By Joan Amenn

Mr. and Mrs. Charles (William Powell, Myrna Loy) have just arrived in New York City for the holiday season and they are ready to party! However, there seems to have been a murder committed and Nick Charles is called out of retirement to solve it, mostly to amuse his wife. Noir, comedy and season’s greetings all mix uniquely in “The Thin Man” (1934) for those of us who like our holiday entertainment served over ice with a lemon twist. Powell and Loy would make five more films in this series but none were as frothy, and at times slightly naughty, fun as this one. Nora taking a pratfall with her arms full of gifts and Nick gleefully trying out his Christmas present like a small boy on the morning of the big day balance the suspense of sleuthing for the mysterious killer. And of course, who could forget Asta? A faithful, if not always courageous companion, the pampered canine is a film icon in his own right. Zippy dialog and perfect chemistry between the two leads make this a great watch anytime of year but no one throws a Christmas party dinner like Nick and Nora. The best thing to do is to break out the fancy cocktail glasses and settle in for a little noir style fun beside your Christmas tree and twinkling lights. Cheers!