Ever wonder what happens when a TV network tries to bottle lightning twice? Honestly, most of the time it just ends up in a messy puddle, but the 1957 revival of The Thin Man with Peter Lawford is one of those weird, slick artifacts of the 1950s that deserves a second look.
If you ask a classic movie buff about Nick and Nora Charles, they’ll start gushing about William Powell and Myrna Loy. And rightly so. Those two practically invented the "drunk and in love while solving murders" genre back in 1934. But by the late fifties, MGM decided it was time to move the martinis to the small screen. They tapped Lawford, the suave British-American who was basically the poster boy for effortless cool before the Rat Pack became a global obsession.
Why Peter Lawford as the Thin Man was a Big Deal
The thing you've gotta understand about the thin man Peter Lawford era is that it wasn't just a role; it was a career pivot. Lawford had been a child star and an MGM "pretty boy," but by 1957, he was looking for something with a bit more bite. He took on the role of Nick Charles, the retired detective who just can't seem to stop finding dead bodies in his penthouse.
Paired with Phyllis Kirk as Nora, Lawford had a mountain to climb. The shadow of William Powell was massive. Initial reviews were kind of brutal, to be honest. Critics thought Lawford was a bit too stiff, like he was trying too hard to be sophisticated. But as the show rolled into its second season, something clicked. He started leaning into the physical comedy. He loosened the tie.
The Dynamic (and the Dog)
The show stayed surprisingly true to the Dashiell Hammett vibe, even if the 1950s censors meant the drinking was dialed back a notch. You still had the banter, the high-fashion dresses, and of course, Asta.
Asta was the wire-hair fox terrier that basically stole every scene. Fun fact: Lawford actually liked the dog so much he ended up adopting one of the puppies from the line of "Asta" actors.
- The Setting: Instead of the Depression-era grit, we got 1950s New York glam.
- The Guest Stars: Because Lawford was Lawford, the show pulled in people like Nita Talbot and even Jack Albertson.
- The Music: The second season's theme by Pete Rugolo is a jazz masterpiece that basically defined the "cool detective" sound for a decade.
The Friction Behind the Scenes
Walter Winchell, the legendary gossip columnist, once dropped a bombshell that Lawford and Phyllis Kirk "made love like mad" for the cameras but wouldn't even speak to each other once the director yelled cut.
It’s one of those classic Hollywood paradoxes. On screen, they were the ultimate "couple goals"—charming, witty, and perfectly in sync. Off-screen? Total silence. Maybe that friction is what gave the banter its edge. Kirk was reportedly quite outspoken and politically active, while Lawford was deep in the orbit of the Kennedy family (he married Patricia Kennedy in 1954).
What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
People often assume the show was a flop because it only ran for two seasons (72 episodes total). That's not really the case. It was actually quite popular, but the late 50s were a chaotic time for TV. Shows were being shuffled around, and Lawford’s growing involvement with the Rat Pack—and eventually the 1960 Kennedy campaign—started taking priority.
Also, can we talk about the name for a second? The Thin Man wasn't Nick Charles. In the original book and movie, the "Thin Man" was the murder victim, Clyde Wynant. But by the time Lawford took the role, everyone just assumed Nick Charles was the Thin Man. Lawford embraced it. He looked the part—tall, lean, and looked like he’d never seen a carb in his life.
How to Watch It Today
Finding these episodes isn't as easy as hitting play on Netflix. They pop up on nostalgia networks like MeTV or Antenna TV occasionally. You can also find some episodes on the Internet Archive because a few have slipped into the public domain.
If you watch them today, the pacing feels fast—almost frantic. Each episode is about 25-26 minutes of pure plot and quips. It’s a time capsule of a version of New York that probably never existed outside of a studio backlot, but man, it looks fun.
The Lawford Legacy
Lawford’s Nick Charles was a bridge. He took the 1930s screwball detective and turned him into the 1960s playboy. Without this version of The Thin Man, it’s hard to imagine shows like Hart to Hart or even Moonlighting ever getting off the ground.
He proved that you could have a married couple who were actually friends and who actually liked each other's company, even if they were constantly stepping over corpses.
If you're looking to dive into the world of the thin man Peter Lawford, start by hunting down the "Robby the Robot" episode. Yes, the robot from Forbidden Planet actually makes a guest appearance. It’s peak 50s weirdness and shows exactly why this series, despite being overshadowed by the movies, is a total blast to rediscover.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Internet Archive for public domain episodes of the 1957 series to see the Lawford/Kirk chemistry firsthand.
- Compare Lawford’s performance in season 1 versus season 2; the "loosening up" of his acting style is a great lesson in television evolution.
- Look for the Pete Rugolo soundtrack on streaming platforms if you want to hear what 1950s "cool" actually sounds like.