NickAndNoraCharles Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Heathers might be the film I adore, and the only piece of cinema that I can quote from beginning to end, but it's not the film that makes me thankful. That spot is reserved for The Thin Man.

In a world where hate is rampant and equality is still a hope to fight for, The Thin Man represents the possibility of something better. Made in 1934, it's the perfect example of rationale and heart coming from a time you'd least expect it. When I stare at my shelves of DVDs and try to look for something with smarts, heart, and writing that doesn't rely on overblown reactions and flimsy emotion, The Thin Man sticks out. When I want to watch a woman on the screen who is intelligent but also humorous, and who can balance frivolity with depth, there's no better example than Nora Charles.

This is one of those films that proves that it's not the theme that creates the worth of a movie (romcom, action, drama), but how it is handled and presented to us. In a world full of mundane repeats, copy-cat projects, and stereotypical notions, I'm thankful that there are a few glimpses of greatness, like The Thin Man.

No, I'm not talking about infinite playlists. This post will require you to go back 74 years.

An entire lifetime ago, Hollywood presented The Thin Man. Based on the Dashiell Hammett novel, the film starred William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. Nick was a retired private detective who gave up the life when he married his rich, socialite wife, Nora. There was a mystery to bring it all together, but all of that is almost inconsequential to the banter and chemistry between the irresistible leads.

They're often drunk or tipsy, and they each hunker down in their own solitary beds when the lights go out, but Nick and Nora are a couple that put today's Hollywood pairs to shame. Their communication is laced with quick-witted banter, which thrives not just because of its cleverness, but because of their relationship. Nick and Nora are at peace with each other. They know where they stand. They know how to communicate honestly. They don't take trivial matters too seriously. They are, for lack of a better word, solid.