The original "The Thin Man" movie was based on the title Dashiell Hammett detective novel, and it played itself more for its humorous aspects than as a serious mystery. The idea evidently worked, for this started a series of "Thin Man" movies which were not based on any Hammett stories, with the comic adventures of Nick and Nora doing detective work.
In this run, Nick and Nora have come back from New York to California on New Year's, hoping to relax but instead being treated to a surprise party, and then having to meet Nora's aristocratic and snooty relatives. Unfortunately Nora's cousin Selma's husband has disappeared (as he had done before), and begs Nick and Nora to find him. Reluctantly, they do so. They find him quickly, alive and well, at a local club, but the problems, and the story, are only beginning as the husband is murdered, and Nick and Nora unearth some criminal intrigues...
The story is played basically for laughs, though there is violence, danger, and tension. There are jokes about 3 am breakfasts and drinking lots of alcohol and smoking, and the dog Asta gives Nick and Nora trouble rather than provides help...and the very end of the story has a cute twist to it. It's entertaining more than anything else, but enjoyable if you like it.
In this run, Nick and Nora have come back from New York to California on New Year's, hoping to relax but instead being treated to a surprise party, and then having to meet Nora's aristocratic and snooty relatives. Unfortunately Nora's cousin Selma's husband has disappeared (as he had done before), and begs Nick and Nora to find him. Reluctantly, they do so. They find him quickly, alive and well, at a local club, but the problems, and the story, are only beginning as the husband is murdered, and Nick and Nora unearth some criminal intrigues...
The story is played basically for laughs, though there is violence, danger, and tension. There are jokes about 3 am breakfasts and drinking lots of alcohol and smoking, and the dog Asta gives Nick and Nora trouble rather than provides help...and the very end of the story has a cute twist to it. It's entertaining more than anything else, but enjoyable if you like it.