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carokinkead's review against another edition
funny
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ramsfan1963's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
While the two novellas definitely read more like movie scripts than regular stories, they're still entertaining and you're kept wondering until the end who the killer might be.
sfstagewalker's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable and historically interesting, this collection on story treatments is enjoyable on its own terms — treatments for film adaptations that the author wasn’t interested in but also wasn’t satisfied with slapdash work (until the final treatment, that is). It feels largely like two first drafts, although it is implied in the introductions that this was not the case.
julesmathhart's review against another edition
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
karieh13's review against another edition
3.0
As a die-hard fan of the Thin Man movies, reading “Return of the Thin Man” was a wonderful experience. My husband and I have watched these fabulous movies too many times to count – and we own 5 of the 6. Even after dozens of viewings, I still find myself laughing at some of the dialogue.
Turns out that dialogue was true, down to the very word, to the novellas written by Hammett, who, of course, created the delightful characters of Nick and Nora Charles. Reading these two stories was like reading the movies. I could vividly picture William Powell and Myra Loy delivering the snappy lines and reacting to each other in the way that makes the movies so remarkable.
Because these were written as the basis for the screenplay, the reader is not allowed behind the scenes – we do not get to know the characters feelings or thoughts, other than the way we are told they react. On the plus side, the reader does get too look behind the curtain (a bit) in regards to the details about the making of the movies.
Dashiell Hammett created two of my favorite fictional characters and it was a great chance to get to experience their world again in a different way than what I have seen on the screen.
Turns out that dialogue was true, down to the very word, to the novellas written by Hammett, who, of course, created the delightful characters of Nick and Nora Charles. Reading these two stories was like reading the movies. I could vividly picture William Powell and Myra Loy delivering the snappy lines and reacting to each other in the way that makes the movies so remarkable.
Because these were written as the basis for the screenplay, the reader is not allowed behind the scenes – we do not get to know the characters feelings or thoughts, other than the way we are told they react. On the plus side, the reader does get too look behind the curtain (a bit) in regards to the details about the making of the movies.
Dashiell Hammett created two of my favorite fictional characters and it was a great chance to get to experience their world again in a different way than what I have seen on the screen.
danidep's review against another edition
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
academy252's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
2.0
This was more a collection of screenplays than a novel so they didn't quite read the way one might be used to enjoying.
Also there wasn't another Thin Man so the title was a little annoying.
Also there wasn't another Thin Man so the title was a little annoying.
slferg's review against another edition
5.0
This is the screen scenario for the sequels to The Thin Man - After the Thin Man and Another Thin Man. These are the scenarios wrote as the basis for the movies. The scenarios were altered somewhat to soothe the Production Code Administration that monitored what was fit for people to see. The censor did not like so much drinking and violence - he was not fond of the suggestive dialogue either. But the movies still adhere pretty closely to his script with only minor changes. They were fun to read.
Richard Layman, who presents these scripts, gives the background of the writing, with changes made to the scripts for the movies and interesting pieces of information here and there. Makes an interesting read.
Richard Layman, who presents these scripts, gives the background of the writing, with changes made to the scripts for the movies and interesting pieces of information here and there. Makes an interesting read.