Nick Charles is a retired detective and he once did a job for Clyde. Nick and his wealthy wife, Nora, live in San Francisco but are visiting New York City for Christmas, staying in a glamorous apartment-like suite at the Hotel Normandie. While in New York, Nick is pressed back into service by Dorothy, as her father, the "Thin Man" of the movie title, was supposed to have left on a secret business trip with a promise to return home before his daughter's wedding, but he has mysteriously disappeared. She convinces Nick to take the case, with the assistance of his socialite wife, who is eager to see him in action. What appears to be a missing person situation rapidly turns into a murder case, when Julia Wolf, Clyde's former secretary and girlfriend, is found dead, and evidence points to Clyde as the prime suspect. Dorothy refuses to believe that her father is guilty. Nick and Police Lieutenant Guild visit Nunheim, a petty criminal who regularly provides information to the lieutenant. After being pressed for information, Nunheim excuses himself momentarily, only to slip away down the fire escape. He arranges a meeting with the yet-unidentified murderer (someone whose face is not yet shown) to collect $5,000 from him. When Nunheim arrives, however, he is immediately shot four times and killed.
nick charles is a retired detective and he once did a job for clyde nick and his wealthy wife nora live in san francisco but are visiting new york city for christmas staying in a glamorous apartment-like suite at the hotel normandie while in new york nick is pressed back into service by dorothy as her father the "thin man" of the movie title was supposed to have left on a secret business trip with a promise to return home before his daughter's wedding but he has mysteriously disappeared she convinces nick to take the case with the assistance of his socialite wife who is eager to see him in action what appears to be a missing person situation rapidly turns into a murder case when julia wolf clyde's former secretary and girlfriend is found dead and evidence points to clyde as the prime suspect dorothy refuses to believe that her father is guilty nick and police lieutenant guild visit nunheim a petty criminal who regularly provides information to the lieutenant after being pressed for information nunheim excuses himself momentarily only to slip away down the fire escape he arranges a meeting with the yet-unidentified murderer (someone whose face is not yet shown) to collect $5000 from him when nunheim arrives however he is immediately shot four times and killed