Alicia I love this movie so much

Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Artivels Undescribable Perfection

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Byrdz "After the Thin Man" begins where "The Thin Man" left off. Nick and Nora are once again on the train, headed west this time, following their adventurous trip to New York City. Great touch, that, and indicative of the care taken by really good film makers and script writers back "in the day".This film is as good as, or perhaps better than, the first in the set. Witty, fast paced dialogue, pretzel-like plot twists which wrap up with "get all the suspects together and figure it out at the last minute. The solution in this "who dun it ?" is a true one of a kind, best not known ahead of time so avoid visiting spoiler-ville until after you "know."The "walk this way" scene shown so often in Classic Clips is from this film.Great character actors galore, period Hollywood glamor costuming, 1930's setting details. All worth checking out and if you fall asleep, blame the hour not the movie and give it a look-see in the morning.

binapiraeus Two years later, "After the Thin Man" continues exactly where the immensely successful first "Thin Man" movie had left off: Nick and Nora come home to California after solving the difficult Wynant murder case in New York - and find themselves in their own house right in the middle of a wild New Year's Eve party that their friends are giving to welcome them back; although they'd planned to just take a big rest for about a month...But they can't do that anyway, because they're 'summoned' to dine with Nora's distinguished family by her aunt, whose neurotic daughter Selma once more has got love trouble: her unfaithful husband has been missing for days... So, after a dreadfully boring 'high society' family dinner, they set off in search for the prodigal husband Robert. They find him pretty soon in a shady night club, ready to beat it with the singer after he 'payed off' Selma's former boyfriend David, who's still in love with her, promising to vanish forever and leave them alone. But - soon afterward, Robert is shot dead in the street...Even from this moment on, we all know just as well as Nick and Nora that there were at least half a dozen suspects (each of whom had a pretty good motive to kill Robert) near the scene of the crime - so there are lots of motives and no alibis... And now, the only thing that's left for clever and experienced Nick is to solve the mystery by investigating the psychological side of the crime, grilling everybody until they all reveal their real selves! Again, our nonchalant and cocky detective couple 'party' themselves through a complicated murder case, this time 'torn' between two worlds: Nick's 'natural' night life and ex-con environment, and Nora's haughty rich relatives. Supported by a brilliant cast (especially young James Stewart as Selma's eternal worshiper, Joseph Calleia as the crooked night club owner, and George Zucco as Selma's psychologist, who seems somewhat nutty himself...), Powell and Loy give an equally marvelous performance as in the first 'Nick and Nora' adventure, and director W.S. van Dyke once more grants us a hilarious mixture of crime and comedy - this film certainly established 'Mr. and Mrs. Charles' as the audience's favorite married sleuthing couple, which they remain until today...

