Nick & Nora The Musical

Nick and Nora Charles, or Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Charles (which was changed from his father's original Greek name "Charalambides"), are fictional characters created by Dashiell Hammett in his novel The Thin Man. Nick is a retired private detective and Nora a wealthy society woman whose snobbish family thinks she has married beneath herself; Hammett modeled her on his lover Lillian Hellman. Their banter provides comic relief of the type that would later be seen between John Steed and Emma Peel in The Avengers. The couple have a pet dog, Asta, who is a female schnauzer (but became a male wire fox terrier when the book was made into a film)

The film adaptation of The Thin Man was a resounding success, and although Hammett never wrote another novel with Nick and Nora Charles, five movie sequels were produced.

In 1991, the Thin Man motion pictures were adapted into an unsuccessful Broadway musical, Nick & Nora with a book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., and music by Charles Strouse. It opened on December 8, 1991 and ran for just nine performances before closing on December 15. In his memoir Original Story By, Laurents confessed he didn't realize until the show was in previews that the characters of Nick and Nora Charles were identified so closely with William Powell and Myrna Loy that the public would have difficulty accepting anyone else in the roles.

Quotes & Pics from your Favorite Mister and Missus...Nick and Nora Charles

The Thin Man (1934)

Nora Charles: How many drinks have you had?
Nick Charles: This will make six Martinis.
Nora Charles: [to the waiter] All right. Will you bring me five more Martinis, Leo? Line them right up here.

Nora Charles: Pretty girl.
Nick Charles: Yes. She's a very nice type.
Nora Charles: You got types?
Nick Charles: Only you, darling. Lanky brunettes with wicked jaws.

Reporter: Say listen, is he working on a case?
Nora Charles: Yes, he is.
Reporter: What case?
Nora Charles: A case of scotch. Pitch in and help him.

Nick Charles: The important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, a dry martini you always shake to waltz time.

Nick Charles: How'd you like Grant's tomb?
Nora Charles: It's lovely. I'm having a copy made for you.

Nora Charles: All right! Go ahead! Go on! See if I care! But I thinks it's a dirty trick to bring me all the way to New York just to make a widow of me.
Nick Charles: You wouldn't be a widow long.
Nora Charles: You bet I wouldn't!
Nick Charles: Not with all your money...

Nick Charles: Now don't make a move or that dog will tear you to shreds.

Nora Charles: [to Asta, as Nick and Asta are going out on a case] If you let anything happen to him, you'll never wag that tail again.

Nora Charles: You asleep?
Nick Charles: Yes!
Nora Charles: Good... I want to talk to you.

[last lines]
Nora Charles: Nicky... Nicky, put Asta in here with me tonight.
Nick Charles: [chuckles] Oh, yeah?
[throws Asta in the other bunk]

After the Thin Man (1936)

Nick Charles: Come on, let's get something to eat. I'm thirsty.

Nick Charles: You see, when it comes to words like that, an illiterate person...
Polly Byrnes: Whaddaya mean "illiterate"? My father and mother were married right here in the city hall!
Nick Charles: [Leans toward Nora] Having a good time, Mrs. Charles?
Nora Charles: It couldn't be better.

Nora Charles: Are you packing?
Nick Charles: Yes dear, I'm putting away this liquor.

[Last line, as Nick gapes at Nora knitting baby boots]
Nora Charles: And you call yourself a detective.

Another Thin Man (1939)

Nora Charles: I got rid of all those reporters.
Nick Charles: What did you tell them?
Nora Charles: We're out of scotch.
Nick Charles: What a gruesome idea.

Policeman with flashlight: We're going to have to shoot that mutt. We'll never find him like this.
Nick Charles: Wait a minute. He's not going to come running up to a lot of strange men with lights. What do you think he is? A moth?

Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

Nora Charles: He's [ Little Nicky ] getting more like his father everyday.
Estrellita: He sure is. This morning he was playing with a corkscrew.

