The Thin Man (film series) explained

The Thin Man
Creator:Dashiell Hammett
Years:1934–1991
Tv Series:The Thin Man (1957–1959)
Tv Specials:Nick and Nora (1975)
Novels:The Thin Man (1934)
Musicals:Nick & Nora (1991)
Radio:The Adventures of the Thin Man (1941–1950)

The Thin Man is a media franchise featuring detective characters Nick and Nora Charles based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. The franchise includes six theatrical films, one radio series, and one television series. Additionally, it has been reimagined for the stage through a musical and various plays.

Films

FilmRelease dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
The Thin ManMay 25, 1934W. S. Van DykeAlbert Hackett and Frances Goodrich The Thin Man by Dashiell HammettHunt Stromberg
After the Thin ManDecember 25, 1936
Another Thin ManNovember 17, 1939 "The Farewell Murder" by Dashiell Hammett
Shadow of the Thin ManNovember 21, 1941Harry Kurnitz and Irving BrecherHarry Kurnitz
The Thin Man Goes HomeJanuary 25, 1945Richard ThorpeRobert Riskin and Dwight TaylorRobert Riskin and Harry KurnitzEverett Riskin
Song of the Thin ManAugust 28, 1947Edward BuzzellSteve Fisher and Nat PerrinStanley RobertsNat Perrin

Future

In October 2010, it was announced that Johnny Depp was developing a new adaptation of The Thin Man for Warner Bros. through his Infinitum Nihil production company.[1] Rob Marshall was negotiating to direct when screenwriter Jerry Stahl joined the project in March 2011.[2] However, David Koepp came on board to write the script that August.[3]

After creative differences between Koepp and Marshall, Billy Ray was tapped to write the screenplay.[4] But Warner Bros. never green-lit the film, and it was eventually shelved as Marshall entered production on Into the Woods (2014).[5]

In October 2023, LuckyChap Entertainment and Plan B Entertainment were in talks to co-produce a remake of The Thin Man.[6]

Television

The Thin Man (1957–1959)

See main article: The Thin Man (TV series). In 1957, MGM Television produced a television adaptation of The Thin Man starring Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk as Nick and Nora Charles. The series ran for two seasons on NBC.[7]

Nick and Nora (1975)

Nick and Nora is a made-for-television movie that aired on ABC as a part of the network's Wide World of Mystery programming block. The MGM Television-produced special starred Craig Stevens and Jo Ann Pflug in the lead roles.[8]

Cast and crew

Principal cast

CharacterFilmsTV series
The Thin ManAfter the Thin ManAnother Thin ManShadow of the Thin ManThe Thin Man Goes HomeSong of the Thin ManThe Thin Man
1934 1936 1939 1941 1945 1947 1957–1959
Nick CharlesWilliam PowellPeter Lawford
Nora CharlesMyrna LoyPhyllis Kirk
Dorothy WynantMaureen O'Sullivancolspan="6"
Lt. John GuildNat PendletonNat Pendletoncolspan="4"
Mimi Wynant JorgensonMinna Gombellcolspan="6"
David GrahamJames Stewartcolspan="5"
Selma LandisElissa Landicolspan="5"
"Dancer"Joseph Calleiacolspan="5"
Aunt Katherine ForrestJessie Ralphcolspan="5"
Lois MacFayVirginia Greycolspan="4"
Assistant District Attorney Van SlackOtto Krugercolspan="4"
Colonel Burr MacFayC. Aubrey Smithcolspan="4"
Dorothy WaltersRuth Husseycolspan="4"
Paul ClarkeBarry Nelsoncolspan="3"
StellaLouise Beaverscolspan="3"
MollyDonna Reedcolspan="3"
Mrs. CharlesLucile Watsoncolspan="2"
Laurabelle "Laura" RonsonGloria DeHavencolspan="2"
Crazy MaryAnne Reverecolspan="2"
Clarence "Clinker" KrauseKeenan Wynncolspan="1"
Nick "Nickie" Charles Jr.William A. PoulsenRichard HallDean Stockwell

Additional crew

RoleThe Thin ManAfter the Thin ManAnother Thin ManShadow of the Thin ManThe Thin Man Goes HomeSong of the Thin Man
1934 1936 1939 1941 1945 1947
ComposerWilliam AxtHerbert Stothart and Edward WardEdward WardDavid Snell
EditorRobert J. KernFredrick Y. SmithRobert J. KernRalph E. WintersGene Ruggiero
CinematographerJames Wong HoweOliver T. MarshWilliam H. Daniels and Oliver T. MarshWilliam H. DanielsKarl FreundCharles Rosher
Art directorCedric GibbonsEdward Carfagno and Cedric GibbonsRandall Duell and Cedric Gibbons
Production companiesMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
DistributorLoew's Inc.

