Garv’s Pick of the Week: The Thin Man (Warner Archive)
For the release week of July 30th:
Garv’s Pick of the Week: The Thin Man [Blu-ray / Warner Archive]: The Thirties saw hardboiled detectives and screwball socialites put away liquor with equal aplomb, so when the two genres were combined with 1934’s The Thin Man, it was a cocktail of explosive magnitude. This loose adaptation of the Dashiell Hammett novel featured William Powell as Nick Charles, a retired detective with a Herculean capacity for Scotch, and Myrna Loy as Nora, his equally swizzled socialite wife (as well as a Wire Fox Terrier named Skippy as their faithful dog, Asta). This popular screwball mystery spawned five sequels. While Blu-ray collectors would have preferred a six-film box set, the release of the first (and most celebrated) of the series is a reason for celebration.
Additional Titles of Interest —
Quatermass And The Pit [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: Fans of Britain’s legendary Hammer Studios also have reason to rejoice this week, as Scream Factory is releasing four Hammer titles. The Professor Quatermass films are the best of Hammer’s sci-fi efforts, and Quatermass and the Pit (1967) is the best of the best. It is smart, colorful, suspenseful, and thought-provoking. Fans of Dr. Who are strongly encouraged to pick up this release. Trust me. You’ll love it.
Quatermass 2 [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: The second of Hammer’s Quatermass trilogy is also being released by Scream Factory this week, which means that all three films are now available on Blu-ray. The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) was previously released by Kino Lorber. All three films are highly recommended.
The Reptile [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: This is one of Hammer’s best horrors, despite some poor monster makeup.
Lust For A Vampire [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: This is the least of the Hammer horrors being released this week, but Hammer completists like myself will want to pick it up as well.
L'Argent [Blu-ray / Flicker Alley]: Flicker Alley is also releasing a couple of rare European silents this week. This is one.
Fragment of an Empire [Blu-ray / Flicker Alley]: This is the other.
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