Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

The Thin Man Goes Home Blu-ray Movie Review

In-laws and outlaws.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III January 23, 2022

As the penultimate chapter of the six-film Thin Man saga, Richard Thorpe's The Thin Man Goes Home marked a notable change of leadership for the popular franchise: it was the first entry not directed by regular helmsman W. S. Van Dyke, who died of cancer in 1943 after refusing treatment due to his religious beliefs. Another substitution was proposed as well: co-star Myrna Loy was nearly replaced by Irene Dunne due to her recent marriage and ongoing involvement with the Red Cross during WWII, but this would ultimately be Loy's only acting job during the conflict. Other than these two behind-the-scenes factors -- and the absence of Nicky Jr., as well as his dad's persistent drinking -- The Thin Man Goes Home pretty much feels like business as usual for everyone's favorite high-society detective duo.

Although fans of the series routinely lump The Thin Man Goes Home in with its largely disappointing final installment, 1947's Song of the Thin Man, I've got a soft spot for this somewhat cozy, small-town detour. This time around, Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy, natch) return to his hometown of Sycamore Springs for a quiet birthday celebration and extended stay with Nick's parents (Lucile Watson and Harry Davenport), the latter of whom resents his son for not becoming a doctor. After a few games of catch-up with old friends and other followers of Nick's career -- including banking tycoon Sam Ronson (Minor Watson), his dramatic daughter Laurabel (Gloria DeHaven), and local outcast Crazy Mary (Anne Revere) -- a nighttime murder halts his vacation plans, just like clockwork.

Our unfortunate shooting victim ends up being Peter Berton (Ralph Brooks), a local artist whose landscape paintings are available at a small shop owned by Willie Crump (Donald Meek, in a great supporting performance) and regularly purchased by Helena Draque (Helen Vinson) for her husband Edgar (Leon Ames). One of his latest arrivals is snapped up by Nora for Nick's birthday and, after learning of its sale -- combined with the local gossip that Nick's on full-time detective duty -- the Draques are furious. From there, it's down the usual Thin Man rabbit hole of red herrings, curious detours, clever investigation and, of course, a big reveal where all the puzzle pieces are put together.

Why was Berton murdered, and by who? Do the paintings hold a hidden secret? Will Nick be able to function properly without hard liquor? Most of these questions and more are answered during The Thin Man Goes Home which, perhaps due to its small-down backdrop, oddly feels like an extended TV episode rather than another cinematic extension of its memorable lead characters. That's perhaps the only inarguable flaw with this film: combined with the familiarity of its formula, there are fewer surprises here and the more insulated backdrop only exacerbates it. Yet it also gives the film a certain exclusive charm and, combined with memorable supporting performances and trademark witty dialogue, make it a decent series continuation rather than some kind of ridiculous misfire. Don't get me wrong: most die-hard franchise fans agree that the Thin Man films can be literally ranked by their chronological order, and I'd more or less endorse that snap judgment. But an ever-so-slightly below average entry in this series still translates to a good time at the movies, so those who haven't seen it in awhile should do themselves a favor and re-evaluate this one.

If nothing else, Warner Archive has treated each Thin Man film equally with top-tier restorations that include sterling 1080p transfers, lossless audio, and a handful of era-specific bonus features... and with their recent Blu-ray release of the final film Song of the Thin Man, now's as good a time as any to pick them all up in one fell swoop.

The Thin Man Goes Home Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Much like the previous four installments (or pretty much any nitrate films handled by Warner Archive, for that matter), The Thin Man Goes Home sparkles like new thanks to Warner Archive's reliably top-tier restoration work. Utilizing the best-available preservation elements, the high- res scan was obviously given plenty of careful cleanup: there's virtually no dirt or debris to be found anywhere, yet the film retains its original rich texture and showcases a stunning amount of fine detail. Although the small-town backdrop clearly looks like it was not shot on location, The Thin Man Goes Home nonetheless has a cozy visual charm that extends to carefully-lit interiors, shadowy nighttime motor court visits, and the idyllic backyard where Nora does battle with an uncooperative lawn chair. Overall contrast levels and shadow details are nicely rendered as well, with a full range silvery grays that don't fall victim to banding or posterization thanks to the label's solid disc encoding, not to mention a high bit-rate from being allowed to breathe on a dual-layered disc. In total, it's yet another outstanding effort that stands alongside some of their best-looking catalog releases to date.

The Thin Man Goes Home Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sound-wise, it's a similarly strong experience with crisp dialogue and music cues by prolific composer David Snell (who also scored Shadow of the Thin Man and Song of the Thin Man, as well as over 170 films and shorts during a 13-year stretch) leading the way. The lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master audio mix makes the most of this film's one-channel roots, as its finely-recorded elements are balanced nicely despite a few persistent signs of hissing that, given its age and source material, is almost expected. Overall, another fine effort that fits right in line with other entries in the series.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during main feature, but not the extras.

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

This release arrives in a standard keepcase with poster-themed cover art and a handful of era-specific extras.

• Robert Benchley Comedy Short: "Why Daddy" (9:24) - Sourced from Warner Archives' Robert Benchley Miniatures Collection DVD set, this follows a know-it-all man (Benchley) and his son Bobby (Richard Hall) as they compete on a kids-vs-adults quiz show. Not really my style, but fans will enjoy revisiting this one.

• Classic Cartoon: "Screwball Squirrel" (7:25) - Similarly, this classic 1944 cartoon is pulled directly from Warner Archives' 2020 Blu-ray release, Tex Avery Screwball Classics Volume 1. In lieu of a summary, just do yourself a favor and buy that collection if you haven't already -- it's essential for animation fans.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:11) - This charming vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

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

As the slightly underrated fifth installment of a beloved series, The Thin Man Goes Home still plays nicely as a modest little detour that wisely sticks to the franchise's most successful formula elements. New director Richard Thorpe (taking over for W. S. Van Dyke, who died in 1943) does an admirable job with a story that finds our dynamic duo in sleepy small-town New England for another round of clever detective work and snappy dialogue -- just hold the alcohol this time around. It's seldom in the upper half of all six Thin Man movies in most ranked lists but still feels like a good time at the movies. Warner Archive's Blu-ray brushes off any ill will with another top-tier package that pairs an outstanding restoration with a few era-specific extras. Recommended, but newcomers should start from the beginning.