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Blu-Ray : Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: January 18th, 2022 Movie Release Year: 1947

Song of the Thin Man - Warner Archive Collection

Overview -

A fitting swan song for an iconic series, Song of the Thin Man may not rival other entries in the franchise, but it's still an entertaining whodunit that gives William Powell and Myrna Loy one last hurrah as Nick and Nora Charles. The murder of a shady bandleader kicks off this jazz-infused mystery that's a bit more serious than previous Thin Man films. A winning transfer culled from the best preservation elements, solid audio, and all the extras from the 2006 DVD distinguish Warner Archive's Blu-ray presentation of this fond Thin Man farewell. Recommended.

At a charity gambling benefit aboard the S.S. Fortune, the tables are hot, the jazz is hotter and before you know it, a bandleader's body is growing cold. They're playing your song, Nick and Nora Charles! William Powell and Myrna Loy return for the sixth and final time as the married sleuths, rousting suspects out of bed for 4 a.m. interrogations while trying to fathom the bebop argot of '40s jazz jive. Speaking of their renowned screen chemistry, Loy once said, "It wasn't a conscious thing. If you heard us talking in a room, you'd hear the same thing. He'd tease me, and there was a sort of blending which seemed to please people." Decades later, people are still pleased. The melody of Song of the Thin Man and the entire beloved series lingers on.

Special Features:

  • NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE BEST PRESERVATION ELEMENTS
  • : M-G-M Passing Parade short "A Really Important Person"
  • Tex Avery Cartoon "Slap Happy Lion"
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Blu-ray Disc
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p AVC/MPEG-4
Length:
86
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.37:1
Audio Formats:
English: DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH
Special Features:
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date:
January 18th, 2022

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

All good things must come to an end, and when it comes to Hollywood franchises, most final chapters are mere shadows of the originals that spawned them. That's true of The Thin Man movies, too, but while Song of the Thin Man can't hold a candle to the first film in the series (and even a couple of its sequels), it's a respectable finale that honors the characters and stays true to the elements that made these classic whodunits not just popular, but beloved.

Debonair sleuth Nick Charles (William Powell) and his intrepid wife Nora (Myrna Loy) return for a sixth time in this comedy-mystery that takes place largely within Manhattan's jazz milieu. When a despicable, two-timing bandleader is gunned down while trying to steal money from a club owner to pay off his gambling debts, Nick springs into action to help find the cold-blooded killer. Nora and their trusty dog Asta provide assistance, but it's ultimately up to Nick to sift through the shady suspects, investigate a second murder, and put together all the puzzle pieces before the climactic reveal.

Like all of the Thin Man mysteries, Song of the Thin Man features a tightly constructed plot that hangs together upon review, but the story isn't as compelling and the script by Steve Fisher and Nat Perrin lacks the sparkle that defined so many of the previous installments. Much of the whimsy is gone, witty repartee comes at a premium, and most of the jokes revolve around Nick and Nora's lame attempts to use "hep" jazz lingo. The cocktails no longer flow freely and the decidedly middle-aged Nick and Nora aren't as agile as they used to be, but the couple still oozes charm, making it a pleasure to spend an hour and a half in their company.

Song of the Thin Man is still a comedy at its core, but under the by-the-numbers direction of Edward Buzzell it adopts a more serious tone than the other Thin Man films. Typical of the times, a noir-like style laces the proceedings, but the cynicism of the post-World War II era doesn't suit Nick and Nora, and maybe that's why this Thin Man episode would turn out to be the series' last.

Powell and Loy both look a bit weary but manage to rise above the mediocre material. In her autobiography, Loy doesn't mince words about her negative feelings toward the film. "Song of the Thin Man was a lackluster finish to a great series," she writes. "I hated it." Thankfully, she hides her disdain while on screen, and Powell keeps his chin up, too. The saddest thing about Song of the Thin Man is that it marks the 14th and final time the enduring duo would co-star together. The end of an era indeed.

A stellar supporting cast also enlivens the film. Eleven-year-old Dean Stockwell makes a cute Nick Jr., Keenan Wynn delivers a few pointed quips, a young Gloria Grahame provides some sizzle as a sultry torch singer (though her vocals are dubbed), and Patricia Morison (who would achieve stardom a year later on the stage in the original Broadway production of Kiss Me, Kate), Leon Ames (who also appeared in The Thin Man Goes Home, albeit in a different role), Jayne Meadows, Clinton Sundberg, and Don Taylor all assert themselves well.

Nick and Nora may not be as smart as Hercule Poirot or as edgy as Philip Marlowe, but they're way more fun and will forever stand as icons in the detective genre. Song of the Thin Man isn't their finest hour-and-a-half and doesn't live up to its sister films, but it's a breezy trifle that's worth a spin if you're a Thin Man fan.

 

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Song of the Thin Man arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu with music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.

Video Review

Ranking:

A brand-new 4K scan of the best preservation elements yields another stellar Thin Man transfer. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 rendering boasts excellent clarity and contrast, rich blacks, bright yet stable whites, and a vibrant grayscale that enhances depth and detail levels. Grain is well resolved, resulting in a silky picture that still resembles celluloid, top-notch shadow delineation keeps crush at bay during nocturnal scenes, and the typically glamorous MGM close-ups showcase fine facial features well. (Some crows feet and faint wrinkles remind us how much Powell and Loy have aged since the first Thin Man film 13 years before.) Costume and upholstery patterns are sharp, as are a couple of special effects process shots, and no nicks, marks, or scratches dot the pristine source material. The folks at Warner Archive didn't drop the ball on the final Thin Man transfer (not that I ever thought they would), and this top-notch effort nicely caps off one of the most popular series in Hollywood history.

Audio Review

Ranking:

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track supplies clear, well-modulated sound. A wide dynamic scale embraces all the highs and lows of the music score and jazz interludes without a hint of distortion, and all the dialogue is well prioritized and easy to comprehend. Sonic accents like gunfire and shattering glass are distinct and no age-related hiss, pops, or crackle intrude.

Special Features

Ranking:

All the extras from the 2006 DVD have been ported over to this Blu-ray release.

  • Vintage Short: A Really Important Person (SD, 11 minutes) - This installment of John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series features young Dean Stockwell and character actress Connie Gilchrist, both of whom appear in Song of the Thin Man, in this tale of a policeman's son who comes to realize what a great man his dad is.

  • Vintage Cartoon: Slap Happy Lion (HD, 7 minutes) - This clever, colorful Tex Avery cartoon chronicles how a crafty mouse terrorizes a brutish lion and turns him into a bundle of nerves.

  • Theatrical Trailer (HD, 3 minutes) - The film's original preview is presented in high definition.

Final Thoughts

The final film in the Thin Man series may not be one of the best, but it's still a stellar whodunit that keeps you guessing. The brisk mystery coasts on the charm of William Powell and Myrna Loy and features an impressive supporting cast that helps enliven a mediocre script. Another top-notch transfer from Warner Archive, solid audio, and all the supplements from the 2006 DVD make Song of the Thin Man a fitting swan song for a beloved franchise. Recommended.