As we have discussed in the past, there is plenty of debate over when the long-running Thin Man series should have ended. With the fourth entry, Shadow Of The Thin Man, came the departure of the author of the source material and the original screenwriters. The fifth of the six films would continue this trend somewhat with the exodus of franchise producer Hunt Stromberg and the death of director W.S. Van Dyke. The Thin Man Goes Home arrived four years after its predecessor in 1945 and remains a bit of an oddball within the series despite being perfectly pleasant. While the series has become somewhat known for jumping from bustling city to bustling city, this entry found Nick and Nora taking a break for a journey into small town life which we find is not free from some degree of criminality. We approve of the brazen choice to abandon Nick Jr. with little fanfare or explanation (there’s a throwaway line that could easily be missed alluding to the child), but the decision to incorporate wartime sobriety eliminates some of the zip of the couple. This is not an essential piece of the series, but fans should still find it very enjoyable.
As per the usual, for nearly the first thirty minutes of the film you would never guess that there was a dark mystery around the corner. We first find Nick (William Powell) and Nora Charles (Myrna Loy) taking a trip to Nick’s hometown in Sycamore Springs, New England, to visit his parents. This comes with its own set of amusing issues in the beginning with the train; there may have been many departures from the series over the years, but the lovable dog Asta is still present and the policy not to allow dogs in the main carriage leads to some clandestine hijinks. An early sequence where the pair have to squeeze through a crowded train hallway reminds you of the pair’s gift for physical comedy in addition to their verbal repartee, especially when it comes to Loy. To think that the studio actually attempted to replace her when she refused to come back in order to assist with war efforts and family issues feels almost inconceivable. Myrna Loy is Nora Charles – full stop. Powell is great as Nick, but Loy is the spark of the series.
The appeal of this plot is observing how Nick and Nora function in a small town environment while also getting a glimpse at where Nick originated. The relationship between Nick and his father had been hinted at in earlier films, but only now do we get to see the elder Charles in the flesh. Dr. Charles (Harry Davenport) and Nick’s quaint mother (Lucile Watson) are not unwelcoming hosts upon the return of their son, but their disapproval of Nick’s career and lifestyle is not in question. The latter point becomes somewhat moot as alluded to earlier, as Nick trades liquor for cider to make the country feel it was okay to give up drinking during the war efforts. The career bit is a bit more tricky to alleviate, but Nora does her ever-best to convince his parents how proud they should be of everything he has accomplished with his crime solving. This results in some of the funniest moments of the story as she recalls some of the colorful particulars of past cases. A case within the small town soon falls into Nick’s lap so his father can see what he does firsthand, but will that be enough to finally get dear old dad’s approval?
All of the Thin Man movies have a decent mystery, but the one here feels a bit more slight than usual. It begins with a murder and spirals out towards some espionage and treason, but there is never really much doubt as to who is involved well before Nick gathers everyone in a room at the end as the formula dictates. The film is not burdened with wartime cynicism nor is it elevated with the spirited antics that our main characters usually attract. This is an even-keeled picture that probably would not be priority viewing if it was not for the dynamic of Nick and Nora. There is not the fresh sizzle between Powell and Loy five films into the series, but they still provide a lovely time playing off of one another. They provide the laughs, the plot provides a bit of intrigue, and then the film sends you out the door. It is a fine way to spend a couple of hours, especially since these characters feel like old friends. The direction may be more muted and the pacing may seem slightly off, but these characters are two of the all-time best and command your attention.
Video Quality
The Thin Man Goes Home makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master from a 4K scan of the best surviving preservation elements. This fifth film continues in the footsteps of its predecessors by offering a standout presentation. The stunning black-and-white photography shot by Karl Freund sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. Black levels are very deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s varied small town production design. There is a fantastic amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing. The contrast is well defined, and there is virtually no print damage to be found. Warner Archive continues to treat this series with the respect it deserves.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a lovely DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that serves this movie perfectly well. The warmth and breezy nature of the David Snell score sounds as lovely as ever here. Despite the strength of the music, nothing ever overpowers the dialogue or other important information. Dialogue and background noises are represented in perfect harmony with all competing elements. This track shows no discernible age related wear and tear. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. Warner Archive has matched the achievement of the video with the audio.
Special Features
- Robert Benchley Comedy Short – Why Daddy?: A nine-minute short film in which a man attempts to participate in a quiz show against a child to less than stellar results.
- Classic Cartoon – Screwball Squirrel: A nearly 8-minute Tex Avery animated short is provided here which can also be found on the Tex Avery Screwball Collection: Volume One.
- Theatrical Trailer: A two minute trailer is provided here
Final Thoughts
The Thin Man Goes Home starts to show more signs of age within the comedy-tinged mystery series, but overall it amounts to an enjoyable time. The revelations of the case will not leave your jaw on the floor, but the infectious chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy is always worth tuning into. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that once again provides a top-notch A/V presentation and a couple of fun special features. If you enjoy this series, it is worth adding one of the final pieces to your collection. Recommended
The Thin Man Goes Home can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