Reception

Box office performance

FilmU.S. release dateBudgetBox office gross
U.S. and CanadaInternationalWorldwide
The Thin ManMay 25, 1934$231,000$818,000$729,000$1,423,000[9] [10]
After the Thin ManDecember 25, 1936$673,000$1,992,000$1,173,000$3,165,000[11]
Another Thin ManDecember 25, 1936$1,107,000$1,523,000$700,000$2,223,000
Shadow of the Thin ManNovember 21, 1941$821,000$1,453,000$848,000$2,301,000
The Thin Man Goes HomeJanuary 25, 1945$1,401,000$1,770,000$1,044,000$2,814,000
Song of the Thin ManJanuary 25, 1945$1,670,000$1,403,000$902,000$2,305,000
Total$$$$

Critical response

FilmRotten TomatoesMetacritic
The Thin Man98% (46 reviews)[12] 86 (16 critics)[13]
After the Thin Man100% (25 reviews)[14]
Another Thin Man86% (22 reviews)[15] 63 (8 critics)[16]
Shadow of the Thin Man89% (9 reviews)[17] 63 (7 critics)[18]
The Thin Man Goes Home75% (8 reviews)[19]
Song of the Thin Man91% (11 reviews)[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rottenberg . John . Johnny Depp wants to play Nick Charles in a remake of 'The Thin Man.' Sounds brilliant. But who should play Nora? . . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103034017/https://ew.com/article/2010/10/20/johnny-depp-wants-to-play-nick-charles-in-a-remake-of-the-thin-man-sounds-brilliant-but-who-should-play-nora/ . January 3, 2024 . October 20, 2010.
  2. Web site: Kit . Borys . Johnny Depp’s ‘Thin Man’ Remake Nabs Writer Jerry Stahl (Exclusive) . . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603150249/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/johnny-depps-thin-man-remake-170061/ . June 3, 2023 . March 22, 2011.
  3. Web site: McNary . Dave . David Koepp to pen ‘Thin Man’ remake . . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103034859/https://variety.com/2011/film/news/david-koepp-to-pen-thin-man-remake-1118042004/ . January 3, 2024 . August 30, 2011.
  4. Web site: Kit . Borys . Fernandez . Jay A. . Billy Ray Writing ‘The Thin Man’ for Johnny Depp and Warner Bros. (Exclusive) . . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231224132621/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/johnny-depp-warner-bros-billy-ray-245180/ . December 24, 2023 . October 6, 2011.
  5. Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr. . Warner Bros Pumping The Brakes On 'The Thin Man' Remake? . . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523164340/https://deadline.com/2012/06/warner-bros-puts-the-brakes-on-the-thin-man-remake-290319/ . May 23, 2023 . June 21, 2012.
  6. Web site: Wu . Valerie . Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap and Brad Pitt’s Plan B in Talks to Co-Produce ‘The Thin Man’ Remake . . January 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231010124237/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/thin-man-remake-plan-b-luckychap-margot-robbie-1235749820/ . October 10, 2023 . October 9, 2023.
  7. Book: Balio . Tino . MGM . March 20, 2018 . . 1138913669.
  8. News: Jo Ann Pflug To Star . January 3, 2024 . . January 17, 1975 . A12.
  9. H. Mark. Glancy. MGM film grosses, 1924-1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12. 2. 1992. 127–144. 10.1080/01439689200260081.
  10. H. Mark. Glancy. Appendix. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12. S2. 1992. 1–20. 10.1080/01439689208604539.
  11. Book: Sedgwick, John . Popular Filmgoing in 1930s Britain: A Choice of Pleasures . 2000 . . 9780859896603 .
  12. Web site: The Thin Man (1934) . Rotten Tomatoes. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230920071232/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/thin_man. September 20, 2023. live.
  13. Web site: The Thin Man . Metacritic. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211853/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-thin-man/. March 26, 2023. live.
  14. Web site: After the Thin Man (1936) . Rotten Tomatoes. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20240101031409/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/after_the_thin_man. January 1, 2024. live.
  15. Web site: Another Thin Man (1939) . Rotten Tomatoes. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20240101032137/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/another_thin_man. January 1, 2024. live.
  16. Web site: Another Thin Man . Metacritic. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230509115250/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/another-thin-man. May 9, 2023. live.
  17. Web site: Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) . Rotten Tomatoes. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230205033640/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shadow_of_the_thin_man. February 5, 2023. live.
  18. Web site: Shadow of the Thin Man. Metacritic. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220910071809/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/shadow-of-the-thin-man. September 10, 2022. live.
  19. Web site: The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) . Rotten Tomatoes. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317192225/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_thin_man_goes_home. March 17, 2023. live.
  20. Web site: Song of the Thin Man (1947) . Rotten Tomatoes. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20240101033632/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/song_of_the_thin_man. January 1, 2024. live.