The Thin Man
“A laugh tops every thrilling moment!”
Synopsis
Former detective Nick Charles has retired from police work, preferring a life of cocktails, parties, and relaxation with his wealthy wife, Nora. Their holiday is interrupted when the daughter of Nick’s former client asks for help finding her missing father, eccentric inventor Clyde Wynant. When Wynant’s body is discovered, Nick is drawn back into the investigation, with Nora eagerly joining him. As the couple questions Wynant’s family, friends, and business associates, a tangled web of greed, deception, and murder begins to unravel.
Part of the The Thin Man Collection
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Trailer HD | The Thin Man | Warner ArchiveOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2019-07-11
Top Cast
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William Powell
Nick Charles
Myrna Loy
Nora Charles
Maureen O'Sullivan
Dorothy Wynant
Nat Pendleton
Inspector Guild
Minna Gombell
Mimi Wynant
Porter Hall
Herbert MacCaulay
Henry Wadsworth
Tommy
William Henry
Gilbert Wynant
Harold Huber
Arthur Nunheim
Cesar Romero
Chris Jorgenson
Natalie Moorhead
Julia Wolf
Edward Brophy
Joe Morelli
Edward Ellis
Clyde Wynant
Cyril Thornton
Tanner
William Augustin
Wynant's Butler (uncredited)
Polly Bailey
Janitress (uncredited)
Arthur Belasco
Detective (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 25, 1934
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$226K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
6.29x
+$1.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- W.S. Van Dyke
- Screenplay & Story
- Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich
- Original Score
- William Axt
- Original Title
- The Thin Man
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Production Budget
- $226K
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.4M
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Cosmopolitan Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
W.S. Van Dyke
Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Dashiell Hammett
William Axt
James Wong Howe
Robert Kern
Hunt Stromberg
Department Leadership Roster
Albert Hackett
Screenplay
Dolly Tree
Costume Design
James Wong Howe
Director of Photography
Robert Kern
Editor
Frances Goodrich
Screenplay
W.S. Van Dyke
Director
William Axt
Original Music Composer
Hunt Stromberg
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Thin Man.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Thin Man.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Thin Man
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Thin Man about?
Former detective Nick Charles has retired from police work, preferring a life of cocktails, parties, and relaxation with his wealthy wife, Nora. Their holiday is interrupted when the daughter of Nick’s former client asks for help finding her missing father, eccentric inventor Clyde Wynant. When Wynant’s body is discovered, Nick is drawn back into the investigation, with Nora eagerly joining him. As the couple questions Wynant’s family, friends, and business associates, a tangled web of greed, deception, and murder begins to unravel.
Who directed The Thin Man?
The Thin Man was directed by W.S. Van Dyke.
Who stars in The Thin Man?
The principal cast of The Thin Man includes William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell.
When was The Thin Man released and how long is it?
The Thin Man was released in 1934 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Thin Man?
The Thin Man had a reported production budget of $226K and grossed $1.4M at the worldwide box office (6.29 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Thin Man?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Thin Man was composed by William Axt.
Is The Thin Man based on a book or true story?
The Thin Man is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Dashiell Hammett".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Thin Man?
The Thin Man holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).