THE THIN MAN Murder, Mirth and Marriage  At The Movies

     Another Thin Man opens with the Charles arriving in New York City. Nick and Nora are summoned out to the Long Island Estate of Colonel MacFay, Nora’s father’s former business partner who is now in charge of Nora’s business affairs. On the way there, Nick spots a body on the side of the road, but when he stops the car to investigate, it has disappeared.

    At MacFay’s, Nick and Nora meet Lois, MacFay’s adopted daughter, her fiancée Dudley Horn and Freddie, MacFay’s secretary. Everyone is in a state of nervousness. Over dinner MacFay tells Nick and Nora that he is being threatened by a former employee, Phil Church. Church had been in charge of handling various shady dealings for MacFay and had gone to jail as a result. MacFay says that Church has stated that he has twice dreamt of MacFay being murdered and when he dreams of something three times, it comes true. Dinner is interrupted by a commotion- someone has set the pool’s bath house on fire and killed Lois’ dog.

    Nick decides to go talk to Church. He discovers that Church’s home is being watched by a thick spectacled man who claims to be with the police but is actually racketeer “Diamond Back” Vogel. At Church’s, Nick meets Dum-Dum, the roadside “murder victim.” Church says that he is leaving for Cuba that evening. He also hints that Nick should mind his own business. He hasn’t started dreaming about Nora and Nicky, Jr.- “Yet.”

    That night, MacFay is stabbed. The police are summoned but in the confusion Dorothy Waters, Nick, Jr.’s nanny, slips out. While the police question everyone, Asta discovers the murder weapon outside. When Nick goes to retrieve it, he is shot at by Horn. The police return fire, killing him.

    Nick identifies the knife as one he had seen in Dum-Dum’s possession at Church’s. The police figure that Horn was trying to frame Church, but Nick states that their theory wouldn’t explain why Horn would shoot at him. As the Charleses head back to Manhattan, Nick feels that there are two mysteries to be solved- Who killed Colonel MacFay and why did Dudley Horn shoot at him?

    The performances are generally good through out the picture, though Ruth Hussey’s scenes as Nicky, Jr.’s nurse in the beginning of the film tend to broadcast her character’s role in the finale. Nat Pendleton returns to the series to reprise his Thin Man role of Lt. Guild. Marjorie Main (of the Ma and Pa Kettle series) stands out in her one scene as the gregarious landlady Mrs. Dolley. The dancers in the West Indies Club, Rene y Estela were real headliners at New York's Havana-Madrid Club.

    Sharp-eyed viewers of may spot Doodles Weaver (of Spike Jones and his City Slickers) in an uncredited role as the gatekeeper at MacFay's estate and a similarly uncredited Stooge Shemp Howard as the shady Wacky who shows up in the film’s final third.

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