The Thin Man (film) he almost takes the life of someone who knows too much. Cast notes: The film was based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett, released in January 1934. Hammett's novel drew on his experiences as a union-busting Pinkerton detective in Butte, Montana. Hammett based Nick and Nora's banter upon his rocky on-again, off-again relationship with playwright Lillian Hellman. MGM paid Hammett $21,000 for the screen rights to the novel. The screenplay was written by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich, who had been married for three years. Director W.S. Van Dyke encouraged them to use Hammett's writing as
The Man Who Changed His Name (1934 film) thoughts when gradually come to suspect that their intended victim, having since changed his name, is in fact a notorious killer from Canada. Eventually it transpires he was not the murderer, but is only using it as a trick to push his wife and her lover to reveal their deception out of fear. The Man Who Changed His Name (1934 film) The Man Who Changed His Name is a 1934 British crime film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Lyn Harding, Betty Stockfeld and Leslie Perrins. It was based on the play "The Man Who Changed His Name" by Edgar