i love you, again

This is one of my all-time favorites (and my favorite Powell/Loy film), and since it isn't readily available on DVD, I thought you might enjoy you a more detailed summary.



While on a vacation cruise, the sanctimonious Larry Wilson is knocked unconscious by an oar (while trying to rescue a man) and awakens to find that he has been suffering from amnesia for nine years and that he is really George Carey, a slick confidence man.



As luck would have it, the man whose life he saved is con man "Doc" Ryan. After a peek at his alter ego's bank balance, George decides to return as Larry to Habersville, Pennsylvania, in order to liquidate his bank accounts. When the ship docks in NYC - much to George's delight - they are met by Larry's wife, Kay.




Everything's hunky-dory until George learns that Kay wants to divorce Larry on grounds of boredom and that she's dating a guy nameed Herbert. To make things worse, after meeting with a representative from the Habbersville National Bank, George learns that Larry's funds are under the control of the Community Chest and Anti-Vice crusade.



Refusing to let Kay get away, George gets Herbert and Kay to agree that Kay will stay with Larry for 5 more weeks - at which time he'll give Kay the divorce she seeks.


[Kay: Where did you learn to dance like this? / George: By mail.]




Once at home, George begins to court Kay, who is stunned at the change in her husband.



[George: You be careful, madam, or you'll turn my pretty head with your flattery. / Kay: I often wished I could turn your head - on a spit, over a slow fire.]


My favorite scene is when George takes Kay shopping (hoping to win some points) and has a bit of trouble because the sales team in the store is VERY familiar with what Larry Wilson would/would not approve of. Exasperated in his attempts to buy Kay a more daring negligee, he uses the store mannequin to explain.


[George: This is Mrs. Albermarrough - one of the Pittsburg Albermarrough's? You know, coal and iron? Well, Mrs. Albermarrough wants to buy a new nightgown and HANG the expense! / Kay: Larry, let's forget it. I don't really need a new nightgown. / George: You're going to get a new nightgown if I have to buy two silkworms and start from scratch! (turning to the salesclerk) Look. Mrs. Albermarrough has been very patient up to now, but she's getting just a little tired of this pup tent she's wearing. Look at that - sailcloth. (he removes the nightgown from the mannequin) She's positively ashamed to be seen in it! / Kay: She's probably more ashamed to be seen without it. / George: Well, you don't know Mrs. Albermarrough.]



George decides to switch tactics and run an oil scam on a vacant lot owned by Larry. He sends for his old partner in crime, Duke Sheldon, to "salt" the land.



Meantime, George is finally starting to make some progress with Kay. Coooo-roo! (Another great scene, but this one is better seen than explained.)



After setting the bait for his trap, George sends his patrol of boy rangers to discover the oil (Harkspur's deer tracking certification is my 2nd favorite scene)...




...and soon the boys's fathers are knocking on Larry's door with offers to buy his land. However, George's plans go awry when Kay jumps in to protect him.




George realizes that Kay loves him, that he loves her, and that he wants to settle down permanently as Larry Wilson.



"Ever since you got off that boat you've been chasing me like an amorous goat. You've tried your darnedest to make me fall in love with you and now you have. So from now on I'm going to do the chasing, and believe me, brother, you're going to know you've been chased."


**If you don't want to know the ending, stop reading here.**




Larry explains to Doc that he wants to settle down with Kay and they have to call off the scam. Doc doesn't have quite as much luck explaining it to Duke. [Doc: "Duke - oh, Duke! Was you ever in love? You know, a nice little home, with a couple-a kids and a porch and not having to duck a cop each time you see a cellar. And look, Duke - if it's a boy you can teach him to play baseball and if it's a bicycle? Oh, Duke. You can put hair ribbons on her and go walking on Sundays.]


After overhearing Doc explain to Duke about George/Larry's amnesia, Kay and Doc sit down for a little chat.


Duke refuses to call off the scam, and in the ensuing mayhem, George gets hit over the head and awakens as Larry (the upstanding/teetotalling citizen). But things have a way of working out and Duke ends up (very fittingly) leading Herbert off because the greedy gus has brought his own check for the "oil-rich" land.



