Post by Salzmank on Sept 16, 2021 21:18:35 GMT
I was especially tickled by the info about "justly forgotten" author Carolyn Wells (thanks for the link), who happens to share my family name. No relation, far as I know; an aunt did an extensive family tree some years back, and all those in that branch of the family came from Oklahoma rather than New Jersey. No relation to the one associated with Fargo either, more's the pity, but it did turn up a connection to both presidents Harrison (the first of which, William Henry, died in office only 31 days into his first and only term; typical family underachiever)!
Totally, irrelevant to anything, I know, but I have so little else at this juncture to contribute.
About that "Poirot-accuses-everyone-before-revealing-true-killer gambit," I remember it being something of a staple of the Thin Man films; not accusations per se but, as Nick would build his case for the assembled suspects, he'd direct questions to each one, barking out their name in accusatory tones, invariably prompting alarmed widening of the eyes and you-can't-pin-this-on-me protestations of innocence. By the fourth film, I think it was (Shadow Of the Thin Man), they were comfortable enough to even poke fun at it when, in the middle of Nick's long-winded revelations, Nora pleads, "Nicky, I can't stand it anymore...is it me?”
Oh no, if Carolyn Wells does in fact turn out to be your relative, I take back all the mean things I said about her! Fleming Stone really is the greatest detective in history! It’s not at all laughable that Aunt Jane felt the need to dress in drag to capture the murderer of that rich millionairess (not a redundancy) Janet Converse, who as she wore her polka-dotted beach pajamas was offed by poison syringe under an umbrella with gigantism. And it’s an impeachable and brilliant piece of deduction that the killer was in fact that beautiful blonde Eunice Church, obviously (to Mr. Stone and Aunt Jane) a diabolical murderer because of her curved fingers and large earlobes.
And yes indeedy, I love that part of a Thin Man movie—and that Nora line in Shadow, the best thing in the movie. Myrna Loy is absolutely adorable saying it.