Another reference to his wifes money in both book and movie is when she asks him why he doesnt want to. Following the enormous success of the thin man movie in 1934, hammett was commissioned to write stories for additional films. But i find the characters in this novel more pitiful than funny, and hammetts style was in decline at this point. In the 1934 thin man film, william powell as nick charles pretty much says the same thing, only its four years since he quit being a detective. Subsequent to the success of mgms the thin man in 1934, the studio hired hammett to write screen. The thin man is a sort of noir comic by one of the greats of noir crime history, dashiell hammett, who is best known for creating sam spade in the maltese falcon. Nick and nora charles are hammetts most enchanting creations, a ri. Nick, nora and asta return in thin man novellas dashiell hammetts the thin man invented a new kind of crime fiction. Van dyke and based on the novel of the same name by dashiell hammett. Nicks wife, nora charles, is a lush who playfully enjoys the attentions of men but is quite clever. Van dyke, with william powell, myrna loy, maureen osullivan, belongs at turner classic movies. The main characters are a former private detective, nick charles and nora, his clever young wife. This study guide consists of approximately 21 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the thin man.
Return of the thin man kindle edition by hammett, dashiell, layman, richard. With william powell, myrna loy, maureen osullivan, nat pendleton. Oct 26, 2012 the kennel murder case full movie william powell mary astor tcc ai color duration. The thin man 1934 is a detective novel by dashiell hammett, originally published in the. Former detective nick charles and his wealthy wife nora investigate a. In the novel, nick is a former private detective married to wealthy heiress, nora who herself was inspired by lillian hellman. May 25, 2018 on may 25, 1934, mgm unveiled the mystery the thin man in theaters, starring william powell and myrna loy. His final novel, the thin man, was published in 1934. Nick charles resolved the crime and assembled all of the major characters and. Dashiell hammett 18941961 was born in maryland, and in 1915 joined the pinkertons detective agency. There may have been six movies but there was only ever one book.
The thin man 1934 is the first installment of a popular series of six films casting a sophisticated, glamorous, pleasureseeking, and urbane husbandwife detective team william powell and myrna loy as nick and nora charles. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading return of the thin man. Jun 25, 2004 ws van dykes the thin man 1934 author. Hammetts final novel centers on the life of nick and nora charles, a pair of stylish, wealthy partygoers with a yen for sleuthing and the couples delightful dog, asta.
A sequel to the film the thin man, the film presents powell and loy as dashiell hammetts characters nick and nora charles. Man of the title was actually the murder victim in the novel and film clyde wynant. Dashiell hammetts first published story was the gatewood caper, published in 1923. Nick reconnects with many of his old cronies, several of whom are eccentric characters, to say the least. The thin man by dashiell hammett published in 1934 by alfred a. The thin man 1934, after the thin man 1936, another thin man 1939, shadow of the thin man 1941, the thin man goes. Click to read more about the thin man by dashiell hammett. Nick reconnects with many of his old cronies, several of whom are eccentric characters, to. The thin man 1934 is an attempt at humor among new yorks blueblooded, coldblooded upper crust. He wrote two fulllength novellas, for the films that became after the thin man and another thin man.
Written in the style of a screenplay treatment, the return of the thin man is a hugely entertaining read that brings back two classic characters from one of the greatest mystery writers who ever lived. Free download or read online the thin man pdf epub book. The thin man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners. Powell and myrna loy costar as nick and nora charles, a retired detective and his rich wife, playfully in love and both always a little drunk. After the thin man is a 1936 american comedy film directed by w. The thin man is a 1934 detective novel by dashiell hammett. Jan 05, 2014 the thin man was loy and powells second outing after manhattan melodrama 1934, which was directed by the thin man director w. The thin man was loy and powells second outing after manhattan melodrama 1934, which was directed by the thin man director w. The thin man, novel by dashiell hammett, published in 1934. The thin man also inspired a tv series of the same name which ran from 1957 through 1959, starring peter lawford and phyllis kirk, and a comedy spoof called murder by death, which starred david niven and maggie smith as dick and dora charleston. The thin man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of. Published july 17th 1989 by vintage crimeblack lizard first published 1934. The adventures of the thin man radio series, initially starring les damon, was broadcast on all four major radio networks during the years 1941 to 1950. Thin man was the first stretching super hero, predating the more famous plastic man by at least a year, and the likes of mr.
