'Thin Man' movies from 1934-47 are coming out on DVD

The "Thin Man" movies arrive on DVD for the first time next Tuesday, with the incomparable William Powell and Myrna Loy exchanging witticisms and barbs as only they could — such as this exchange, from the first film in the series:

Powell: "I'm a hero. I was shot two times in the Tribune."

Loy: "I read where you were shot five times in the tabloids."

Powell: "It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids."

In 1934, Powell and Loy made their first three films together — the crime thrillers "Manhattan Melodrama" and "Evelyn Prentice," and the comedy-mystery "The Thin Man."

Based on a novel by the great Dashiell Hammett, "The Thin Man" casts Powell as Nick Charles, a wisecracking detective who gave up the game when his wife, Nora (Loy), came into money. Now they live the high life, though he still mingles with his old low-life buddies. (And he swills martinis as if they are bottled water, and he's a long-distance runner.)

Nick also still cracks wise, but Nora can give him a run for his money.

In the initial film of the franchise, Nick gets dragged into a murder mystery, and Nora — and their terrier, Asta — find themselves dragged along with him. Nick is generally reluctant to pursue such matters, but Nora becomes positively addicted, and it is her character who drives the mystery-solving in most of the films.

The chemistry between Powell and Loy was so palpable that the director informed the studio that these two were made for each other onscreen and should be paired often. Fortunately, the studio listened, and they appeared in no less than 14 films together — including the six "Thin Man" movies.

By the way, "The Thin Man" title does not refer to Nick Charles but to the first film's chief suspect, who's gone missing. But it was sort of adopted by Nick for the sequels, and no one seemed to care.

• "The Complete Thin Man Collection" (Warner, 1934-47, not rated, b/w, $59.92, seven discs).

— "The Thin Man" (1934) introduces us to William & Myrna as Nick & Nora, who are in New York for Christmas. And it's easy to see why audiences loved them. The witty repartee between two married people who are obviously crazy about each other takes center stage, and the murder mystery is secondary. Maureen O'Sullivan co-stars, and the film was shot in just 12 days (or 16, depending on your source). It also earned four Oscar nominations, including best picture. (This is the only film in the series that has previously been on DVD.)