The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

• Amazon Video Rent $2.99 · SD
• Apple TV Store Rent $2.99 · SD
• Fandango At Home Rent $2.99 · SD

Streaming availability powered by

1. 1

   Arrival in Sycamore Springs

   Nick and Nora visit Nick's parents in Sycamore Springs, where the locals treat Nick as though he's here on an official investigation. Nick denies being there to investigate, trying to keep things normal. The town's suspicion provides a tense backdrop for the unfolding events.

   Where

   Sycamore Springs, New England

2. 2

   Berton seeks Nick, then is shot

   Peter Berton, an aircraft factory employee, seeks out Nick but is shot dead before he can reveal anything. The murder signals a larger conspiracy and pulls Nick deeper into the case. The mystery tightens as key information vanishes with him.

   Where

   Berton's location

3. 3

   Autopsy uncovers the bullet

   Dr. Bruce Clayworth performs the autopsy on Berton's body and extracts a pistol bullet. The recovered bullet hints at a more sophisticated weapon and a planned killing. This discovery steers Nick toward a spy-driven motive behind Berton's death.

   Where

   Autopsy room

4. 4

   Nick is knocked out by Crazy Mary

   While Nick searches Berton's room for clues, he is knocked unconscious by Crazy Mary, the town's eccentric. Nora is left to piece together what happened from the sidelines. The disruption heightens the stakes and narrows the investigative path.

   Where

   Berton's room

5. 5

   Nora buys a pivotal painting

   Nora innocently purchases a painting as Nick's birthday gift. Seeing the painting brings back unpleasant memories for him, prompting her to donate it to a charity bazaar. The artwork's significance to the case begins to surface, linking art to espionage.

   Where

   Local shop

6. 6

   Draque shows interest in the painting

   Edgar Draque offers Nora a large sum for the painting, arousing Nick's suspicion about its true value. The offer hints at motives beyond mere art collection and points to hidden interests. The painting becomes a coveted item for more than decorative purposes.

   Where

   Edgar Draque's office

7. 7

   Helena Draque buys it; painting disappears

   Nick learns that Draque's wife Helena bought the artwork, but she is knocked out and the painting disappears. The theft deepens the mystery and suggests deliberate subterfuge by those involved in espionage. The missing painting becomes a critical clue.

   Where

   Draque residence

8. 8

   Crazy Mary, Berton's mother, found lifeless

   Nick discovers Crazy Mary is Berton's mother and goes to see her, only to find her lifeless body. The revelation ties the players together in a disturbing way and intensifies the danger surrounding the case. The investigation now has personal stakes for several townspeople.

   Where

   Crazy Mary's shack

9. 9

   Painting found in Mary's shack

   Nick's dog Asta locates the painting hidden in Crazy Mary's shack, reuniting the artifact with the mystery. This discovery strengthens the link between the painting and the espionage plot. It also suggests Mary’s place is connected to the hidden blueprints.

   Where

   Crazy Mary's shack

10. 10

    Suspects gathered at the father’s house

    Nick arranges to bring all suspects to his father, Dr. Bertram Charles, and uses his influence to facilitate the confrontation. The family setting becomes a strategic stage for pressuring confessions and exposing the spy network. The scene marks a turning point in the investigation.

    Where

    Dr. Bertram Charles's house

11. 11

    Fluoroscope reveals a hidden blueprint

    Using Dr. Charles's fluoroscope, Nick reveals a blueprint hidden beneath the painting's surface. The diagram is part of the specifications for a new aircraft propeller coveted by a foreign power. The reveal ties the case directly to national security concerns.

    Where

    Dr. Charles's lab

12. 12

    Berton’s fate and the murder weapon clue

    Berton had copied the blueprints and planned to confess, but was killed by the spies before he could reveal everything. Nick also brings in a World War II Japanese Nambu sniper rifle—belonging to Dr. Clayworth's brother—as a potential murder weapon, underscoring the reach of the conspiracy. The pieces suggest a coordinated cover-up.

    Where

    Berton's location / investigative setting

13. 13

    Leader revealed and the firing pin twist

    Nick identifies Dr. Bruce Clayworth as the leader of the spy ring, using Berton's bullet as a pivotal clue. Clayworth grabs the Nambu rifle and confesses to the murder, revealing a long-standing hatred for Nick. Nick had removed the firing pin from the rifle, preventing a fatal shot, and his father is left deeply impressed by the resolution.

    Where

    Dr. Bertram Charles's house