Showing posts with label myrna loy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label myrna loy. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Signal Watch Watches: The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)

Released in January of 1945, The Thin Man Goes Home was a wartime-era film, and I think that informs a little bit about the small town, homey nature of the movie.  Rather than the usual big city, boozy shenanigans, the movie takes Nick and Nora back to Nick's hometown for a friendly family visit when, of course, a body turns up.


The idyllic small town with white, picket fences and charming downtown streets makes a strange backdrop after the four prior films (the last one released in November 1941), and seems a significant hop from the New York and San Francisco backdrops you may associate with the characters. The comedy is a bit softer and a bit less edgy than prior installments, and they find a work around to keep the Charles' from openly boozing and living it up, what with the war on. But that doesn't mean that from the get-go it doesn't feel like Nick and Nora or that Asta has gone AWOL.

Frankly, its counting on a lot of familiar business from the prior installments, and the comfort food tone to the film was probably welcome in January 1945, with VE Day still 5 months off.  And, of course, the war does play into the film a bit, from the overcrowding of the trains at the beginning of the movie to some major plot details.

And, of course, Myrna Loy.


Friday, February 24, 2012

No Post Friday

If there is any justice: when I die Myrna Loy will meet me at the Pearly Gates wearing exactly this outfit.



Have a good Friday.

Friday, February 3, 2012

No Post Friday

Myrna Loy is outta here
Sorry.  No post this evening.  You will have to just imagine what is fevering my brain until I post again.

Have a lovely Friday.

Oh, and probably no post for Saturday.  I'm off to see They Might Be Giants with SimonUK tomorrow evening.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Movie Watch 2012: Shadow of the Thin Man

I'm not quite ready to submerge myself back into noir at the moment, so this evening I took the half-step of watching a Nick & Nora movie, Shadow of the Thin Man (1941).



Its definitely not the place to start with the series, and it seems to dial up the goofiness a few notches (especially with how the movie deals with Asta, Nick's loyal Fox Terrier).  In fact, the whole operation has the feel of a particularly high-end hour long police procedural series one might catch on ABC (its not bone dry and soul crushing enough for CBS, and there's not enough shame involved to qualify it for NBC).  Of course, Nick's habitual drinking would probably need to land the show on premium cable or late night on FX.

But this was a movie for folks who already loved the three prior Thin Man films.  By this movie, there's a Charles child, a maid and a whole lot of domesticity.  Nora is barely seen knocking them back.

Anyway, someone gets murdered and Nick and Nora get involved, and wackiness ensues.

I can't help but note that this movie was released in November of 1941.  Pretty tough time to be getting word of mouth out there.  Myrna Loy would become heavily involved in supporting the war effort, not making another movie until the 1945 follow up to this picture.

As with all previous Thin Man films, I recommend.

Also, again, Myrna Loy.






Tuesday, March 22, 2011

No Post Wednesday

Was in Waco today but came back. I bought a belt and socks, then had a lovely dinner with an old friend from days of yesteryear. He's doing fine.

I'm tired, and I don't know what I'd talk about if I had the energy.

Apropos of nothing, here is the lovely Myrna Loy: