Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

William Powell: Nick Charles

Photos 

Quotes 

• Nick Charles : Well, gentlemen and ladies we have our murderer.

  Nora Charles : Nicky, I can't stand it! Was it me?

• 'Spider' Webb : Hiya Nick.

  Nick Charles : Hiya Spider.

  'Spider' Webb : Where ya' been? How come I ain't seen ya' around?

  Nick Charles : I've been around. Where you been?

  'Spider' Webb : I ain't been around.

  Nick Charles : No? In stir?

  'Spider' Webb : I was the victim of circumstances. The D.A. framed me, not knowin' I was guilty. Ain't that a coincidence?

  Nick Charles : Yeah. Spider, I want you to meet Mrs. Charles. Dear, this is Spider Webb.

  'Spider' Webb : You're Nick's wife?

  Nora Charles : Yeah. Ain't that a coincidence?

• Nora Charles : Let's see if you can pick one winner for me, right now.

  Nick Charles : What? A dress? Oh, sugar, winners all I pick nothing else as. Of course, here you are, right there. That's my favorite!

  Nora Charles : Oh, Nicky, that's a nightgown.

  Nick Charles : It's still my favorite.

• Nick Charles : Mommy, he's a great kid. I'm much obliged.

  Nora Charles : Oh, it was nothing. Any time.

• Nick Charles : Nicky, something tells me that something important is happening somewhere and I think we should be there.

  [cut to Nora with a cocktail shaker] 

• 'Link' Stephens : You're gonna see some great wrestling tonight.

  Nick Charles : How do you know? Were you at the rehearsal?

• Policeman : The last time I read about you, Mr. Charles, you was in New York, you was.

  Nick Charles : I were? I was?

  Policeman : Yes, you was.

• Nora Charles : Either I'm dreaming or I've lived through this before.

  Lieutenant Abrams : Funny how I meet you at all my homicides.

  Nick Charles : Well, we won't be at this one long.

• Lieutenant Abrams : What really worries me is that jockey.

  Nick Charles : Yes. Still dead, huh?

• Nick Charles : Now, Mommy, if any trouble starts, you dive right under the table. Major Sculley and I will join you there.

• Nick Charles : I want to know something about apartment 25C. What I want to know is, how long did Rainbow Benny live in that apartment?

  Greek Janitor : Oh, no long. He's move in last night at seven and he's a dead at ten.

• Nick Charles : I tell you what, you go home, cold cream that lovely face, slip into an exciting negligee...

  Nora Charles : Yes.

  Nick Charles : And I'll see you at breakfast.

• Claire Porter aka Clara Peters : You know you're really not like a detective at all, Mr. Charles. You don't pound the table or shout or threaten.

  Nick Charles : I'm not really a detective. I just use that as an excuse to get out of the house at night.

• Nick Charles : [to Claire Porter]  Don't look now, but your accent's showing.

• Nick Charles : The one thing about a murder case - is if you just let people talk long enough, sooner or later, somebody will spill the beans. Well, somebody has.

• Nick Charles : Oh, honey...

  Nora Charles : I'll be with you in two shakes of a cocktail.

  Nick Charles : Cocktail? Cocktail? I think I'll try one of those things.

• Nora Charles : Hey, what about me? I mean us?

  Nick Charles : Oh, this is a stag. Look, Mommy, you drink up some of your winnings. Ah, barkeeper, eh, bring Mrs. Charles 240 martinis, eh, we won't be long.

  Nora Charles : I've heard that before. Come on, Molly.

• [to the dog] 

  Nick Charles : Asta, you keep Mommy quiet.

• Nick Charles Jr. : Why don't you just put down the book and read the racing form?

  Nick Charles : Nicolas, you know, you're getting more like your mother every day. All right, Son-of-a-Gun is 40 to 1.

• Nick Charles : Why the detour?

  Claire Porter aka Clara Peters : None of your business! I'm not on trial!

  Nick Charles : Not yet.

• Nick Charles : You got all the luck. What'd you do? Swallow a horseshoe?

• Nick Charles : Lieutenant, I think perhaps we better have a little pow-wow in your office tomorrow.