A delightful slice of nostalgia

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2012)

I am a big fan of The Thin Man series, and connected instantly with Valentin's pencil thin mustache, cocky little smirk (in the first half of the movie), and the dog! Of course, the story line is very different. It is a simple story really. Boy at the pinnacle of his career meets struggling girl and gives her a helping hand. Then boy meets girl once again, this time as he is going downhill and she is climbing up. This midpoint is captured rather literally although still prettily on the screen with a set of staircases with Valentin coming down after a disappointing business meet and an upbeat Peppy bouncing up the steps. I won't go on with the rest of the story so as not to play a spoiler. It is an old fashioned love story - you will come out with a broad smile.
A note on B&W silent cinema - no sound, little animation or special FX - with so little to work with, the best directors of the time wove magic on the screen. And this retro gem of a movie does the same. Comedy, drama, and romance all come together in a clever mix. The acting was top notch - the two main actors were superb. The movie swept me up and took me back in time into the 1920s and 1930s Hollywood as old superstars of the silent era gave way to the new talking stars.
Catch it in the movie halls if you can.