The comedy-mystery is a surprisingly successful and enduring subgenre of the mystery film. Movies like Murder by Death, Clue, and more recently Knives Out and Hail, Caesar!, as well as television shows such as Monk, Psych and Only Murders in the Building. One of the earliest examples of the comedy-mystery, The Thin Man, was so popular upon its release that it spawned five sequels. Like most sequels, they gradually deteriorate as they go along, but the first three or so are outstanding, and even the sixth one is a good watch. The constantly-drinking married couple, Nick and Nora Charles are endearing and fan-favorite characters to all who watch these movies.

Clyde and his daughter, Dorothy, discuss her upcoming wedding. After Clyde bids Dorothy adieu, he goes to his office and looks for a collection of bonds worth $50,000 that he intends to gift Dorothy for a wedding present. However, when he checks the safe, they are missing. He speaks to his secretary who admits to cashing them out, and currently only has $25,000 left. Clyde threatens to call the police if she does not come up with the remaining $25,000, and storms out. Dorothy approaches Nick Charles because he had previously worked a case for Clyde. Nick is now married to Nora, a wealthy heiress, and has given up the detective life for her sake. However, Nora is eager to watch her husband in action and helps convince him to take the case. When Clyde’s secretary is found dead, the case officially becomes a murder investigation. Nick interviews an informant named Nunheim, but when Nunheim briefly excuses himself, he makes a break for it to meet up with the murderer. When he arrives at the meeting place, Nunheim is shot and killed by a mystery man.

Nick goes to Clyde’s office at night to snoop around and discovers a fully-dressed skeleton under the floor. He calls the police and they assume the body is a man named Rosebreen, but Nick has another theory, so he invites several people, mostly suspects, to an elegant dinner party. At the dinner party, Nick explains that the skeleton is actually Clyde, killed because he discovered the murderer was embezzling from him. He then killed Julia, his accomplice, and then Nunheim, who had accidentally witnessed Julia’s murder. As Nick recounts his story, Herbert, Clyde’s attorney, grows increasingly nervous and pulls a gun on Nick, but Nick, expecting it, knocks Herbert out. He is arrested for all three murders.

The mysteries in this series take a significant backseat to the dynamic between Nick and Nora and their banter. The couple are so fun and charming that you don’t even care that the suspects have little screen time. William Powell and Myrna Loy have great chemistry and they’re one of the few married couples in cinema that are genuinely happy and in love with each other. Not to mention, their dog, Asta, often steals the show.

Bonus Review: The Pink Panther series

A woman named Dala, who is the owner of the biggest diamond in the world called “the Pink Panther”, is staying at a ski resort. A debonair Englishman, Sir Charles Lytton, is also at the resort and he just so happens to be a renowned jewel thief called “the Phantom”. George, Charles’ American nephew also shows up the resort. French detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau, is on the Phantom’s trail, though he’s not doing a good job, because his wife is having an affair with the man and acting as a fence for the jewels he steals. At a costume party, both Charles and George attempt to steal the Pink Panther, but the diamond is not in its case. Clouseau finds both men near the diamond case and arrests them. At the trial, Clouseau is called as the sole witness and is asked a series of questions that imply that he is the Phantom. When he nervously pulls out a handkerchief to wipe his brow, the Pink Panther falls out. Clouseau is carried away to prison, but his newfound fame as the Phantom makes him a hit with the ladies.

Look, I’m gonna level with you, this is the plot line for the original movie, The Pink Panther. It’s without a doubt the worst one in the series that features Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau, but being the original and the fact that I can’t pick my favorite between the others, I thought I’d present it for my review. What makes the series so funny is all Peter Sellers. He plays the role of Inspector Clouseau a sort of endearing haughtiness that feels like it shouldn’t be possible. His ridiculous French accent and his equally ridiculous disguises make each one a laugh riot. The three best films in the series are The Return of the Pink Panther, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, and Revenge of the Pink Panther. I’d recommend any of the three to anyone, but if I had to give you just one to start with, The Return of the Pink Panther is the least cartoony of the three and the least convoluted plot.