Larry41OnEbay-2 The Thin Man was a box office smash, and MGM wanted another hit so what are you going to call a sequel made so long After The Thin Man.There was a two year delay while Myrna Loy fought with Louis B. Mayer for a better contract, and for writer Dashell Hammet to sober up enough to write the story.27 year old James Stewart ran around the set taking pictures of Loy telling everyone he was going to marry her someday, problem was she was already married to producer Arthur Hornblower! In the beginning of the film his character adds a well grounded performance in a sea of out of balance characters.Same story writer Hammett, same married screenwriters Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett, same director Van Dyke and same 3 leads, Powell/Loy/Asta. But a new character is introduced, Mrs. Asta!James Stewart said later in his career he appreciated this film because the screen writing team of Goodrich and Hackett actually discovered him on the Broadway stage and wrote this part for him!This film starts just 3 days after The Thin Man left off and aboard the same train going from New York to San Francisco.The "dog leash gag" which everyone was talking about in the original Thin Man is repeated as soon as they arrive at the station.The formula of the criminals as Nicks friends continues with an assortment of colorful characters and we now meet some of Nora's high classed (read boring) friends and family.In The Thin Man they celebrated Christmas, in After they celebrate New Years Eve.The best gag in After also includes Asta, a black puppy and a Scottish terrier, but you'll have to discover that yourself.Elissa Landi plays a neurotic young wife, Jessie Ralph plays a pompous rotund lady who intentionally mispronounces names, Sam Levene plays a world weary police inspector, George Zucco plays an odd psychiatrist. This was the first film in more than five years made by actress Dorothy McNulty, who had been appearing on Broadway during the early 1930s. She changed her hair color and name in 1938 to Penny Singleton, and became more familiar under that name when she played the lead in Columbia's Blondie series. She plays the mouthy nightclub singer. (The Illiterate gag is priceless!)One of everyone's favorite character is the stranger who welcomes them to a surprise party not knowing they are the guests of honor, advising them to crash it just like he did and drink up the Napoleon Brandy before they are caught.Just like the original you have to pay attention, the cast of suspects and murders add up quick between the jokes and danger. And just like the first film it all works out when the usual suspects are gathered together and the clues are gone over… and it all adds up. For a mystery to be good it has to have a satisfactory resolution in facts and it AFTER THE THIN MAN does!The most romantic scene is when Nick lists his complaints about Nora.The formula works so they still use many of the same elements: 1) Nick wants to stay retired & drunk. 2) Nora is still rich but wants to have fun detecting. 3) Nick gets dragged into another case and knows more than the police. 4) Asta finds a valuable clue."Say what is this Bank Night," refers to the common practice during the great depression for cinemas to host games, contests or give away dishes to increase attendance.This same year, 1936 Powell & Loy appeared in another great screwball comedy LIBELED LADY with Spencer Tracy & Jean Harlow and THE GREAT ZEIGFELD which won the Oscar that year for Best Film Of The Year! Check the trivia for the great San Francisco Hotel story…They made 14 films together and only 6 of them were Thin Man films. The next in the series, what better title than Another Thin Man. And who was named the number one box office attraction of 1936, who else Myrna Loy!

kidboots Elissa Landi was one of Hollywood's most interesting failures. She was an English actress who came to Hollywood in a flurry of publicity. She was just so superior in every way, so well read and an aristocrat by birth - no wonder the average movie goer didn't warm to her. But she was very beautiful and had already proved herself capable in some English films. By the time "After the Thin Man" came along (her friend Myrna Loy had recommended her for the role) her career was almost over, as Hollywood had already discovered Madeline Carroll. I thought she was quite emotive in her role as Selma, Nora's cousin, who feels she is being driven insane.After solving the "Thin Man" case, Nick Charles is a celebrity, but Nora is determined that from now on they will lead a quiet life. During a rowdy New Year's Eve, Nora's cousin, Selma calls in a hysterical state. Her husband, Robert (Alan Marshall) is missing and she fears he is with another woman. An extremely youthful James Stewart plays David, who has always carried a torch for Selma. Vibrant Dorothy McNulty gives a spirited version of "Blow That Horn" - she even does a tap dance!!! Later she sings the beautiful "Smoke Dreams". She played the role of Flo in the 1930 version of "Good News" and specialised in an acrobatic style of dancing that was very exciting to watch. Soon after this film she changed her name to Penny Singleton, became a blonde and originated the role of "Blondie" for which she is remembered. She plays Polly, the girl who is having an affair with Robert. They are planning to run away together on the $25,000 he hopes to get from David who offered the money to keep him away from Selma. When Robert is murdered there are many suspects, foremost among them Selma, who has followed him into the fog with a gun!!!This is by far the best of the series (in my opinion). There are too many funny bits of business between Nick and Nora to mention. Apart from James Stewart and Dorothy McNulty, there is George Zucco giving his sinister best to the tiny part of Doctor Kammer and Sam Levene is wonderful as the harassed Inspector Abrams. As well Jessie Ralph is fantastic as dastardly Aunt Katherine, if you can't remember her, she was the wonderfully kind and comforting Peggotty in "David Copperfield". Also whoever played that wonderful, doddering butler - "Walk this way sir" - "I'll try"!!!!Highly Recommended.