Hands down, the best mystery and BIGGEST surprise ending in the series. The jokes and repartee are first class, lots of excellent supporting roles and by keeping a tight rein on the 'Thin Man Formula' it keeps everything fresh. You've got just enough drinking jokes (Nick's on the wagon because they're visiting his folks) but the scenes when his dad thinks he's drunk make up for it. Mercifully, they left Nick, Jr. at home - family stuff hurts the chemistry of Nick and Nora more than anything. Also,there is exactly the right amount of Asta. And of course, as everyone suspects, Asta is their 'real' child.
Not as many rough characters interacting with Nick in this one, but Nora herself inadvertently lapsing into criminal lingo as she tells the story about 'Stinky Davis' to her staid in-laws is even better! Also, you got the wonderful Edward Brophy, who specialized in comic gangster roles, posing as as the most improbable of 'greeting card salesmen' - his 'made up shop talk' is hilarious. And the great Anne Revere (later black-listed) acts to the hilt in a small but juicy dramatic role - you'd swear that 'Red Annie' was doing Brecht! I dare you to find one minute of Anne Revere on screen in ANY film in which she was not TOTALLY mesmerizing.
Director Thorpe was not quite 'One-Shot Van Dine' the best Thin Man director but he seldom puts his foot wrong. Boring camera placements and indifferent staging if you care about that, but when your listening to Nick and Nora sparring you don't really notice.
Not as many rough characters interacting with Nick in this one, but Nora herself inadvertently lapsing into criminal lingo as she tells the story about 'Stinky Davis' to her staid in-laws is even better! Also, you got the wonderful Edward Brophy, who specialized in comic gangster roles, posing as as the most improbable of 'greeting card salesmen' - his 'made up shop talk' is hilarious. And the great Anne Revere (later black-listed) acts to the hilt in a small but juicy dramatic role - you'd swear that 'Red Annie' was doing Brecht! I dare you to find one minute of Anne Revere on screen in ANY film in which she was not TOTALLY mesmerizing.
Director Thorpe was not quite 'One-Shot Van Dine' the best Thin Man director but he seldom puts his foot wrong. Boring camera placements and indifferent staging if you care about that, but when your listening to Nick and Nora sparring you don't really notice.