Following the enormous success of the thin man movie in 1934, hammett was. Hammetts final novel centers on the life of nick and nora charles, a pair of stylish, wealthy partygoers with a. The thin man is a sort of noir comic by one of the greats of noir crime history, dashiell hammett, who is best known for creating sam spade in the maltese falcon. After the thin man picks up right where the first film finished. This book is essential reading for hammetts millions of fans and for a new. Former detective nick charles and his wealthy wife nora investigate a. Dashiell hammetts 1934 novel the thin man is a small but dense piece of detective fiction which follows a former detective, nick charles short for the greek charalambides. Thin man, old time radio 8 episodes from the 194150 series based on the popular book and movie, starring claudia morgan as nora charles and les damon, david gothard, les tremayne, and joseph curtain as nick charles. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The thin man 1932 offered another immortal sleuth, nick charles.
Thats certainly the case in the thin man 1934, a murder mystery in which the murder and the mystery are insignificant compared to the personal styles of the actors. The thin man, by dashiell hammett i thought this book would be more interesting. The thin man by dashiell hammett seventh printing 1934. The thin man movie series the cozy mystery list blog. Most of all, even though it was made in 1934 the film holds up beautifully and seems totally fresh. His delivery is so droll and insinuating, so knowing and innocent at the same time, that it hardly matters what hes saying.
The thin man free pdf, chm, doc, fb2 books library. Gallery of 15 movie poster and cover images for the thin man 1934. Free download or read online the thin man pdf epub book. Oct 12, 2011 the thin man movies are based on dashiell hammetts the thin man mystery book. But the thin man was also a well known and much read series, and maybe still is. The first edition of the novel was published in 1934, and was written by dashiell hammett. A sequel to the 1934 film the thin man, the film presents powell and loy as dashiell hammetts characters nick and nora charles. The thin man movie summary back in the hollywoods precode era, functional alcoholism was the key to comedy gold, and the thin man lead, william powell, delivered an excellent drunk. Based on the dashiell hammett novel of the same name and the first in a series of unforgettable crime and comedy classics, the thin man is full of humor and suspense. Dec 15, 2017 the thin man movie summary back in the hollywoods precode era, functional alcoholism was the key to comedy gold, and the thin man lead, william powell, delivered an excellent drunk. The thin man, american detective film, released in 1934, that was considered a paragon of the fun, sophisticated, glib dramas produced by hollywood during the great depression.
Following the enormous success of the thin man movie in 1934, hammett. Through the series run from 1934 to 1947, william powell and myrna. The thin man is a 1934 american precode comedymystery film directed by w. Almost as welcome as a shaker full of martinis, the complete thin man collection represents an eagerly awaited dvd milestone for fans of the fizzy mgm movie series. Now, some 60 years later i have read most of dashiell hammetts works in the last month and i.
Read the full synopsis of the thin man, 1934, directed by w. Mgm dipped their toes in tv with mgm parade around 1956, then a couple of seasons later went into production with the thin man and a revolutionary warera adventure series called northwest passage. In my humble yet growing library of books that i have tirelessly handpicked from a veritable slew of unreadable tripe at the nearby thrift store where i get books for only a quarter if you can believe it there are three books that fall into the detective crimefiction category on my shelves. Hammett also wrote the maltese falcon which was turned into a. A pair of neverbefore published thin man novellas from the dashiell hammett. The wrights, book 6 by adair, cherry and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He dedicated the remainder of his life to leftwing activism and antifascism. The thin man, dashiell hammetts classic tale of murder in manhattan, became the popular movie series with william powell and myrna loy, and both the movies and the novel continue to captivate new generations of fans nick and nora charles, accompanied by their schnauzer, asta, are lounging in their suite at the normandie in new york city for the christmas holiday, enjoying the prerogatives. Hammetts portrayal of sophisticated new york cafe society during prohibition and his witty protagonists nick and nora charles made this the most popular of his works, if not the most successful critically. This one features the lush drinking duo nick and nora charles and opens very much like a screwball. William powell is to dialogue as fred astaire is to dance. In the thirties, sequels werent as inevitable as they are today, but they occurred.
Dec 19, 2015 the thin man 1932 offered another immortal sleuth, nick charles. Van dyke and based on the novel of the same name by dashiell hammett. His final novel, the thin man, was published in 1934. The film is the first in a popular series of detective films featuring william powell as the dapper detective nick charles. Best books of 1934 the best fiction and nonfiction published in 1934. This was a natural property for mgm to adapt to television, since theyd had a lot of success with the film franchise in the 30s. With william powell, myrna loy, maureen osullivan, nat pendleton. The thin man by dashiell hammett and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. All the people of the book are there, and i think the final scenes of the solution of the mystery are handled on a higher note than they were in print. Nora, having grown weary of her silverspoon existence, is fascinated by the world of private investigation. Bobbitt presents this murder mystery in which a former detective reluctantly investigating the disappearance of a wealthy inventor invites all the suspects to a dinner party. Published july 17th 1989 by vintage crimeblack lizard first published 1934. Van dykes marvelous adaptation of a dashiell hammet novel. The thin man 1934 is the first installment of a popular series of six films casting a sophisticated, glamorous, pleasureseeking, and urbane husbandwife detective team william powell and myrna loy as nick and nora charles.
