The Thin Man (film series)

The Thin Man
Created byDashiell Hammett
Original work
Years1934–1991
Print publications
Novel(s)The Thin Man (1934)
Films and television
Film(s)
Television seriesThe Thin Man (1957–1959)
Television special(s)Nick and Nora (1975)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s)Nick & Nora (1991)
Audio
Radio program(s)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

Film Release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
The Thin Man May 25, 1934 W. S. Van Dyke Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich Based on: The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett Hunt Stromberg
After the Thin Man December 25, 1936
Another Thin Man November 17, 1939 Based on: "The Farewell Murder" by Dashiell Hammett
Shadow of the Thin Man November 21, 1941 Harry Kurnitz and Irving Brecher Harry Kurnitz
The Thin Man Goes Home January 25, 1945 Richard Thorpe Robert Riskin and Dwight Taylor Robert Riskin and Harry Kurnitz Everett Riskin
Song of the Thin Man August 28, 1947 Edward Buzzell Steve Fisher and Nat Perrin Stanley Roberts Nat 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)

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

List indicator

This section includes characters who have appeared in the franchise.

  • An empty grey cell indicates the character was not in the film or series.
Character Films TV series
The Thin Man After the Thin Man Another Thin Man Shadow of the Thin Man The Thin Man Goes Home Song of the Thin Man The Thin Man
1934 1936 1939 1941 1945 1947 1957–1959
Nick Charles William Powell Peter Lawford
Nora Charles Myrna Loy Phyllis Kirk
Dorothy Wynant Maureen O'Sullivan
Lt. John Guild Nat Pendleton Nat Pendleton
Mimi Wynant Jorgenson Minna Gombell
David Graham James Stewart
Selma Landis Elissa Landi
"Dancer" Joseph Calleia
Aunt Katherine Forrest Jessie Ralph
Lois MacFay Virginia Grey
Assistant District Attorney Van Slack Otto Kruger
Colonel Burr MacFay C. Aubrey Smith
Dorothy Walters Ruth Hussey
Paul Clarke Barry Nelson
Stella Louise Beavers
Molly Donna Reed
Mrs. Charles Lucile Watson
Laurabelle "Laura" Ronson Gloria DeHaven
Crazy Mary Anne Revere
Clarence "Clinker" Krause Keenan Wynn
Nick "Nickie" Charles Jr. William A. Poulsen Richard Hall Dean Stockwell

Additional crew

Role The Thin Man After the Thin Man Another Thin Man Shadow of the Thin Man The Thin Man Goes Home Song of the Thin Man
1934 1936 1939 1941 1945 1947
Composer William Axt Herbert Stothart and Edward Ward Edward Ward David Snell
Editor Robert J. Kern Fredrick Y. Smith Robert J. Kern Ralph E. Winters Gene Ruggiero
Cinematographer James Wong Howe Oliver T. Marsh William H. Daniels and Oliver T. Marsh William H. Daniels Karl Freund Charles Rosher
Art director Cedric Gibbons Edward Carfagno and Cedric Gibbons Randall Duell and Cedric Gibbons
Production companies Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributor Loew's Inc.

Reception

Box office performance

Film U.S. release date Budget Box office gross Ref.
U.S. and Canada International Worldwide
The Thin Man May 25, 1934 $231,000 $818,000 $729,000 $1,423,000 [9][10]
After the Thin Man December 25, 1936 $673,000 $1,992,000 $1,173,000 $3,165,000 [11]
Another Thin Man December 25, 1936 $1,107,000 $1,523,000 $700,000 $2,223,000 [9]
Shadow of the Thin Man November 21, 1941 $821,000 $1,453,000 $848,000 $2,301,000 [9]
The Thin Man Goes Home January 25, 1945 $1,401,000 $1,770,000 $1,044,000 $2,814,000 [9]
Song of the Thin Man January 25, 1945 $1,670,000 $1,403,000 $902,000 $2,305,000 [9]
Total $5,903,000 $8,959,000 $5,396,000 $14,231,000

Critical response

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
The Thin Man 98% (46 reviews)[12] 86 (16 critics)[13]
After the Thin Man 100% (25 reviews)[14]
Another Thin Man 86% (22 reviews)[15] 63 (8 critics)[16]
Shadow of the Thin Man 89% (9 reviews)[17] 63 (7 critics)[18]
The Thin Man Goes Home 75% (8 reviews)[19]
Song of the Thin Man 91% (11 reviews)[20]

References

  1. ^ Rottenberg, John (October 20, 2010). "Johnny Depp wants to play Nick Charles in a remake of 'The Thin Man.' Sounds brilliant. But who should play Nora?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Kit, Borys (March 22, 2011). "Johnny Depp's 'Thin Man' Remake Nabs Writer Jerry Stahl (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  3. ^ McNary, Dave (August 30, 2011). "David Koepp to pen 'Thin Man' remake". Variety. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Kit, Borys; Fernandez, Jay A. (October 6, 2011). "Billy Ray Writing 'The Thin Man' for Johnny Depp and Warner Bros. (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 21, 2012). "Warner Bros Pumping The Brakes On 'The Thin Man' Remake?". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Wu, Valerie (October 9, 2023). "Margot Robbie's LuckyChap and Brad Pitt's Plan B in Talks to Co-Produce 'The Thin Man' Remake". Variety. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Balio, Tino (March 20, 2018). MGM. Routledge. ISBN 1138913669.
  8. ^ "Jo Ann Pflug To Star". The Desert Sun. January 17, 1975. p. A12. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "MGM film grosses, 1924-1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12 (2): 127–144. doi:10.1080/01439689200260081.
  10. ^ Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "Appendix". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12 (S2): 1–20. doi:10.1080/01439689208604539.
  11. ^ Sedgwick, John (2000). Popular Filmgoing in 1930s Britain: A Choice of Pleasures. University of Exeter Press. ISBN 9780859896603.
  12. ^ "The Thin Man (1934)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Thin Man". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  14. ^ "After the Thin Man (1936)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  15. ^ "Another Thin Man (1939)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  16. ^ "Another Thin Man". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  17. ^ "Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  18. ^ "Shadow of the Thin Man". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  19. ^ "The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  20. ^ "Song of the Thin Man (1947)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2023.