Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(2,542 ratings)

This fourth entry in MGM's Thin Man series could just as well have been titled "Nick and Nora Charles Go to the Races". Officially retired from sleuthing, Nick Charles (William Powell) does his best to be a dutiful husband to his lovely wife Nora (Myrna Loy) and a good father to his young son Nick… More This fourth entry in MGM's Thin Man series could just as well have been titled "Nick and Nora Charles Go to the Races". Officially retired from sleuthing, Nick Charles (William Powell) does his best to be a dutiful husband to his lovely wife Nora (Myrna Loy) and a good father to his young son Nick Jr. (Dickie Hall). But when murder rears its ugly head at the local race track, Nick is called in by Major Jason I. Sculley (Henry O'Neill), head of the New York athletic commission, to help solve the case. As usual, there is no shortage of suspects: This time the "rogue's gallery" includes high-rolling gamblers Link Stevens (Loring Smith) and Fred Macy (Joseph Anthony); Link's hoity-toity girlfriend Claire Porter (played by legendary acting teacher Stella Adler); two-bit tout "Rainbow" Benny Loomis (Lou Lubin); reporters Whitey Barrow (Paul Kelly) and Paul Clarke (Barry Nelson); and Clarke's sweetheart Molly Ford (Donna Reed). Highlights include a zany episode on a department-store merry-go-round, an outsized brawl at a fancy sea-food restaurant, and the inevitable gathering together of suspects in the offices of police lieutenant Abrams (Sam Levene). The flippant nature of Shadow of the Thin Man can be attributed to screenwriters Irving Brecher and Harry Kurnitz, both longtime friends and associates of comedian Groucho Marx. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: W.S. Van Dyke
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 1, 1941 Wide
On DVD: Aug 2, 2005
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It makes for lightweight entertainment.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
This entry has a thinner story line, fewer colorful characters, and even fewer witty lines than the first three films in the series.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It's a formulaic film in the series but fun for maybe a single viewing. (The Complete Thin Man Collection)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This Thin Man movie offers some good comedy scenes, but the overall plot is predictable.
Michael G

By the time this movie rolled around, the Thin Man series is kind of just in a holding pattern. Nick and Nora love each other, they get tanked, they have a dog and they solve a murder. They throw more kids or dogs into the equation and Myrna Loy gets a little older in each one. The… More
By the time this movie rolled around, the Thin Man series is kind of just in a holding pattern. Nick and Nora love each other, they get tanked, they have a dog and they solve a murder. They throw more kids or dogs into the equation and Myrna Loy gets a little older in each one. The scenic way of saying More Of The Same Just Not As Much. Shadow of the Thin Man has some great moments--namely the wrestling match and the sadistic merry go round scene. If you liked the first three Thin Man movies you may as well watch it, but definitely don't start here.

Cast

            William Powell as Nick Charles

            Myrna Loy as Nora Charles

            Barry Nelson as Paul Clarke

            Donna Reed as Molly Ford

            Sam Levene as Lieutenant Abrams

            Alan Baxter as Whitey Barrow

            Henry O'Neill as Maj. Jason I. Sculley

            Dickie Hall as Nick Charles Jr.

            Loring Smith as Link Stephens

            Joseph Anthony as Fred Macy

            Stella Adler as Claire Porter

            Lou Lubin as "Rainbow" Benny Loomis

            Louise Beavers as Stella

            Arthur Ayleswofth as Coroner

            Arthur Belasco
            
            John Berkes as Paleface

            Oliver Blake as Fenster

            Aldrich Bowker as Watchman

            Charles Calvert as Referee

            Ken Christy as Detective

            Inez Cooper as Girl in Cab

            Noel Cravat as Baku

            William "Wee Willie" Davis
            
            Edgar Dearing as Motor Cop

            Joe Devlin as Mugg

            John Dilson
            
            Abe Dinovitch
            
            James Flavin as Cop

            Jo Gilbert as Lana

            Fred Graham as Waiters with Steaks

            H.B. Haggerty
            
            Edward Hearn
            
            Jenny Jerome as Reporter

            Tor Johnson as Jack the Ripper

            Robert Kellard as Cop

            Lyle Latell
            
            George Lloyd as Pipey

            Jerry Mandy as Waiter

            Sid Melton as Fingers

            Joey Ray as Stephen's Clerk

            Adeline de Walt Reynolds as Landlady

            Buddy Roosevelt
            
            Jack Roper
            
            Ray Teal as Cab Driver

            Tito Vuolo as Luis

            Fred Walburn as Kid on Merry-go-Round

            Harry Wilson as Muggs

            Will Wright as Maguire

            Duke York as Valentino

            Sam Bernard as Counterman

            John Kelly as Meatballs Murphy

            Harry Burns as Greek Janitor

            Cliff Danielson
            
            Jerry Jerome
            
            Tommy Mack as Soft Drink Vendor

            Dan Tobey as Announcer

            Sailor Vincent
            
            Bill Fisher
            
            Hal LeSueur as Reporter

            Eddie Simms
            
            J. Lewis Smith
            
            Roger Moore
            
See full cast