Great Couples: Nick & Nora Charles

To some they are the adorable and hilarious sleuth duo played by brilliant actors William Powell and Myrna Loy in The Thin Man series of films from the 30’s and 40’s. To a few people they are the decadent and worldly crime solving duo from the Dashiell Hammett novel by the same name. I was a lucky kid who had parents who enjoyed classic movies like The Thin movies. This classy duo became pop culture icons thanks in part to the series of movies from 1934 to 1947. Then the character leaped to radio in 1941 and then to a tv series run from 1957-59. 

Nick and Nora’s romantic lives meshed with who done it story lines that created hilarious banter between the lovable couple. The author Hammett had great success with his earlier novels The Maltese Falcon and The Glass Key, both of which went on to become great movies in their own rights. The Thin Man series of films were a greater box office smash, the on-screen chemistry of Loy and Powell was magnetic. 

The Powell & Loy first came together in the movie Manhattan Melodrama which had them costarring in a love triangle with Clark Gable (I sense some sexual tension between Gable and Powell). Their next film together was The Thin Man and they would continue to appear together in 12 more films, which included 5 more Thin Man film. The series blossomed with new story lines and key featured side-kicks. First there was Asta (almost a baby name for us) the goofy, jumpy, crime scene sniffing wire fox terrier. In the novel, Asta was actually a schnauzer. Then in the 3rd film Nick and Nora welcome their new born son Nicky Jr. in to the family. Little Jr. would remain for the rest of the series. 

This duo is a great costume for the Show, Nick was alway dressed to the 9’s and Nora had some amazing outfit’s through the series.