Films similiar to The Thin Man series with Powell and Loy?

December 9, 2023 12:58 PM

Hi all, I am a huge admirer of The Thin Man series with William Powell and Mryna Loy and I love detective films and tv shows as well. I am wondering are there any similar films or series that are kind of like The Thin Man? They both had wonderful chemistry on screen as well.

I did enjoy Double Indemnity and a lot of Bogart's detective/film noir kind of films, but I am interested in more mystery with good chemistry, it doesn't have to be comedic, but something similar with that dynamic of the time.

posted by RearWindow to Media & Arts (16 answers total)

I didn't watch it, but I think the old Bruce Willis/Cybil Shepherd series Moonlighting was supposed to be in the same vein as The Thin Man series (which I also loved).

Remington Steele might work too.

(Your post title says films, but you do mention series in the question, so I hope these are OK.)
posted by FencingGal at 2:24 PM on December 9, 2023 [6 favorites]

My Man Godfrey! Carole Lombard and Clark Gable court and spark in a skewering of the moneyed class during the depression. Great dialog and wonderful supporting players, better even than in the Thin Man series.

The world lost an incredible comedienne when she died mid-career.
posted by citygirl at 2:42 PM on December 9, 2023 [12 favorites]

I correct myself - My Man Godfrey stars Carole Lombard and William Powell, the Thin Man himself!
posted by citygirl at 3:17 PM on December 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

It Happened One Night (Claudette Colbert and Clark Gâble) and The 39 Steps (Madeleine Carroll and Robert Donat) both showcase a similar chemistry - although the former may not have enough of a mystery element, it certainly sizzles.
posted by JJZByBffqU at 3:22 PM on December 9, 2023 [5 favorites]

Have you seen some of the non-Thin Man Powell and Loy movies? I highly recommend Libeled Lady in which Loy plays a socialite who is suing a newspaper for libel and Powell is the man the newspaper hires to make the lawsuit go away.
posted by Constance Mirabella at 3:29 PM on December 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: @citygirl Lombard was a brilliant actress and I love My Man Godfrey! Powell and her were married for a while before the film.
posted by RearWindow at 3:37 PM on December 9, 2023

Can you subscribe to the Criterion Channel? It has whole collections of noir classics 1, 2 many of which are in that lighter vein.

I also see Bell, Book and Candle there which should suit.

It's not there at the moment but you should definitely try His Girl Friday.
posted by nicwolff at 3:41 PM on December 9, 2023 [7 favorites]

Try screwball with Jean Arthur, eg The More the Merrier.

Aslant to this, Jenny Crusie has written a bunch of romance/mysteries with more or less obvious screwball sensibilities. Fast Women foregrounds the genre; Faking It has as much.
posted by clew at 4:22 PM on December 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

Alfred Hitchcock has some good entertaining films. Currently seen --
The Birds, To Catch A Thief, Vertigo, Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much.
Also, check classic mysteries starring Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, etc. Currently seen --
Roman Holiday, Charade, Wait Until Dark, Father Goose, Harvey.
posted by TrishaU at 4:56 PM on December 9, 2023

Response by poster: @TrishaU I love Hitchock, hence my username! Those are all wonderful films of his as well as the ones you listed below. Those are all excellent actors/actresses as well. Charade most definitely has The Thin man vibe.
posted by RearWindow at 5:01 PM on December 9, 2023 [1 favorite]

I can't recommend The Jewel Robbery enough. William Powell is delightful in everything he's in, and the two main characters have a very similar chemistry.

Also, and hopefully this isn't too far off base, but Night After Night with Mae West has similar chemistry and snippy dialogue. I love every single one of her movies, but this was my favorite. Also, His Girl Friday and Philadelphia Story.
posted by aquamvidam at 5:41 PM on December 9, 2023 [4 favorites]

Laura is one of my favorite old mysteries that I watch again and again, with Gene Tierney. Not a comedy at all, but nice and twisty.
posted by gideonfrog at 6:27 PM on December 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

The search term you are looking for is "Ray Milland."
Barbara Stanwyck made a few screwball comedies - not her best work but she manages. Professionalism and technique.
Seconding Jean Arthur and don't forget good ol' tragic Veronica Lake.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 6:29 PM on December 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

Barbara Stanwyck made a few screwball comedies - not her best work but she manages.

Gasp. I hope you're not referring to the early 40s classics like "The Lady Eve"? Which btw might scratch the OP's itch, tho it's not a mystery for the audience, just for Hank Fonda's character.
posted by NorthernLite at 7:21 PM on December 9, 2023 [4 favorites]

Also The Mad Miss Manton
posted by brujita at 1:47 AM on December 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Barbara Stanwyck - Christmas in Connecticut. My mom's favorite Xmas movie. I can't personally say it's as great at Thin Man, but it's the same fast paced dialog comedy from the same era, and it is a good Xmas flick.
posted by SoberHighland at 7:30 AM on December 10, 2023 [2 favorites]