Nora Charles: Follow that car, quick!
Cab Driver: Yes, ma'am!
[Drives off after cab, leaving Nora and Molly on the sidewalk]

The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)

Nora Charles: Just imagine, four murders, all strangulations, no fingerprints, no clues. The police were baffled. All they had were four bodies. So what do they do? They dump the whole thing in Nick's lap. Nobody suspected Stinky, because he's been a cripple ever since some nitro went off while he was cracking a canister in Salt Lake. Everybody thought it was Rainbow Benny, but Nick knew that Rainbow was an expert with the shiv. Strangling was out of his line! Oh, smart Nick! Then they turned the heat on Slasher Martin who ran an dice joint down in China Town. But Slasher had an alibi with Squinty Burke and Studsy Green, so that took care of him. But all the time Nick was certain that Stinky Davis was the killer. Why? Because he had him pegged right away for a two timing double crossing rat! But the police listen to Nick? No! They told him it was a hophead theory, wild as loco buttons, because Stinky was a cripple and couldn't navigate. So Nick got the brushoff from the police. They cold-shouldered him right out. But did that stop him? No sir! He knew the case was hot and he was all set to start cooking on the front burner. He said: "Stinky, you're the two timing double crossing rat who strangled Knobs McClure and Reesy Joe and Horseface Dan and Denver Mike and then he turned his back on him. And the trick worked! Because Stinky got out of his chair and tried to strangle Nick with a piece of wire he had hidden in his mouth. But just in time, Nick turned around and gave him the old one-two and knocked Stinky colder than an ice flounder. Stinky wasn't a cripple at all! He was just using it to cover up his crimes. Now, what do you think of *that*?

Song of the Thin Man (1947)

Taxi Driver: Follow that car?
Nora Charles: Movie fan.
[ See Nora's line to Cab Driver in Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) above ]

Who is the 'Thin Man' in The Thin Man?

Just in case you didn't know The Thin Man is the 1934 American comic detective film stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, a flirtatious married couple who banter wittily as they solve crimes with ease. Nick is a hard drinking retired detective and Nora a wealthy heiress. Their dog, the Wire-Haired Fox Terrier Asta, played by Skippy, was also a popular character.

Completed in 1934 and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, the film was directed by W.S. Van Dyke from a script by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich; the screenplay was based on the mystery novel The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett, supposedly based on his relationship with playwright Lillian Hellman. Also appearing in the film were Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell, Cesar Romero and Porter Hall.

In 1997, the film was added to the United States National Film Registry having been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

But who is the 'Thin Man' in The Thin Man?

The "Thin Man" in the title of the film The Thin Man was actually the lead suspect, but the name was thought by virtually everyone to refer to Nick Charles, and it was used in the titles of the sequels, although no one ever called him that.

During TCM Thin Man Marathon I decided to tweet the question. Here some interesting answers from fellow TCManiacs:

Worth Retweeting

Do you know who the 'Thin Man' is in The Thin Man? Hint: its not Nick Charles y'all...tweet me

Kellykoop
8:49pm, Dec 31 from Power Twitter

@TCManiacs The Thin Man is Wynant

Show Conversation

CaftanWoman
8:44pm, Dec 31 from Web

@TCManiacs Everybody knows it's Edward Ellis. It's one of the first things I taught my children when they started talking.

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susanmifflin
8:39pm, Dec 31 from Web

@TCManiacs Cyde Wynant is the "Thin Man", not Nick Charles as everyone assumes from title.

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ShelfLifeCC
8:34pm, Dec 31 from Web

@TCManiacs Wynant.

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lhbflute
8:24pm, Dec 31 from UberTwitter

@TCManiacs Yeah, it's the victim!

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Preppy101
8:23pm, Dec 31 from Web

@TCManiacs William Powell.

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JennBailey
8:23pm, Dec 31 from TweetDeck

@TCManiacs Or did you want the actor's name? Edward Ellis. We are a Thin Man family.

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Apopheniac79
8:22pm, Dec 31 from Digsby

@TCManiacs the man missing a suit ;)

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JennBailey
8:20pm, Dec 31 from TweetDeck

@TCManiacs It's Clyde Wynant isn't it? The inventor?

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AyeQue
8:20pm, Dec 31 from Tweetie

@TCManiacs it isnt?