Nick is a former detective, well respected by both criminals and law enforcement, who is now living the free and. This book is destined to become essential reading for hammetts millions of fans and a new generation of mystery readers the world over. As a book in the hardboiled genre, the thin man was highly successful. May 19, 20 the thin man by dashiell hammett published in 1934 by alfred a. Discover what genre the thin man, 1934, directed by w. This film was based on a detective novel by hardboiled author dashiell hammett, hence the book cover theme of the titles. Additional characters include herbert maccauley, the lawyer of clyde wynant and friend of nick charles.
This one features the lush drinking duo nick and nora charles and opens very much like a screwball. The thin man is a 1934 american precode comedymystery b movie directed by w. The novels opening paragraph deserves to be read several times. Dashiell hammett, better known for his novel the maltese falcon, never wrote a sequel to the thin man, in fact, it was his last novel. The franchise eventually ended years later with a total of six films.
It is believed that the characters of nick and nora are based on hammetts reallife relationship with author lillian hellman. The thin man was one of the most popular films of 1934, inspired five sequels, and was nominated for four oscars best picture, actor, direction and screenplay. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. What are the names of the six movies in the thin man series. The thin man after the thin man another thin man shadow of the thin man the thin man goes home and more 4. It became one of the defining films of the classic era in the comedydetective subgenre.
Return of the thin man book charlotte mecklenburg library. The thin man, dashiell hammetts classic tale of murder in manhattan, became the popular movie series with william powell and myrna loy, and both the movies and the novel continue to captivate new generations of fans nick and nora charles, accompanied by their schnauzer, asta, are lounging in their suite at the normandie in new york city for the christmas holiday, enjoying the prerogatives. Thats certainly the case in the thin man 1934, a murder mystery in which the murder and the mystery are insignificant compared to the personal styles of the actors. The titular thin man is not nick charles, but the man charles is initially. Though this book is the only one to include nick and nora charles, their story has been adapted for the silver screen, with six films featuring the couple, the first of which was released on june 8, 1936 as a radio play. The thin man after the thin man another thin man shadow of the thin man the thin man goes home and more. He wrote two fulllength novellas, for the films that became after the. Van dyke and starring william powell, myrna loy, and james stewart. The thin man 1934, with nick and nora charles, was more in the conventional vein, with the added. He wrote two fulllength novellas for the films that became after the thin man and another thin man. The main characters of this mystery, fiction story are nick charles, nora charles. Bringing back his classic characters, retired private investigator nick charles and his former debutante wife nora. The first edition of the novel was published in 1934, and was written by dashiell hammett.
The thin man 1934 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Former detective nick charles and his wealthy wife nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it. In dashiell hammetts the thin man, the relationship of nick charles and his wife. The kennel murder case full movie william powell mary astor tcc ai color duration. Read the full synopsis of the thin man, 1934, directed by w. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Oct 04, 2018 the thin man by dashiell hammett the mystery audiobooks. The film went on to be nominated for four oscars at the 7th academy awards ceremony. Oct 23, 2019 in the 1934 thin man film, william powell as nick charles pretty much says the same thing, only its four years since he quit being a detective. But the thin man was also a well known and much read series, and maybe still is. There interactions are marked by smart banter and sharp repartee. Van dyke, who also went on to helm three other thin man movies. The film stars william powell and myrna loy as nick and nora charles, a leisureclass couple who enjoy copious drinking and flirtatious banter.
Dashiell hammett was a crime writer who elevated the genre to true literature, and the thin man was hammetts last and most successful novel. Return of the thin man kindle edition by hammett, dashiell. Another reference to his wifes money in both book and movie is when she asks him why he doesnt want to take the murder case. The film is the first in a popular series of detective films featuring william powell as the dapper detective nick charles. Dec 22, 2002 thats certainly the case in the thin man 1934, a murder mystery in which the murder and the mystery are insignificant compared to the personal styles of the actors. Best books of 1934 35 books meet your next favorite book. The thin man, american detective film, released in 1934, that was considered a paragon of the fun, sophisticated, glib dramas produced by hollywood during the great depression. Return of the thin man by dashiell hammett overdrive.
