Wednesday, March 23, 2022

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett

 

(pb; 1934)

From the back cover

“Nick and Nora Charles are Dashiell Hammett’s most enchanting creations, a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. At once knowing and unabashedly romantic, The Thin Man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners.”

 

Review

Hammer’s final novel is a quip-clever, mile-a-minute-paced and chatter-filled murder mystery with charming (for the most part, Nick can be kind of dickish) lead characters, memorably over-the-top secondary characters, and lots of humor. This genteel, smart, and snappy novel is one of my all-time favorite books by Hammett, one worth owning.

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The film version was released stateside on May 25, 1934. W.S. Van Dyke, sometimes billed as Major W.S. Van Dyke II, directed it, from a screenplay by Albert Hackett and Francis Goodrich. Director Van Dyke would go on to direct three of the five film-only Thin Man sequels.

William Powell played Nick Charles. Myrna Loy played Nora Charles. Maureen O’Sullivan played Dorothy. Nat Pendleton played Guild. Cesar Romero played Chris.





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