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To Live Is To Fly | 2009 TCM Memorial to Our Stars in Heaven

Annual video tribute beautifully produced by Turner Classic Movies. The background song is "To Live Is To Fly" by Steve Earle. We do not have long to wait to compare to the 2010 Oscar Memorial.

iCheckMovies! Movies + Lists OCD Website

PERFECT! iCheckMovies! A website that combines my obsession for movies with my compulsion to lists and categorize!

2009 TCManiacs Holiday Picks!

TCManiac's has picked favorite films that celebrate faith, family and festivity of the December holiday season.

TCManiacs Holiday Picks!

3 Thursday 8:00 PM Christmas Carol, A (1938)
In this adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale, an elderly miser learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve. Cast: Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart. Dir: Edwin L. Marin. BW-69 mins, TV-G, CC
9:15 PM Little Women (1949)
The four daughters of a New England family fight for happiness during and after the Civil War. Cast: June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford. Dir: Mervyn LeRoy. C-122 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS
11:30 PM Tenth Avenue Angel (1948)
A child of the tenements helps an ex-con find a new life. Cast: Margaret O'Brien, Angela Lansbury, George Murphy. Dir: Roy Rowland. BW-74 mins, TV-G, CC

12 Saturday
12:00 PM Christmas Carol, A (1938)
In this adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale, an elderly miser learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve. Cast: Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart. Dir: Edwin L. Marin. BW-69 mins, TV-G, CC

13 Sunday 12:00 AM Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ (1925)
In this silent film, a rebellious Israelite prince out for vengeance crosses paths with the Messiah. Cast: Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, Carmel Myers. Dir: Fred Niblo. BW-143 mins, TV-G

17 Thursday
8:00 PM Christmas In Connecticut (1945)
A homemaking specialist who can't boil water is forced to provide a family holiday for a war hero. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet. Dir: Peter Godfrey. BW-102 mins, TV-G, CC
10:00 PM Holiday Affair (1950)
A young widow is torn between a boring businessman and a romantic ne'er-do-well. Cast: Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey. Dir: Don Hartman. BW-87 mins, TV-G, CC

19 Saturday
12:00 PM Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
Young love and childish fears highlight a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family. Cast: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor. Dir: Vincente Minnelli. C-113 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS

20 Sunday
9:00 PM The King Of Kings (1961)
Epic retelling of Christ's life and the effects of his teachings on those around him. Cast: Jeffrey Hunter, Siobhan McKenna, Robert Ryan. Dir: Nicholas Ray. C-171 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format
12:00 AM The King Of Kings (1927)
In this silent film, Cecil B. DeMille directs an epic retelling of the life of Christ. Cast: H.B. Warner, Dorothy Cumming, Ernest Torrence. Dir: Cecil B. DeMille. BW-157 mins, TV-G
22 Tuesday
10:00 AM Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
In Russia before the revolution, a Jewish milkman tries to marry off his daughters who have plans of their own. Cast: Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey. Dir: Norman Jewison. C-181 mins, TV-G, CC, Letterbox Format

