At the beginning of the film, Nora and Nick - holding Asta on a leash - stroll down the train platform upon arrival in San Francisco. They talk to many people greeting them.
Film director Van Dyke plays a visual trick on his audience there. Hint: watch Nick and Asta's leash during that ~2-minute walk.
Who knows what's funny there?
Stupid!?! I never called you stupid! To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!
Well, anyone who has ever walked a dog knows immediately. They stop to mark every mail box, telephone pole, light post and tree that is in their path. :)
shareYeah! Especially when a dog just got off a train after a long trip.
I guess in the 1930s that keeping a pet in your Pullman sleeper was OK.
There was a similar scene in the original "Thin Man" when Nick and Nora take Asta for a walk and meet up with the Police Lt. as they are exiting the hotel door.
sharePersonally all the dogs scenes annoyed the hell outta me... Got me feeling I was watching Beethoven some scenes.
shareWow! Equating the Thin Man series and Asta with the Beethoven series. Let's see: Powell and Loy vs. Grodin and Hunt. Asta vs. Beethoven.
Geeesh!
Astra reminded you of a deaf composer?
shareWonderful, brilliant observation. Never noticed this before. Certainly made me smile. Congrats!
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Taking a dog on a train trip does make one wonder just where the dog relieved itself and who cleaned it up...
The same question can be asked about the film, The Thin Man Goes Home. On an overcrowded train, just where was Asta going to have bowel movements and still remain a secret from the train staff?
"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."
-Dennis
They probably didn't hide him from the train staff - these 2 people are rich - and probably paid extra for the luxury of having their own car and the ability to have Asta with them.
shareThey were referring specifically to The Thin Man Goes Home, when they attempted to hide Asta under Nora's coat so he could ride with them rather than in the baggage car (it was a day train; no private quarters). When they got caught, they went and rode in the baggage car with him (and some livestock) the rest of the way.
One of my faves. All done below screen level. Sort of a metaphor for how Hollywood treated references to homosexuality, racism, illegitimacy, etc. All sub rosa, out of the frame, a nod and a wink and an elbow in the ribs, nothing direct but alll understood by the audience.
shareTrue. This one was most likely caught by dog owners who were well familiar with animal behavior. They knew what would happen - multiple times! - after a dog is suddenly free from being cooped up "indoors".
Nick's loving tolerance of Asta's constant interruptions of the pair's elegant stroll down the train platform shows that actor's comedic talent.
It required great timing by both Nick and an out-of-frame crew member who retarded Asta's end of the leash at appropriate watering posts.
Director Woody Van Dyke was more than capable at creating a funny sequence that would have been missed by a large portion of his audience.
Directors of today wouldn't even consider inserting such a scene. But his was during the "Golden Era".
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