After the surprise success of 1934’s hit detective comedy The Thin Man, audiences were clamoring for more of Nick and Nora Charles. Powell and Loy made three films together after The Thin Man (including Best Picture winner The Great Ziegfeld), and in 1936 were finally able to fit this sequel in.
Where the first film ends with the couple leaving NYC on a train, this film opens with that train pulling into their home of San Francisco. Unlike the first film, in which we are forced to wait close to 20 minutes before the delightful couple enters the story, here we dive right in. And Powell and Loy haven’t lost it a bit, quick and clever as ever. Only now, there’s trouble brewing in Nora’s own family, trouble that leads to a murder. As before, the crime takes a while to happen, as the story introduces us to countless potential suspects. And as before, it loops and twists around, leading to another finale in which all the possible murderers are in one room together, forced to stand and listen to Nick Charles spin the truth and solve the case.
It does have that Hollywood Sequel-itis feel to it. Some silly bits with Asta (involving a potentially cheating “Mrs Asta”), things like that. But dog antics aside, I’m happy to see more of the same when it comes to Powell and Loy. And while the conclusion follows the same successful formula as last time, the case itself is different enough to feel original and engaging throughout.
Also of note: in a major supporting role is a young James Stewart, his first substantial role in a film.
