Between 1934 and 1947, actors Wm. Powell and Myrna Loy made a total of 6 movies in which they starred as “Nick & Nora Charles,” a madcap, gin-swilling husband-and-wife team who solved murder mysteries. Originally based on crime writer Dashiell Hammett’s 1934 novel “The Thin Man,” the movie-going public found them so ideally paired that a huge chunk of them actually believed they were married to one another in their off-screen life. In matter of fact, off screen they were just the best of friends. All in all, Myrna and Bill starred in a total of 14 films together. In this first part of the this two-part series, we will watch the first picture they made together, and the first three films in the "Thin Man" series. All films will be shown in their entirety, to be followed by questions and Dr. Stone’s “ well-known “behind the silver screen tales from Hollywood and Vine.”
Lectures:
1. “Manhattan Melodrama” (1934) In their first pairing, Myrna and Bill join Clark Gable and the then 14-year-old Mickey Rooney in a story about two childhood friends who go in opposite directions, one a D.A., the other a crook.
2. “The Thin Man” (1934) Newly-married Nick and Nora drink their way through a case involving the disappearance of an inventor. Costarring Maureen O’Sullivan and Cesar Romero.
3.” After the Thin Man” (1936) Back home in San Francisco for New Year’s, Nick and Nora (along with Asta and “Mrs.” Asta) reluctantly hunt for the murderer of Nora’s cousin’s husband. Co-starring James Stewart in his earliest films.
4. “Another Thin Man” (1939): Returned to New York with Asta and son Nickie, Jr., the couple seeks to find out who killed Nora’s late father’s business partner. With C. Aubrey Smith.
Live In-Person with Video Catch-up. Available 2-3 business days after the live lecture. You will have approximately two weeks to view the video.