The Thin Man is perhaps William Powell's most famous film. It is still watched and loved today and, at the time, made a huge impact to screen history!
Plot: After detective Nick Charles returns to New York with his new wife Nora and their dog Asta, he is approached by Dorothy Wynant whose inventor father, Clyde Wynant, is suspected of murdering his secretary. Nick is not that keen on resuming his former profession, but egged-on by Nora, who thinks it very exciting, he agrees to help. He solves the case, announcing the identity of the killer at a dinner party for all of the suspects.
Production: After director W. S. Van Dyke bought the screen rights for the book from Dashiell Hammett, he immediately decided that he wanted to have William Powell and Myrna Loy in The Thin Man. MGM, however, had concerns about this casting as they thought Bill too old and straight-laced, and Myrna was type cast in femme fatale roles. Eventually Van Dyke got his own way and one of Hollywood's greatest on-screen couples were born. They were given a budget of $321,000 and three weeks to film, which they completed in just 12 days!
Reception: The Thin Man was an instant success! Bill and Myrna's on screen chemistry was loved by the public, and having a happily married couple who drink and solve crime together was a new novelty that the watchers enjoyed. The film made a massive profit of $1.4 million and five sequels to it would later be made.
Fun Facts: For Bill's first scene in the film, Van Dyke told him to take the cocktail shaker, go to the bar and just walk through the scene while the crew checked lights and sound. Powell did it, throwing in some lines and business of his own. Suddenly he heard Van Dyke say, "That's it! Print it!" The director had decided to shoot the scene without Bill knowing it so that he would be as relaxed and natural as possible.
During filming The Thin Man, between takes, Bill playfully began shooting Christmas decorations with an air gun. W.S. Van Dyke loved this and decided to use it in the film.
The actors were not allowed to interact between takes with the highly trained Skippy (Asta), who performed his tricks for the reward of a squeaky mouse and a biscuit.
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