Clyde Wynant (Edward Ellis) is visited by his daughter Dorothy (Maureen O'Sullivan) and her fiancé. She wants her father to come to the wedding. Though he is leaving town that night, he promises to be back in time for the wedding. After his daughter leaves, he decides to set aside some bonds as a wedding present. They are missing from the safe! Instantly he suspects his mistress, Julia (Natalie Moorhead). He finds her with another man, who promptly leaves when Wynant arrives. She admits taking the bonds, claiming that she earned it. He suspects she was not alone in taking the bonds and storms away to confront this mysterious person.
Three months later in the middle of the Christmas season, Nick Charles (William Powell) is drinking martinis at a bar when Dorothy approaches him. Nick is a former private detective who gave up the profession when he married Nora (Myrna Loy). However, Nick had worked for Clyde Wynant years ago and is glad to see Dorothy. She explains how her father has vanished and asks Nick to investigate. He declines. Even so, his reputation soon has reporters and police demanding to know what he has uncovered. Nora is eager for him to investigate, wanting to join in solving the mystery.
Based on Dashiell Hammett's final novel, this is a classic mystery with a winning cast. William Powell is terrific as the brilliant detective who is more often interested in his next drink than the next clue. Typically, such detectives are bachelors with a dark demeanor and a hard-boiled personality, but Nick is a happily married fellow with a sunny disposition. Very different. Myrna Loy is a smart aleck wife who urges Nick into the thick of things only to have him leave her behind. Their wisecracking toward one another is great fun and shows a truly satisfied couple.
Though I had seen this movie before, I had no idea who the murderer was when Nick invited all the suspects to a dinner party where he reveals all. Impressive. The movie was such a success that it spawned 5 sequels.
Highly recommended and great popcorn fun!
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