24 Thursday Christmas Eve 8:00 PM Remember the Night (1940)
An assistant D.A. takes a shoplifter home with him for Christmas. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi. Dir: Mitchell Leisen. BW-94 mins, TV-G
9:45 PM Christmas In July (1940)
An unemployed dreamer thinks he's won a big radio contest. Cast: Dick Powell, Ellen Drew, Raymond Walburn. Dir: Preston Sturges. BW-67 mins, TV-G
12:38 AM Short Film: Star In The Night (1945) A motel owner who has lost faith in more than just the humanity of mankind, is visited by a kindly stranger on Christmas Eve
1:00 AM Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
Young love and childish fears highlight a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family. Cast: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor. Dir: Vincente Minnelli. C-113 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS
3:00 AM In The Good Old Summertime (1949)
In this musical remake of The Shop Around the Corner, feuding co-workers in a small music shop do not realize they are secret romantic pen pals. Cast: Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall. Dir: Robert Z. Leonard. C-103 mins, TV-PG, CC, DVS
5:00 AM Shop Around The Corner, The (1940)
Feuding co-workers don't realize they're secret romantic pen pals. Cast: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan. Dir: Ernst Lubitsch. BW-99 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS
25 Friday Christmas Day
7:00 AM Little Women (1933)
The four March sisters fight to keep their family together and find love while their father is off fighting the Civil War. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Paul Lukas. Dir: George Cukor. BW-116 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS
9:00 AM A Christmas Carol (1938)
In this adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale, an elderly miser learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve. Cast: Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart. Dir: Edwin L. Marin. BW-69 mins, TV-G, CC
10:15 AM The Man Who Came To Dinner (1942)
An acerbic critic wreaks havoc when a hip injury forces him to move in with a midwestern family. Cast: Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Monty Woolley. Dir: William Keighley. BW-113 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS
12:15 PM Christmas In Connecticut (1945)
A homemaking specialist who can't boil water is forced to provide a family holiday for a war hero. Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet. Dir: Peter Godfrey. BW-102 mins, TV-G, CC
2:15 PM Little Women (1949)
The four daughters of a New England family fight for happiness during and after the Civil War. Cast: June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford. Dir: Mervyn LeRoy. C-122 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS
4:30 PM Holiday Affair (1950)
A young widow is torn between a boring businessman and a romantic ne'er-do-well. Cast: Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey. Dir: Don Hartman. BW-87 mins, TV-G, CC

Frank Capra's World War II ``Why We Fight'' 8-part series Free Online

Why We Fight is a series of seven propaganda films commissioned by the United States government during World War II to demonstrate to American soldiers the reason for U.S. involvement in the war. Later on they were also shown to the general U.S. public to persuade them to support American intervention.

Most of the films were directed by Frank Capra, who was daunted yet also impressed and challenged by Leni Riefenstahl's propaganda film Triumph of the Will and who worked in direct response to it. The series faced a tough challenge: convincing an only recently isolationist nation of the need to become involved in the war and ally with the Soviets, among other things. In many of the films, Capra and other directors spliced in Axis powers propaganda footage – recontextualizing it so it promoted the cause of the Allies instead.

Made from 1942 to 1945, the seven films range from 40 to 76 minutes in length, and all are available on DVD or online.

In 2000 the United States Library of Congress deemed the films "culturally significant" and selected them for preservation in the National Film Registry. Created by the U.S. Army Pictorial Services, the films are in the public domain; all of them are available for download at the Internet Archive.

• Why We Fight (Prelude to War)
• Why We Fight (The Nazis Strike)
• Why We Fight (Divide and Conquer)
• Why We Fight (The Battle of Britain)
• Why We Fight (The Battle of Russia [Part 1])
• Why We Fight (The Battle of Russia [Part 2])
• Why We Fight (The Battle of China)
• Why We Fight (War Comes to America)

Edge of the City | My View

Edge of the City is a 1957 drama film directed by Martin Ritt, starring John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. It was Ritt's debut film as a director. Robert Alan Aurthur's screenplay was expanded from his original script, staged as the final episode of Philco Television Playhouse, "A Man Is Ten Feet Tall" [October 2, 1955], with Poitier recreating his original role of "Tommy".

I love the fact that this movie realistically portrays a black couple as any other decent married couple without any stereotypes and without completely whitewashing them. Great movie. Unfortunately, its never discussed as part of Poitiers repertoire. Much better than the movie he won an Oscar for. Great performances for John Cassavettes, Ruby Dee and Jack Warden, also. The Ellen character was inconsequential. No fault to Kathleen Maguire. I felt like the role was written in JUST to provide love interest for Axel, so the "white guy" wouldn't be a third wheel. If you enjoyed "On the Waterfront" you will love this film. I thank TCM for bringing it to my attention.

Join TCM for the December Podcast

Join TCM for the December Podcast, an entertaining and in-depth look at this month's films by the passionate movie-fan employees of TCM. December highlights include a month long tribute to the Hollywood legend and Star of the Month: Humphrey Bogart, an evening of films personally selected by singer-songwriter Neko Case, and a spotlight on the films by Director Frank Capra who brought an unquenchable optimism to the screen. Employee favorites for the month include Holmes for Christmas, Director John Hughes' Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) part of our TCM Remembers, and New Year's Eve Thin Man Marathon.

