William Powell: A True Gentleman

This is a fine video short (31 minutes) that Warner Brothers made to go with release of a DVD set of the Thin Man movies that starred William Powell and Myrna Loy. Michael York narrates this documentary with major commentary from film critics Rudy Behlmer and Leonard Maltin. Two other interviewees are film historian Emily Carman and Powell archivist Christian Anderson.

The film gives a little information about Powell's birth and family, that moved from Pittsburgh to Kansas City when he was 15 years old in 2007. But. It's mostly about his acting career that began with his attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Powell got his start on the stage at a time, Maltin notes, when acting was quite different than in modern times. Stage actors then learned about makeup and costumes, doing the work on themselves. Powell was in a number of stage productions, with parts that progressively got larger, but he played mostly villains. After getting at shot at the movies, he soon dropped the stage altogether.

Powell continued to be cast as villains through most of the silent era, getting a chance finally for a couple of comedies just before the advent of sound. His voice was good and he transitioned to sound. He got a couple of lead roles and in a break in filming one of those, Director W. S. Van Dyke noticed Powell and Myrna Loy having some fun and joking. He wanted them for his next project as Nick and Nora Charles. They were a smash hit as something new in cinema - a married couple having fun and solving mysteries.

Behlmer says that Powell will probably be remembered mostly for the Thin Man series, although he was very versatile and made many good films. Maltin points out the better films late in his career, including some great comedies. All of the commentors noted Powell's distinct film persona - he was debonair, sophisticated, highly confident, very witty, intelligent and elegant. He and Loy made a total of 14 films together (the narrator incorrectly says 16) - a Hollywood record that still stands.

While I agree that Powell was very diverse and made some very good dramatic and other roles, I think the 30 comedies he made in sound films make him one of the very best comedy entertainers in film history. Powell was one of the astute actors of Hollywood who retired while still in the limelight and with a superb role and film. He was 63 when he played a top supporting role as Doc in the 1955 WW II Naval story, 'Mister Roberts."

For as late as this video was made, it didn't have interviews or news clips with other actors or film personalities. That's common in many such videos when others talk about working with an actor. But this was 21 years after Powell's death at age 91, and 50 years after he had retired. So, there wasn't anyone around any longer who had worked with Powell. This video is a nice look at William Powell and his acting career.

For the record and those who enjoy William Powell or hilarious comedies, there are several films besides the Thin Man series that are great laugh fests. "Libeled Lady" of 1936 has a great cast, and Powell has a rather long scene, the very funniest fishing scene ever put on film. "Double Wedding" of 1937 has what I think is the most hilarious long ending scene with Powell and Loy amid a rambunctious crowd. "I Love You Again" of 1940 has me in stitches every time I see it - he's an amnesia sufferer who had two completely opposite lives that when they come together will bring down the house with laughter. Powell's scenes as a Scout leader have got to be the funniest ever put in film about scouting. "Love Crazy" of 1941 is one of the zaniest, funniest, uproariously hilarious films ever made. I make it the number one comedy film of all time. And, "The Senator Was Indiscreet" of 1948 is another uproariously funny film that I think is one of the very best political satires of all time, if not the best one.

There have been many good movie actors and actresses over time, and quite a few great actors among them. Not all have been winners of the top acting awards. William Powell never won a major award, although he was nominated for Academy Award Oscars three times. He won't be considered among the greatest actors of all time; but I don't see how he cannot be considered one of the greatest comedy and entertainment film actors in history. He definitely rates in that group that includes Danny Kaye, Cary Grant, Fred MacMurray, Melvyn Douglas, Clark Gable, Peter Sellers, Steve Martin, Fred Astaire, Ray Milland and some others.