Movie review – Thin Man#4 – “Shadow of the Thin Man” (1941) **

If it ain’t broke why fix it – so here’s a fourth Thin Man instalment, with Nick Jnr now old enough to be attending military academy… even though he’s only a couple of years old. War time restrictions sees the Charles live in a flat rather than a mansion, although they still have their maid (Louise Beavers) and Nick still guzzles booze. He’s is called in to investigate the death of a jockey by a betting syndicate, triggering some standard adventures: Nora enjoying herself among Nick’s dodgy friends (in this case at a wrestling match), a climax with a room full of suspects, etc. 

The fun here though is mild – the Thin Man was really made for the mad cap 30s rather than the more austere 40s, and the leads were becoming too domestic. Also there’s not enough Loy – she disappears for too long. (Was this because this was the first Thin Man not to be written by the Hacketts?). Beautifully shot and a cast that includes Barry Nelson (in his debut but billed third, so I guessed he was the killer), Donna Reed, Sam Levene, Stella Adler and Tor Johnson.