Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

The Thin Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Randy Miller III July 19, 2019

Immensely prolific director W.S. "Woody" Van Dyke made nearly 100 movies during a career that lasted only two and a half decades, often churning out a half-dozen productions within a single calendar year. One of his best-remembered films is The Thin Man, which spawned five sequels: Van Dyke returned to direct three of them, and two were produced several years after his untimely death in 1943. Based on Dashiell Hammett’s popular novel of the same name, The Thin Man introduces us to the husband-and-wife team of Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy), whose playful competitiveness extends far beyond shared alcoholism. Nick, a retired detective, is coaxed back into action when former client Clyde Wynant (Edward Ellis) goes missing; his recently engaged daughter Dorothy (Maureen O'Sullivan) is rightly concerned...but things get much more complicated after Clyde's secretary and former lover Julia Wolf (Natalie Moorhead) is found murdered. Nick's on the case, right after he finishes another highball.

As its summary implies, The Thin Man feels like a character piece first and a mystery second. In fact, aside from Nick's eventual participation -- which officially begins during a late-night dog walk and climaxes in a classic "whodunit" dinner party sequence -- the core story isn't nearly as compelling as the colorful characters that make up The Thin Man's world. It's a dense and layered mystery, sure, but one that doesn't seem expertly planned...which isn't necessarily a complaint, mind you. The Thin Man's lightweight and charming tone are what drive its engine and, combined with the terrific lead characters, it's no wonder the franchise spawned more books, the five movie sequels, a radio program, a TV series, musicals and stage plays, and probably even a breakfast cereal if it were made recently. I'm thinking little oat "N"s with martini-shaped marshmallows, and maybe even a cute little Asta figurine inside the box.

Still, there are more factors at work here than great characters and the Charles' terrific on-screen chemistry. The Thin Man came about at just the right time, mere months before the Hays code was enforced and right after Prohibition ended...hence all the realistic dialogue and constant boozing. Van Dyke's capable direction keeps everything going at a good clip, punctuated by clean framing and a handful of rapid-fire montages (courtesy of editor Robert Kern, who also cut National Velvet and David Copperfield and was the brother of noted editor Hal Kern) that break up the film's almost non-stop dialogue. It's those endlessly quotable quips and retorts that give The Thin Man so much lasting appeal as well: though many are lifted right from Hammett's novel, their delivery and timing are equally important. It all adds up to a film that pleased just about everyone: audiences ate up the witty banter and surprising twists, while the studio loved that it was shot in just 12 days and made back more than six times its modest $231,000 budget.

The Thin Man remains a very accessible and entertaining slice of pre-Code 1930s cinema and, if you've somehow never seen it before, a potential gateway into several sequels, remakes, and other iterations that have surfaced during the last 85 (!) years. Although most of those films and shows have yet to appear on Blu-ray, the original and best finally arrives courtesy of Warner Archive Collection...a full 17 years after Warner Bros.' DVD edition and their later Complete Thin Man boxed set. Featuring an outstanding A/V presentation and a few vintage bonus features to boot, The Thin Man is an absolute no-brainer for anyone who'd love to see the rest of the original movie series on Blu-ray.

The Thin Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Archive Collection's 1080p transfer of The Thin Man is advertised as being taken from a "brand new 4K remaster of the film sourced from the best surviving elements": these include a fine-grain master positive taken from the film's original nitrate negative (which no longer exists, unfortunately), as well as a dupe negative used for a handful of replacement shots. Said elements were collectively scanned at 4K with extensive digital cleanup that removed countless instances of dirt, debris, scratches, decomposition, and other damage, producing an image that easily outpaces WB's respectable earlier DVD editions. Image detail is quite good overall, with fabric textures and designs that "read" much more clearly: tweed jackets, fine silk robes, Astra's scruffy fur, wallpaper, and even the Charles' unusual striped couch. Shadow details are much stronger as well, especially during several nighttime scenes and those shot in underlit interiors, with supportive contrast that rarely gives way to blooming or crush. Black levels are also nice and deep, although the film's darkest moments can't help but reveal noticeable amounts of noise and somewhat clumpy grain -- an almost unavoidable problem, given the circumstances. All told, however, The Thin Man looks exceptional and, aside from a true 4K option, will likely never get a better home video release.

The Thin Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Less of interest can be said about the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track, which cleanly replicates the film's original one-channel roots. Dialogue and background noises are relatively crisp and well-balanced, with very few instances of hissing, pops, or other signs of age-related wear and no obvious sync issues. It's just a good, solid track that lets the film's memorable dialogue come through with no major problems, and that's really as good as it gets for anything released during this era; silent films, rare as they were by 1934, were still being made through the next year.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only, although they're formatted in ALL CAPS and colored bright yellow. Not the most attractive choice, and one I'll keep complaining about until it changes.

The Thin Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Warner Bros.' 2002 DVD edition of The Thin Man included no extras besides for a few cast bios and a set of trailers for the film and its sequels, while the 2005 Complete Thin Man boxed set at least offered a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast that's been ported over for this release. Sadly, the sequel trailers have not been included and, while that hopefully means they're being reserved for future Warner Archive Blu-ray releases, I think that may have helped to drum up a little bit more interest and awareness until that time. Nonetheless, the effort here is very much appreciated.

• Lux Radio Theatre Broadcast (58:21) - This audio program, guest-hosted by director W.S. Van Dyke, stars William Powell and Myrna Loy reprising their roles and was originally broadcast on June 8, 1936. It seems more or less identical to versions available on various enthusiast websites including Old Time Radio Downloads and the invaluable Internet Archive. Stick around for a closing interview with silent film actress Theda Bara.

• Scene of the Crime (25:48) - This is the second-season premiere of The Thin Man TV series, which first aired on October 24, 1958. It's directed by TV veteran Richard Kinon, his first of five episodes that season, and stars Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk in lead roles of Nick and Nora Charles. Like The Thin Man's sequels, this short-lived but well-received series is not yet available on Blu-ray -- perhaps that will also change in the future.

• Theatrical Trailer (3:18) - "Nerve-Numbing Homicide Hysteria!" This classic trailer features William Powell, William Powell, and a pretty great oversized book prop...as well as some clips from the actual movie, of course. It's also available on Movieclips Classic Trailers' YouTube channel if you haven't seen it yet.

The Thin Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

W.S. Van Dyke's The Thin Man offers a pleasing blend of screwball comedy and mystery, shaken and stirred. The lead performances by William Powell and Myrna Loy carry most of the weight, along with the support of Dashiell Hammett's source novel and other fundamental strengths behind the camera. It all adds up to a fun and mostly lightweight slice of pre-Code 1930s cinema -- and though at least one of its many sequels reached similar heights, arguably none can top the original. Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray gives it a fresh face-lift, pairing a solid new 4K-sourced restoration with a few minor but appreciated vintage bonus features. The Thin Man is clearly recommended for fans of the franchise (especially those who want to see its sequels on Blu-ray), and newcomers should enjoy themselves as well.