affair

96%

90%

After the Thin Man

89%

78%

Shadow of the Thin Man

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

10 Marathons You Can See On TV This Week to Ring in the New Year

View more photos

Synopsis

In this third film in the "Thin Man" series based on characters created by mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, retired detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), accept an invitation to visit family friend Col. Burr MacFay (C. Aubrey Smith) at his Long Island, N.Y., estate. Soon after arriving with their new son, Nick Jr., and family dog Asta in tow, MacFay is murdered, and the Charles family must unravel a mystery that may implicate the most unlikely of suspects.

Director: W. S. Van Dyke II
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1939, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2008
Runtime: 1h 45m

Most Popular at Home Now