vincentlynch-moonoi I've pretty much enjoyed William Powell in all his films, and I can say the same for Jean Arthur (well, except for "A Foreign Affair"). So I sat down to enjoy this film. And it wasn't bad, but I kept thinking how much better it would have been with Myrna Loy as another in the Thin Man series. Powell was very good here. So was Arthur. But together they were not what Powell and Loy were.But that isn't even my biggest complaint about this film. This is one of those films where a coincidence with clues happens just a little too often, and, that always bothers me with a mystery.Nevertheless, if you wade through the first two-thirds of the film, the last third -- when the pieces of the murder puzzle began to fall into place -- it gets more interesting. However, the very final scene is dopey.If you're a fan of old movies, you'll recognize quite a few of the faces here, though you probably won't remember their names...except for James Gleason, who always seems best as a plain clothes policeman.This not a bad movie, but also not one you're likely to obtain for your DVD shelf. But, it's worth watching...once.

Neil Doyle Whatever gold is spun from this little mystery/comedy comes from the crackling performances of WILLIAM POWELL and JEAN ARTHUR (prettily photographed through gauze for her movie star close-ups). They do what they can to bolster a weak script that moves in lumbering fashion toward a climax that has all the suspects gathered together to await the revelation of the killer by debonair Powell. But by this time, none of the suspects have established any kind of identity, so the viewer can only yawn when the culprit is revealed to be one of the least visible supporting actors.As a mystery, it fails to have any real suspense nor does it have a satisfying enough conclusion. The method of killing is so far out that it has to be the most unlikely explanation a scriptwriter ever dreamed up. As a comedy, it falls somewhere between THE THIN MAN stuff and any other screwball comedy of the thirties that featured Powell and Arthur in tailor-made roles.However, fans of the couple will surely find their light touch with this sort of material refreshing, if not original. But somehow, it never quite jells in its attempt to be an amusing mystery caper. Nor is it original enough to dim the memory of the better scripted Powell/Loy outings.

sol- A reasonably entertaining combination of comedy and mystery, done in much the same fashion as 'The Thin Man', and even starring the same star, William Powell is as good as one would expect, however Jean Arthur does not work quite as well with him as Myrna Loy does, and she is even a tad annoying to have on screen at times. The script is well written with some good lines and an interesting plot, and the film relatively engaging on the whole. By all means it is inferior to 'The Thin Man', but yet it manages to do quite a good job with similar material, and other than Powell's character, the elements borrowed from 'The Thin Man' are fairly disguised. It is a good film in itself either way.

susangracey I've seen the Thin Man series -- Powell and Loy are definitely great, but there is something awfully sweet about Powell and Arthur's chemistry in this flick. Jean Arthur SHINES when she looks at Powell. There is an unmistakable undercurrent buzzing between them. This film may not have the wit of the Thin Man series, but undeniably makes up for it in charm. While I watched it, I thought for sure Powell was carrying on an off-screen affair with Arthur. My friends thought the same. This is one film where I wish I could step back in time (to schmooze and lock lips with Powell!) There seems to be no end to his lovable playful smirks! Powell's character, Lawrence Bradford, is probably the closest thing to the "perfect man." Okay, this is sounding way too gushy, but I can't help myself.