The Thin Man Films
Asta is primarily known for his namesake role in the "Thin Man" movies.
Asta was the ever-present brainy canine sidekick who played alongside Myrna Loy and
William Powell in the popular detective comedies. The characters for the Thin Man films
were based on the the 1933 novel "The Thin Man" by Dashiell Hammett. It's
interesting to note that in the book, the dog is a actually a schnauzer.Hammett was a terrifically talented writer and quite an interesting
character in his own right. He authored several popular novels including the wonderfully
intriguing Dain Curse, the Glass Key, and The Maltese Falcon which was first adapted to
film in the 1930s, and again in the 1940s. The latter of these film adaptations
starred Humphrey Bogart and is considered by many to be one of the essential film
classics.
The Thin Man films were a huge success with audiences in the thirties, and it's easy to
see why. They are escapist films of the highest caliber that have engrossing stories,
witty banter, and top-notch acting to boot. Audiences today can't help but envy Nick
& Nora Charles, and what's not to love? They're fabulously wealthy, madly in
love, and seem to do whatever the hell they want. They sleep till noon, always have
cocktails on hand, get tangled up in wonderful adventures, and seem to have a very sexy -
and very genuine - relationship. To the folks in the 1930s who had just endured the
Great Depression, escaping into the carefree lives of Nick & Nora Charles must have
been pure bliss.
Endless cocktails and abundant wealth aside, Nick and Nora Charles
presented a picture of the kind of married domestic life people really wanted - and still
want - to have. So many films of that era painted an unrealistic, sickeningly sweet, and
utterly unbelievable two-dimensional picture of romantic love. Nick and Nora were
different. Although the theatrical "Thin Man" comedies are anything but
realistic, on some level Nick & Nora seemed real. They didn't just coo about how
much they loved one another, they bickered and had opinions and disagreed. As a
result, their marriage and their love for one another seemed all the more wonderful and
true. The Thin Man movies accomplished what so many others made under the rules of
the oppressive MPAA motion picture code could not - they depicted a marriage that was
vibrant, connected and interesting.
And then there was that dog Asta...
Nick and Nora's above-average lives wouldn't be complete without their above-average
dog, Asta. Asta found clues, created diversions to get Nick & Nora out of tough
situations, and generally added that little extra something that made the Charles'
life complete. In the Thin Man movies, Asta is as much a part of the family as Nick and
Charles, and seems to be just as clever and alert.
Asta strikes a chord with dog lovers in these films because he characterizes all the
wonderful things we love about dogs. He's loving, goofy, intelligent, and a
protector. He's their companion, ally, and loyal friend. He truly is one of
the family. Watching these films, it's easy to forget that Asta the dog isn't really Nick
& Nora's dog - he's a talented performer acting on cue for the camera, who repeated
his actions over and over in take after take along with the rest of the actors until the
director called "It's a print!"
The Thin Man was the basis for six movies, a radio series, and a television series that
ran in the late 1950s. The role of Asta was played by one of Asta's relatives in the
television program.
To find Thin Man movies and other movies featuring Asta, click here for Asta's movies on VHS, or click here for Asta's
movies on DVD.
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