William Powell : Powell Wasn't THAT Thin

Powell Wasn't THAT Thin

In one of those hilarious WB cartoons that spoof movie stars WP is walking towards the viewer. Then he turns to his left and his body is one thin line. Then he turns to his left again--and his body looks complete again--and he enters a restaurant. He gets out of the restaurant and walks towards the viewer. Then he turns to his right, and his body is once again a thin line, this time with a very full belly.

God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)

Re: Powell Wasn't THAT Thin

He had some weight on him after a few years.

Re: Powell Wasn't THAT Thin

Could it have been because he starred in The Thin Man series? Yes, I know. Nick Charles was not "the thin man" in the book or movie but that's how the studio decided to promote the series. Similar to The Pink Panther series. The Pink Panther wasn't Inspector Clouseau, but a diamond.

How do the angels get to sleep when the Devil leaves his porch light on?

Re: Powell Wasn't THAT Thin

Wynant was the thin man not Nick Charles. After the first film, which is from Dashiell Hammett's book (he only wrote The Thin Man), MGM used the name for the sequels and he became the franchise so to speak.




You ain't got a license 7ec to kill bookies and today I ain't sellin any. So take your flunky and dangle

Re: Powell Wasn't THAT Thin

Actually, Powell's character was only officially designated as "The Thin Man" in the title to the fifth movie "The Thin Man Goes Home". The second and third movies were titled "After the Thin Man" and "Another Thin Man" which still seems to be a call back to the actual Thin Man, Wynant. The fourth film "Shadow of the Thin Man" could be interpreted as referring to Nick Charles but it's really pretty non-specific. In any event, MGM went for title recognition, leaving all that aside and simply named all of the sequels with variations of the original title, whether they actually made sense or not.
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