After wrapping a murder mystery in NYC (The Thin Man) Nick and Nora Charles head west back home to San Francisco and her wealthy family who disapprove of Nick led by a wealthy dowager Aunt Katherine (Jessie Ralph) who has nothing but disdain for the former gumshoe. Content to be treated like a conquering hero among the great unwashed, Nora manages to get him involved in a family murder mystery involving her cousin. Subsequent bedlam soon follows.
Nearly a half hour longer than its predecessor, "After" has plenty of slow moments with a lot of over the top back slapping and excess of mugging dimwits. Director Woody Van Dyke fails to match Powell and Loy's cadence to the film's pace as he did so well in Thin Man but the two still match up as a perfect pair. Jimmy Stewart in an early role makes for an interesting suspect while Ellisi Landi is a step down from Maureen O'Sullivan's damsel in distress of the previous work. Ralph's Aunt Katherine steals every scene she's in while a subplot giving Asta more screen time reeks of shame and scandal for the distressed pooch.
After the Thin Man has a better look but a more convoluted plot line to it and while its pace flags in spots it remains a worthy follow-up to the series opener.
Nearly a half hour longer than its predecessor, "After" has plenty of slow moments with a lot of over the top back slapping and excess of mugging dimwits. Director Woody Van Dyke fails to match Powell and Loy's cadence to the film's pace as he did so well in Thin Man but the two still match up as a perfect pair. Jimmy Stewart in an early role makes for an interesting suspect while Ellisi Landi is a step down from Maureen O'Sullivan's damsel in distress of the previous work. Ralph's Aunt Katherine steals every scene she's in while a subplot giving Asta more screen time reeks of shame and scandal for the distressed pooch.
After the Thin Man has a better look but a more convoluted plot line to it and while its pace flags in spots it remains a worthy follow-up to the series opener.