The Thin Man poster

The Thin Man

Movie • 1934 • 91 min NR
⭐ 7.7/10 (829 on Trakt)
Year1934
Runtime91 min
CountryUS
Director: W.S. Van Dyke
"A laugh tops every thrilling moment!"
Former detective Nick Charles has retired from police work, preferring a life of cocktails, parties, and relaxation with his wealthy wife, Nora. Their holiday is interrupted when the daughter of Nick’s former client asks for help finding her missing father, eccentric inventor Clyde Wynant. When Wynant’s body is discovered, Nick is drawn back into the investigation, with Nora eagerly joining him. As the couple questions Wynant’s family, friends, and business associates, a tangled web of greed, deception, and murder begins to unravel.

What viewers say

Viewers adore the sparkling banter and obvious affection between the leading couple, a cocktail-loving detective and his witty wife, and say the film blends a whodunit with screwball comedy so neither side undercuts the other. The sharp dialogue, the lively supporting cast and the little dog are frequent favorites, and many say it still holds up decades later. Criticisms are that some of the acting is theatrical by modern standards, a few gags feel quaint, and the mystery is tangled and its resolution somewhat rushed. Heavy drinking is played for laughs throughout.

Best for: Viewers who want a witty classic-era mystery driven by a charming married couple more than by the puzzle.

Summary of public viewer reviews, updated November 2026.

comedycrimemystery

📺 Where to Watch

🎬 Watch Trailer

Trailer hosted on YouTube. Click play to load.

🎭 Cast

William Powell as Nick Charles
Myrna Loy as Nora Charles
Maureen O'Sullivan as Dorothy Wynant
Nat Pendleton as Inspector Guild
Minna Gombell as Mimi Wynant
Porter Hall as Herbert MacCaulay
Henry Wadsworth as Tommy
William Henry as Gilbert Wynant
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