The Thin Man (1934)
William Powell: Nick Charles
Photos
Quotes
-
Nick Charles : The important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, a dry martini you always shake to waltz time.
-
Nick Charles : Oh, it's all right, Joe. It's all right. It's my dog. And, uh, my wife.
Nora Charles : Well you might have mentioned me first on the billing.
-
Nora Charles : How many drinks have you had?
Nick Charles : This will make six Martinis.
Nora Charles : [to the waiter] All right. Will you bring me five more Martinis, Leo? Line them right up here.
-
Nora Charles : You know, that sounds like an interesting case. Why don't you take it?
Nick Charles : I haven't the time. I'm much too busy seeing that you don't lose any of the money I married you for.
-
Nick Charles : Hey, would you mind putting that gun away? My wife doesn't care, but I'm a very timid fellow.
Nora Charles : You idiot!
Nick Charles : [to the gunman] Alright, shoot! I mean, uh, what's on your mind?
-
Nick Charles : I'm a hero. I was shot twice in the Tribune.
Nora Charles : I read where you were shot 5 times in the tabloids.
Nick Charles : It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids.
-
Nick Charles : How'd you like Grant's tomb?
Nora Charles : It's lovely. I'm having a copy made for you.
-
Nora Charles : All right! Go ahead! Go on! See if I care! But I thinks it's a dirty trick to bring me all the way to New York just to make a widow of me.
Nick Charles : You wouldn't be a widow long.
Nora Charles : You bet I wouldn't!
Nick Charles : Not with all your money...
-
Lieutenant John Guild : You got a pistol permit?
Nick Charles : No.
Lieutenant John Guild : Ever heard of the Sullivan Act?
Nora Charles : Oh, that's all right, we're married.
-
Nora Charles : Pretty girl.
Nick Charles : Yes. She's a very nice type.
Nora Charles : You got types?
Nick Charles : Only you, darling. Lanky brunettes with wicked jaws.
-
Nora Charles : Nick? Nicky?
Nick Charles : What?
Nora Charles : You asleep?
Nick Charles : Yes!
Nora Charles : Good. I want to talk to you.
-
Nora Charles : Is that my drink over there?
Nick Charles : What were you drinking?
Nora Charles : Rye.
Nick Charles : [finishes her drink in one gulp and hands her the empty glass] Yes, that's yours.
-
Nick Charles : The murderer is right in this room. Sitting at this table. You may serve the fish.
-
Nick Charles : Now how did you ever remember me?
Dorothy : Oh, you used to fascinate me. A real live detective. You used to tell me the most wonderful stories. Were they true?
Nick Charles : Probably not.
-
Reporter : Well, can't you tell us anything about the case?
Nick Charles : Yes, it's putting me way behind in my drinking.
-
Nick Charles : Now my friends, if I may propose a little toast. Let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.
Nora Charles : You give such charming parties, Mr. Charles.
Nick Charles : Thank you, Mrs. Charles.
-
Nora Charles : Take care of yourself
Nick Charles : Why, sure I will.
Nora Charles : Don't say it like that! Say it as if you meant it!
Nick Charles : Well, I do believe the little woman cares.
Nora Charles : I don't care! It's just that I'm used to you, that's all.
-
[last lines]
Nora Charles : [In their two-berth sleeping car] Nicky... Nicky, put Asta in here with me tonight.
Nick Charles : [chuckles] Oh, yeah?
[Nick throws Asta in the upper berth. Nick leans down to kiss Nora. Asta covers his eyes with his paws. Last shot you see the train traveling off into the night as the soundtrack plays, "California, Here I Come."]
-
Nick Charles : Now don't make a move or that dog will tear you to shreds.
-
Nora Charles : [after Nick gets shot at] Do you want a drink?
Nick Charles : What do you think?
-
Nick Charles : Say, how did you people happen to pop in here?
Lieutenant John Guild : We hear this is getting to be sort of a meeting place for the Wynant family, so we figured we'll stick around just in case the old boy himself should show up. Then we see this bird sneak in, we decide to come up. And lucky for you we did!
Nick Charles : Yes, I might not have been shot.
-
Tommy : Say, I'm getting out of here.
Nick Charles : No, you stay here.
Tommy : If I stay, I know I'm gonna take a poke at him.
Nick Charles : Then I insist that you stay.
-
Nora Charles : Who is she?
Nick Charles : Oh, darling, I was hoping I wouldn't have to answer that.
Nora Charles : Come on.
Nick Charles : Well, Dorothy is really my daughter. You see, it was spring in Venice and I was so young, I didn't know what I was doing. We're all like that on my father's side.
Nora Charles : By the way, how is your father's side?
Nick Charles : Oh, it's much better, thanks. And yours?