Heartbroken that George has turned back into Larry, Kay consideres taking things into her own hands until George lets her know that he's happy to begin life over as Larry - and, of course, they all live happily after. Coooo-roo!

thin man sequels

The Thin Man series is (I think) a lot of fun to watch. I love the back-and-forth banter of Nick and Nora, the not-too-scary mysteries, Nora's fabulous fashions, Nick's friends in low places, Asta's antics, and how they always gets their man.

And while watching on a rainy day is ideal, these are good enough to watch even if it's sunny outside.


There were five sequels: After the Thin Man, Anther Thin Man, Shadow of the Thin Man, The Thin Man Goes Home, and Song of the Thin Man.


After the Thin Man - back in San Francisco after their holiday in New York, it's New Year's Eve and Nick and Nora are summoned to dinner at Nora's elderly, and very aristocratic, family. There they find that cousin Thelma's husband Charles has been missing for three days. Nick reluctantly agrees to look for him but the case takes a twist when Charles is shot and Thelma is accused of murder. Several other murders occur but eventually Nick gathers everyone into the same room to reveal the identity of the killer. [Trailer here.] Also stars Jimmy Stewart.



Another Thin Man - the Charles' are back in New York with Asta and a new arrival: Nicky Jr. They are invited by Colonel MacFey to spend the weekend at his house in Long Island as he desperately wants Charles to help him out. It seems he has been receiving threats from Phil Church, a very shady character. When McFey is killed Church seems to be the obvious suspect but Nick suspects there is something far more complicated going on. McFey's housekeeper, daughter and various hangers-on may all have had an interest in seeking the old man's demise. [Trailer here.]




Shadow of the Thin Man - Nick and Nora are looking forward to a day of leisure, but when they make a trip to the race track, they learn that a jockey, who was recently accused of throwing a race, has just been found shot to death. With his friend Lieutenant Abrams in charge of the case, Nick has difficulty keeping from getting involved. Then a special state deputy, in charge of investigating gambling scandals, comes to see Nick. He tells Nick that the jockey could have been silenced by a gambling syndicate, and he asks for Nick's help. Soon Nick is fully involved in a complicated and hazardous investigation. (This one is my personal favorite - the wrestling scene is one of the best.) [Trailer here.] Also stars Donna Reed.




The Thin Man Goes Home - Nick and Nora head to Nick's hometown of Sycamore Springs to spend some time with his parents. His father, a prominent local physician, was always a bit disappointed with Nick's choice of profession in particular and his lifestyle in general. With Nick's arrival the townsfolk, including several of the local criminal element, are convinced that he must be there on a case despite his protestations that he's just there for rest and relaxation. When someone is shot dead on his doorstep however, Nick finds himself working on a case whether he wants to or not. [Trailer here.]




Song of the Thin Man - Nick and Nora Charles attend a charity benefit aboard a gambling ship. The festive atmosphere conceals many tensions among those connected with the ship, with most of the friction centering around Tommy Drake, its unpopular, spiteful band-leader. When he is murdered later that night, suspicion falls on Phil Brant, who had argued with Drake earlier in the evening. When Phil and his wife seek help from Nick and Nora, Nick refuses to get involved. But when shots are fired outside his own apartment, Nick begins to investigate, and he soon finds himself in a confusing case with numerous suspects. [Trailer here.}

the thin man

the year: 1934

the genre: mystery


the cast: William Powell (Nick Charles); Myrna Loy (Nora Charles); Maureen O'Sullivan (Dorothy Wynant); Cesar Romero (Chris Jorgenson)


the plot: After a four year absence, one time detective Nick Charles returns to New York with his new wife Nora and their dog, Asta. Nick re-connects with many of his old cronies, several of whom are eccentric characters, to say the least. He's also approached by Dorothy Wynant whose inventor father Clyde Wynant is suspected of murdering her step-mother. Her father left on a planned trip some months before and she has had no contact with him. Nick isn't all that keen on resuming his former profession but egged-on by wife Nora, who thinks this all very exciting, he agrees to help out.


did you know: Louis B. Mayer didn't want to make the film, so director W.S. Van Dyke agreed to shoot the film with a tiny budget and within 2 weeks. It went on to become one of the year's smash hits.


don't miss: Christmas morning at the Charles' home.


watch for: the fabulous pairing of Myrna Loy and William Powell. They would star in 14 films together.


listen for: "The important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, a dry martini you always shake to waltz time."