Byrdz "After the Thin Man" begins where "The Thin Man" left off. Nick and Nora are once again on the train, headed west this time, following their adventurous trip to New York City. Great touch, that, and indicative of the care taken by really good film makers and script writers back "in the day".This film is as good as, or perhaps better than, the first in the set. Witty, fast paced dialogue, pretzel-like plot twists which wrap up with "get all the suspects together and figure it out at the last minute. The solution in this "who dun it ?" is a true one of a kind, best not known ahead of time so avoid visiting spoiler-ville until after you "know."The "walk this way" scene shown so often in Classic Clips is from this film.Great character actors galore, period Hollywood glamor costuming, 1930's setting details. All worth checking out and if you fall asleep, blame the hour not the movie and give it a look-see in the morning.

Tim Kidner The Thin Man is quite well-known and launched a further five sequels, of which this was the first. I've not seen any of these on TV and I've just bought The Thin Man Collection.Two years after The Thin Man we see the sleuthing married couple, the debonair William Powell and beguiling Myrna Loy, plus dog, Asta take on a new case that involves an early prominent role for James Stewart. There's murder, family disputes and shoot-outs but if you're like me, it's not the actual sleuthing and case that makes these delightful movies, but the interplay of the couple and their social interaction that make them tick and so utterly enjoyable.The chemistry between the two is still there, very much and beautifully done, but perhaps less intense than the original movie and Asta is again very much a feature. There's the odd tipple, or two, with Powell displaying his trademark excellence as the happy and oh-so obliging drunk.At over 100 minutes it's quite a bit longer than the original and this is taken up by the detective work but if you like this sort of nostalgic old silver screen movie, you will hardly notice, let alone mind. The transfer - on the source mentioned - and could well be the same on all releases - is good to very good, without much flicker or scratches and mixes that old silver screen luminescence with fair detail. It's directed again, by W S Van Dyke.The original is a superb film that remains a favourite of mine, though I am about half the age of these movies and so they are a newly acquired cinematic find. After the Thin Man is a very fine sequel but which cannot quite reach the heights of the sparkling original, but sure comes close.

ctomvelu1 What saves AFTER from being a routine sequel is the acting of Powell and Loy, along with the marvelous Sam Levene as a pushy detective and veteran actress Jessie Ralph as Nora's dowager aunt Catherine, who looks down on Nick. Having other great character players like George Zucco and Joseph Calleia in small but key roles also helps. Nick and Nora are back in California after the events in NYC. Nora's cousin (played by a pretty but truly awful actress named Elissa Landi) asks them to help her find her wandering, womanizing husband. A young Jimmy Stewart plays a pivotal role as a devoted friend of Landi's. The Asta antics in this one are funny but a bit overdone, much like Cheetah's antics in the Weismuller Tarzan movies.

kidboots Elissa Landi was one of Hollywood's most interesting failures. She was an English actress who came to Hollywood in a flurry of publicity. She was just so superior in every way, so well read and an aristocrat by birth - no wonder the average movie goer didn't warm to her. But she was very beautiful and had already proved herself capable in some English films. By the time "After the Thin Man" came along (her friend Myrna Loy had recommended her for the role) her career was almost over, as Hollywood had already discovered Madeline Carroll. I thought she was quite emotive in her role as Selma, Nora's cousin, who feels she is being driven insane.After solving the "Thin Man" case, Nick Charles is a celebrity, but Nora is determined that from now on they will lead a quiet life. During a rowdy New Year's Eve, Nora's cousin, Selma calls in a hysterical state. Her husband, Robert (Alan Marshall) is missing and she fears he is with another woman. An extremely youthful James Stewart plays David, who has always carried a torch for Selma. Vibrant Dorothy McNulty gives a spirited version of "Blow That Horn" - she even does a tap dance!!! Later she sings the beautiful "Smoke Dreams". She played the role of Flo in the 1930 version of "Good News" and specialised in an acrobatic style of dancing that was very exciting to watch. Soon after this film she changed her name to Penny Singleton, became a blonde and originated the role of "Blondie" for which she is remembered. She plays Polly, the girl who is having an affair with Robert. They are planning to run away together on the $25,000 he hopes to get from David who offered the money to keep him away from Selma. When Robert is murdered there are many suspects, foremost among them Selma, who has followed him into the fog with a gun!!!This is by far the best of the series (in my opinion). There are too many funny bits of business between Nick and Nora to mention. Apart from James Stewart and Dorothy McNulty, there is George Zucco giving his sinister best to the tiny part of Doctor Kammer and Sam Levene is wonderful as the harassed Inspector Abrams. As well Jessie Ralph is fantastic as dastardly Aunt Katherine, if you can't remember her, she was the wonderfully kind and comforting Peggotty in "David Copperfield". Also whoever played that wonderful, doddering butler - "Walk this way sir" - "I'll try"!!!!Highly Recommended.