Nick and nora charles from his fifth and final novel, the thin man also set the prototype for the archetype of the romantic crime solving couple. The history of the thin man is a little more complicated. Dashiell hammetts 1934 novel the thin man is a small but dense piece of detective fiction which follows a former detective, nick charles short for the. The film is the first in a popular series of detective films featuring william powell as. Opening credits are shown with the original novel by d. In fact, the thin man is actually the murder victim in the novel. Nick charles drinks steadily throughout the movie, with the kind of capacity and wit that real drunks fondly hope to master. Dashiell hammetts 1934 novel the thin man is a small but dense piece of detective fiction which follows a former detective, nick charles short for the greek charalambides. Although he died in 1961, his career was over in 1934. The novel the thin man was written in 1934 by american author, dashiell hammett. The dain curse, the maltese falcon, the glass key and lastly and perhaps most memorably, the thin man.
Hammetts portrayal of sophisticated new york cafe society during prohibition and his witty protagonists nick and nora charles made this the most popular of his works, if not the most successful critically. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 201 pages and is available in paperback format. In addition to these, there have been a variety of other references to the beloved couple through the ages, with the most recent being the 20. The characters of dasheill hammetts 1934 novel the thin man include the protagonist, nick charles, son of a greek immigrant and former detective who. On may 25, 1934, mgm unveiled the mystery the thin man in theaters, starring william powell and myrna loy. The characters of dasheill hammetts 1934 novel the thin man include the protagonist, nick charles, son of a greek immigrant and former detective who lives with his wealthy wife, nora, and their.
The thin man is a comedy of manners mixed with a solid mystery. He dedicated the remainder of his life to leftwing activism and antifascism. Hughes 1940 green for danger by christianna brand 1944 died in the wool by ngaio marsh 1945. Ferdelance nero wolfe by rex stout 1934 the thin man by dashiell hammett 1934 the three coffinsthe hollow man by john dickson carr 1935 a coffin for dimitrios by eric ambler 1938 19401959. Although his short writing career included 5 novels, 54 short stories, 18 published collections of short stories and 4 screenplays, his most popular and memorable characters are sam spade the maltese falcon, nick and nora charles the thin man, and the continental op red harvest and the dain curse. The thin man 1934 is a detective novel by dashiell hammett, originally published in the december 1933 issue of redbook. Van dyke, with william powell, myrna loy, maureen osullivan, at turner classic movies. Nick is a retired private detective who left his very successful career when he married nora, a. Dashiell hammett was a crime writer who elevated the genre to true literature, and the thin man was hammetts lastand most successfulnovel. Nick charles, a former private detective who retired for a life of ease after marrying nora, a wealthy socialite, is drawn into investigating a murder. Exdetective nick charles and his socialite wife nora find their christmas holiday interrupted when nick is pulled into the investigation of a former acquaintances disappearance.
The novelist dashiell hammett never penned any new adventures for nick and nora after his 1934 book the thin man, but mgm churned out six thin man movies, as audiences flocked to see. Hes also approached by dorothy wynant whose inventor father clyde wynant is suspected of murdering her fathers mistress his former secretary. Pdf the thin man book by dashiell hammett free download. Dashiell hammetts the thin man had an enduring effect. Claudia morgan had the female lead role of nora charles throughout the programs entire nineyear run. His first novel was red harvest, published in 1929. Nick charles is a retired private eye who gets pressed into investigating the murder of a woman in which a former client of his named clyde wynant is a suspect, though wynant who was the actual thin man not charles has been missing for quite some time. Hammett never wrote a sequel but the book became the basis for a successful sixpart film series, which also began in 1934 with the thin man and starred william powell and myrna loy.
Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. The characters of dasheill hammetts 1934 novel the thin man include the protagonist, nick charles, son of a greek. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The thin man 1934 is the first installment of a popular series of six films. Hammett began the book in 1930, and wrote 65 pages. Response must be less that 100,000 characters thank you for your feedback.