-
Reporter : Why are you in town?
Nick Charles : My wife is on a bender. I'm trying to sober her up.
-
Tanner : Julia Wolf got me a job as her bookkeeper.
Nick Charles : Well, that's a hot one. Bookkeeper. Where did you ever learn bookkeeping?
Tanner : That last time you sent me up, I learned bookkeeping in Sing Sing.
-
Nora Charles : Is this true?
Nick Charles : I don't know.
Nora Charles : Then, why are you saying it?
Nick Charles : Its the only way it makes sense.
-
Nora Charles : [after the doorbell rings on Christmas Eve] Who's that?
Nick Charles : It's probably Santa Claus.
-
Nick Charles : [carrying a tray of drinks] Here's that man again! Ammunition! Highballs and cocktails - the long and short of it.
-
Morelli : I didn't knock Julia off.
Nick Charles : All right, you didn't.
Morelli : I ain't seen her in about three months. We was all washed up.
Nick Charles : Why tell me?
Morelli : I wouldn't have any reason to hurt her. She was always on the up-and-up with me; but, that dirty little Nunheim he got sore with her cause I clicked and he didn't! And he put the finger on me!
Nick Charles : Well, this is all swell brother; but, you're peddling your fish in the wrong market. I've got nothing to do with this.
-
Nora Charles : Back to California, huh?
Nick Charles : My soul woman, I give you three murders and you're still not satisfied.
-
Nick Charles : Whoever killed him was counting on one thing: that skeletons all look alike.
-
Nick Charles : C'mon in kid, shed the chapeau.
-
Nick Charles : While serving drinks at the Christmas party Highballs and cocktails, the long and short of it. That's a pun. The punster should be punished.
-
Nick Charles : [replying to inquiry as to what he knows] I don't know anything, I've been in California for the last four years.
-
Nick Charles : [Bringing out a tray full of cocktails] Ammunition! Come on, stock up.
Male Yuletide Reveler : Let-let this one ride, mate.
Nick Charles : You better! Hard times might catch you.
Female Yuletide Reveler : Nick, who are these amazing people?
Nick Charles : Oh, just a lot of old friends. Romans! Countrymen! What do you say?
Police Captain : This is like old times, Nick. Remember when we used to have 'em when we were flat broke.
Nick Charles : Oh, don't I.
Police Captain : Those were the good old days.
Nick Charles : Don't kid yourself. These are the good old days.
-
Tommy : [Toasting] Here's to you two.
Nick Charles : And here's to you two too.
[Hears the sound of a train whistle]
Nick Charles : Why the rat! He can't top us!
Dorothy : No!
Tommy , Nick Charles , Dorothy , Nora Charles : To-Toooooooo!
-
Nora Charles : [suffering from a hang-over] What hit me?
Nick Charles : The last martini. How 'bout a pick-me-up?
Nora Charles : No!
-
Nick Charles : [inviting MacCaulay in] What are you drinking?
Herbert MacCaulay : Oh, nothing, thanks. Nothing.
Nick Charles : Oh, that's a mistake.
-
Nick Charles : Haven't you heard the news? I'm a gentleman now!
-
Nick Charles : [singing] For tomorrow may bring sorrow, so tonight let us be - gay...
-
Nick Charles : I want to lie low until I get the whole dope. I'm not gonna go off half-cocked.
-
Nick Charles : Say, where'd you get that wristwatch?
Nora Charles : It's a Christmas present.
Nick Charles : Yeah? Who gave it to you?
Nora Charles : You did.
Nick Charles : [clears throat] Well, you must admit, I've got pretty good taste, haven't i?.
-
Nick Charles : Have you got a nice evening gown?
Nora Charles : Yes, I've got a Lulu. Why?
-
Nick Charles : Can't you get to sleep?
Nora Charles : No.
Nick Charles : Well, maybe you should take a drink. It will help you.
Nora Charles : No, thanks.
Nick Charles : Well, then maybe it will help if I took it!
-
Nick Charles : From now on they're going to think that every thin man with white hair is Wynant.
-
Nick Charles : Morelli, you knew Julia. Was she gypping Wynant?
Morelli : She don't say she is but I figure she is.
Nick Charles : Why do you say that?
Morelli : Well, once I wanted five grand. She give to me like that. Cash.
-
Lieutenant John Guild : Now, look here Charles I guess we're both of us going about this thing in the wrong way. Now, I don't want to get tough with you and I'm sure you don't want to get tough with me. There's just one more question I wanna ask you. Are you willing to swear to a complaint for this guy's pluggin' ya?
Nick Charles : Now, that's another one I can't answer now. Maybe it was an accident?
-
Nick Charles : Your guess is as good as mine, baby.