Download Video and Audio Podcast»

Honored by "Friendly Blogger Award"

Fellow classic movie blogger Ingrid Bergman Life and Films has has passed on the "Friendly Blogger Award" to me! Thanks you so much! Really means alot to this newbie to the classic movie blogosphere coming from a veteran blogger I admire. To be ranked with such superior bloggers as Alfred Hitchcock Geek, La Vie En Rose, and Classic Forever.

It will be hard to choose from so many excellent blogs I follow, but I have it narrowed down to recognizing the folowing bloggers with the "Friendly Blogger Award"

VintageMeld.com who jump started @TCManiacs as one of my first followers. His posts often correspond with the TCM movie schedule as well.
Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog whose tweets I follow and post I often retweet.
Discovering Dirk Brogarde who made the discovery of this unique beautiful actor about the same time I did.
viv.and.larry.com OMG this website is just exquisitely designed and full of information.

Be sure to check out these wonderful contributors of classic film information.

Casablanca | Rick or Vick, What's Your Pick

Everyone knows the classic movie Casablanca, the tear-jerking story of a love triangle between charismatic Rick (Humphrey Bogart), beautiful Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), and the honorable Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid). I just have to put the question out there. Everyone knows who Ilsa chooses in the end, but I would like to hear which man you would have picked for Ilsa to choose in the end...and why.

My inquiry was inspired by the following blog post on the subject:

• Casablanca, 1942
• The Lesser Loved That I Love More: Rick Blaine vs. Victor Laszlo
• On love in Casablanca

Tweet me, comment or send me your posts on the subject

Worth Retweeting

TCManiacs
7:30pm, Nov 28 from HootSuite

@TCManiacs Blogs: Casablanca | Rick or Vick, What's Your Pick http://ow.ly/GzV8 Comment or tweet me #TCM

dizzheart
2:55am, Nov 29 from Web

@TCManiacs Vick: Just another macho European lounge suit lizard? Bet if he survived the war Ilse would have found he had mistresses :D

Poppetree
2:07am, Nov 29 from Web

@TCManiacs it could have been Yvonne, havent seen the movie in a long time

ADuralde
2:02am, Nov 29 from Echofon

@TCManiacs The movie does end with the two of them walking off into the fog. And there's that if-I-was-a-woman line.

dizzheart
11:26pm, Nov 28 from Web

@TCManiacs Casablanca: Isn't it curious that they don't let Ilse choose? Russell T Davies didn't make that mistake with Rose in Doctor Who!

dizzheart
8:48pm, Nov 28 from Web

@TCManiacs ... look the more noble of the two men, because Victor could have given up Ilse & he didn't - flawed selfish leader there?

dizzheart
8:47pm, Nov 28 from Web

@TCManiacs Vick: I'd feel wronger about betraying a promise than I would about giving up someone I desired. All structured to make Rick ...

dizzheart
11:26pm, Nov 28 from Web

@TCManiacs Casablanca: Isn't it curious that they don't let Ilse choose? Russell T Davies didn't make that mistake with Rose in Doctor Who!

dizzheart
8:48pm, Nov 28 from Web

@TCManiacs ... look the more noble of the two men, because Victor could have given up Ilse & he didn't - flawed selfish leader there?

ADuralde
7:55pm, Nov 28 from Echofon

@TCManiacs The real love story is Capt. Renault's for Rick.

dawns8
7:42pm, Nov 28 from Web

@TCManiacs Rick, definitely. W/Victor, she would have played 2nd fiddle to his other causes down the line.

Poppetree
7:39pm, Nov 28 from Web

@TCManiacs im going with the french chick who was singing the french anthem.

TCManiacs
7:30pm, Nov 28 from HootSuite

@TCManiacs Blogs: Casablanca | Rick or Vick, What's Your Pick http://ow.ly/GzV8 Comment or tweet me #TCM