Director (as Maj. W. S. Van Dyke II) | |
Studio |
In the fourth entry of the Thin Man series, Nick and Nora get embroiled in another mystery involving a gambling ring when a jockey is found dead at a race track, just when Nick decides to bet on the horses. Enjoyable entry, not for the run of the mill mystery, but for the always enjoyable cast and the usual amusing situations along the way. The casting director pulled every mug out of the Damon Runyon playbook for this one, which adds to the fun. The subplot with Nick slowly realizing that he needs to lay off the booze because of his son is also charming and understated. Only detriments are that the cops are apparently totally helpless without Nick (shades of Philo Vance, though Nick Charles is never anywhere near as obnoxious as Vance), and that Nelson & Reed's characters are colorless. Stella Adler's moll with a thin veneer of culture and Reynolds' pulp-addicted landlady more than make up for it. The clarity of the DVD unfortunately allows us to very clearly see the wires cruelly tied to Asta's legs, controlling his movements. Still, that's some screwy hat!! Shadow of the Thin Man came out just a few weeks before Pearl Harbor and there is a martial air to the atmosphere--Nickie's little uniforms, Nora spying on Nick with binoculars, etc. Indeed, the racetrack shown in the film became a storage center for naval landing craft not long after the film was released. Followed by The Thin Man Goes Home in 1944, which definitely had a more military atmosphere. There are so many unknowns in this film that those questionable characters have been moved to a separate page. -Dave W. |
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Shadow of the Thin Man 21st November 1941 Cinema 97 mins 1.37:1 |
Nick Charles | |
Nora Charles | |
Paul Clarke | |
Molly Ford | |
Lieutenant Abrams | |
'Whitey' Barrow | |
Major Jason I. Sculley | |
Nick Charles, Jr. (as Dickie Hall) | |
Claire Porter | |
'Link' Stephens | |
Fred Macy | |
'Rainbow' Benny Loomis | |
Stella | |
Himself | |
Watchman (scenes deleted) | |
Coroner in Macy's Office (uncredited) | |
Policeman (uncredited) | |
Mario (uncredited) | |
'Spider' Webb (uncredited) | |
Counterman (uncredited) | |
Wrestling Match Spectator (uncredited) | |
Fenster - Stephens' Attorney (uncredited) | |
Jockey Buddy Burns (uncredited) | |
Greek Janitor (uncredited) | |
Wrestling Referee (uncredited) | |
Detective (uncredited) | |
Policeman (uncredited) | |
Woman in Cab (uncredited) | |
Baku - Chauffeur (uncredited) | |
Reporter (uncredited) | |
Mug (uncredited) | |
Barrow's Landlady (uncredited) | |
Motorcycle Cop on Bridge (uncredited) | |
Reporter (uncredited) | |
Mug Starting Fight at Wrestling Match (uncredited) | |
Coroner at Racetrack (uncredited) | |
Mug at Birthday Party (uncredited) | |
Lefty Rogan's Kid (uncredited) | |
Watchman (uncredited) | |
Cop Who Greets Nick at Racetrack (uncredited) | |
Passerby at Race Track (uncredited) | |
Lana, Spider Webb's Girl (uncredited) | |
Waiter with Steak (uncredited) | |
Waiter with Steak (uncredited) | |
Man at Wrestling Match Next to Italian (uncredited) | |
Mug (uncredited) | |
Policeman in Arena Office (uncredited) | |
Photographer (uncredited) | |
Policeman (uncredited) | |
Reporter (uncredited) | |
Mike Michael, The Irish Thrush (uncredited) | |
Policeman (uncredited) | |
'Meatballs' Murphy (uncredited) | |
Waiter Serving Benny (uncredited) | |
Reporter (uncredited) | |
Pipey, at the Birthday Party (uncredited) | |
Soft Drink Vendor (uncredited) | |
Waiter (uncredited) | |
Wrestling Spectator (uncredited) | |
Handler (uncredited) | |
Fingers (uncredited) | |
Lefty Rogan's Wife (uncredited) | |
Reporter (uncredited) | |
Detective in Scully's Office (uncredited) | |
Jockey in Jockey Room (uncredited) | |
(uncredited) | |
Stephens' Clerk (uncredited) | |
Reporter in Abrams' Office (uncredited) | |
Mug (uncredited) | |
Italian at Wrestling Match Calling Nora's Hat 'Screwy' (uncredited) | |
Mug (uncredited) | |
Policeman (uncredited) | |
Riley, Policeman at Arena (uncredited) | |
Cab Driver (uncredited) | |
Ring Announcer (uncredited) | |
Mug (uncredited) | |
Luis, Waiter at Mario's Grotto ("Sea bass!!") (uncredited) | |
First Bratty Kid on Merry-Go-Round (uncredited) | |
Gunga Dean, The Hindu Champion (uncredited) | |
Racetrack Security Guard / Mug Shoving Waiter (uncredited) | |
Maguire - Nervous Ticket Seller (uncredited) | |
Valentine, Valet at Mario's Grotto (uncredited) | |
Henry, Racetrack Watchman (uncredited) |