Nick charles is a famous but retired private detective married to the wealthy and glamorous nora charles, a clever heiress. The dain curse 1929, and the glass key 1931 are among his most successful novels. The thin man movies are based on dashiell hammetts the thin man mystery book. The thin man 1934 is a detective novel by dashiell hammett, originally published in the december 1933 issue of redbook. Or at least a little more like the movies with myrna loy and william powell. The thin man 1934 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The thin man 1934 plot summary 5 former detective nick charles and his wealthy wife nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it. Oct 04, 2018 the thin man by dashiell hammett the mystery audiobooks. Nick charles william powell and wife nora myrna loy return to california from their time in. Red harvest 1929, the dain curse 1929, and the glass key 1931 are among his most successful novels. Pdf the thin man book by dashiell hammett free download. Nick and nora charles are hammetts most enchanting creations, a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. At once knowing and unabashedly romantic, the thin man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners. After the thin man is a 1936 american comedy film directed by w.
Van dyke, who also went on to helm three other thin man movies this film was based on a detective novel by hardboiled author dashiell hammett, hence the book cover theme of the titles. A celebration of the reliable 3star movies we love, good enough movies looks back on the notquiteclassics you can still quote by heart and will always stop to watch whenever theyre on. First published in colliers in december 1933, it was in book form. At once knowing and unabashedly romantic, the thin man is a murder mystery that. The thin man by dashiell hammett, first edition abebooks passion for books. The characters of dasheill hammetts 1934 novel the thin man include the protagonist, nick charles, son of a greek immigrant and former detective who lives with his wealthy wife, nora, and their. Van dyke and produced by hunt stromberg the film was based on the novel of the same name and also redbook magazine short story written by dashiell hammett published in 1934 novel.
The film also features elissa landi, joseph calleia, jessie ralph, alan marshal, and penny singleton billed under her maiden name as. The thin man was loy and powells second outing after manhattan melodrama 1934, which was directed by the thin man director w. The thin man 1934 was a comedy crime film directed by w. Hammett never wrote a sequel but the book became the basis for a successful sixpart film series, which also began in 1934 with the thin man and starred william powell and myrna loy. Eventually the series would encompass five sequels, the first of which came out in 1936. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 201 pages and is available in paperback format. A husbandandwife detective team takes on the search for a missing inventor and almost get killed for their efforts. There is a lot of smart banter, the most obvious between nick and nora. The thin man is one of the most popular classics for many reasons. Former detective nick charles and his wealthy wife nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it. The movie gods were in a generous mood when they paired william powell and myrna loy as. Van dyke and starring william powell, myrna loy, and james stewart. His first novel was red harvest, published in 1929. Van dyke, with william powell, myrna loy, maureen osullivan, at turner classic movies.
Although he died in 1961, his career was over in 1934. Dashiell hammetts first published story was the gatewood caper, published in 1923. During world war ii, hammett again served as sergeant in the army, this time for more than two years, most of which he spent in. The movie gods were in a generous mood when they paired william powell and myrna loy as nick and nora charles, the upperclass sophisticates whose sleuthing escapades somehow joined the classic form of the whodunit with. Powell and myrna loy costar as nick and nora charles, a retired detective and his rich wife, playfully in love and both always a little drunk. The movie version of the thin man 1934, written by albert hackett and frances goodrich and directed by w. The main characters of this mystery, fiction story are nick charles, nora charles. Van dyke, with william powell, myrna loy, maureen osullivan, belongs at turner classic movies. The thin man by dashiell hammett, first edition abebooks. The film stars william powell and myrna loy as nick and nora charles, a leisureclass couple who enjoy copious drinking and flirtatious banter. It became one of the defining films of the classic era in the comedydetective subgenre. Now, some 60 years later i have read most of dashiell hammetts works in the last month and i can say that the movie was conform to the book. We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u. A husbandandwife detective team takes on the search for a.
The thin man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners. Powell plays nick charles, a detective looking to leave the business once and for all, and settle down with his equally alcoholic, but extremely. After the success of 1934s the thin man, a second tale with the same folks seemed logical. The dain curse, the maltese falcon, the glass key and lastly and perhaps most memorably, the thin man. Return of the thin man by dashiell hammett goodreads. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Things happened very quickly for the acclaimed crime writer with his final novel the thin man. The thin man was one of the most popular films of 1934, inspired five sequels, and was nominated for four oscars best picture, actor, direction and screenplay. Apr 28, 2018 a celebration of the reliable 3star movies we love, good enough movies looks back on the notquiteclassics you can still quote by heart and will always stop to watch whenever theyre on. Nora, having grown weary of her silverspoon existence.
Discover what genre the thin man, 1934, directed by w. The thin man by dashiell hammett the mystery audiobooks. Jan 05, 2014 the thin man was not supposed to be a hit, but it was so popular that it became the first in a series of six, yes six, thin man movies released between 1934 and 1947, all starring william powell as nick and myrna loy as nora charles. The complete thin man collection the thin man after the. The thin man movies were part of my growing up and i have seen most of them. The thin man is a 1934 american precode comedymystery b movie directed by w. After a four year absence, one time detective nick charles returns to new york with his. The thin man, novel by dashiell hammett, published in 1934. In the film gumshoe1971, who noticed the book, the thin man, opened and. The chemistry between william powell and myrna loy is wonderful to behold. During world war ii, hammett again served as sergeant in the army, this time for more than two years, most of which he spent in the aleutians.