Song of the Thin Man by Edward Buzzell (1947)
28 July 2008The last film in the Thin Man series is fun as well, though not quite as good as the previous films. It felt like Loy’s part was toned down a bit, though this film is still fun of course. William Powell and Myrna Loy have such great on screen chemistry that it is really worth checking out. And it is always fun to see their dog Asta as well! The changes are probably because the original director died in 1943, and this was not written by the same writing team as the first 4 films.
Nick (Willaim Powell) and Nora Charles (Myrna Loy) are in New York city attending a society benefit about the gambling ship of Phil Orval Brant (Bruce Cowling). Performing on the ship is a jazz band with clarentist Buddy Hollis (Don Taylor) who is all out of it since the singer left him, she is Fran Ledue Page (Gloria Grahame) as well as the band leader Tommy Eldon Drake (Phillip Read) and a trumpet player Clarence “Clinker” Klause (Keenan Wynn). Drake announces he is leaving the band and has signed on with booker named Mitchell Talbin (Leon Ames). Drake tries to collect some money he is owed, he tries to get a $12000 advance from Mitchell. Later that night Drake sneaks into Phill’s office and is shot and killed. Nick and Nora learn about the murder the next day when Phil and his new wife Janet THayer (Jayne Meadows) show up at the apartment and show them the newspaper. A gunshot goes off and almost kills Phil, and Nick calls the police to take them into custody. Nora is aghast, but he tells her he is safer there while he investigates.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…
Nick goes out to the gambling snick, sneaking on with his dog Asta to search around, and see what he can find. Nick finds a pay stub for the money from Drake, and then meats the rest of Drake’s band on the boat practicing, but loses the paper into Clinker’s trumpet case.
Nick determines the gun was from an antique gun, so he goes and visits Janet and her father David I. Thayer (Ralph Morgan) who collects old guns, and has a missing gun. Janet meanwhile gets a phone call and runs off, while Nick and Nora follow.
They get to an apartment and find Fran who has just been stabbed and killed, when Janet shows up saying Fran had called her about some evidence to save Phil.
Nick found a clue and with the help of his new partner Clinker they manage to locate Buddy in a rest home, totally freaking out. Nora tries to get more info from him, but hears that he killed drake, and he fires a gun, but misses her.
Nick though doesn’t believe Buddy at all, instead thinking the gun was planted. And that Fran was killed because she knew who killed Drake.
Nick sets up another trap, this time at the gambling boat, and everyone is invited. Nick gets his clues when Nora notices a necklace that goes from one girl to another’s next that night. Buddy plays and is supposed to give up who did it, but really is still a mess.
Finally Mitch confesses to the killing, because his wife Phillis (Patricia Morison) was having an affair with Drake, and he pulls a gun, but Phillis murders him for shooting her lover.
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The last thin man is not as good as the others, but is still enjoyable. Honestly I wish they had done more of these films.
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