Asta
Asta is primarily known for his namesake role in the "Thin Man" movies. Asta was the ever present brainy canine sidekick who played alongside William Powell (Nick) and Myrna Loy (Nora) in the popular detective comedies. The characters for the Thin Man films were based on the the 1933 novel The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. It's interesting to note that in the book, the dog is a actually a schnauzer.The Thin Man films were a huge success with audiences in the thirties, and it's easy to see why. They are escapist films of the highest caliber that have engrossing stories, witty banter, and top-notch acting to boot. Audiences today can't help but envy Nick & Nora Charles, and what's not to love? They're fabulously wealthy, madly in love, and seem to do whatever the hell they want. They sleep till noon, always have cocktails on hand, get tangled up in wonderful adventures, and seem to have a very sexy and very genuine relationship. To the folks in the 1930s who had just endured the Great Depression, escaping into the carefree lives of Nick & Nora Charles must have been pure bliss.
Asta is the cute little wire-haired terrier that delighted movie audiences in such films as Bringing Up Baby, The Awful Truth and, of course, the popular "Thin Man" movies. Asta wasn't merely a furry prop in the films he starred in, he was a central part of the action and a star in his own right.
Today, more than seventy years after his screen debut, Asta the dog is still loved and adored. Thanks to stations like Turner Classic Movies and new DVD releases of classic films, new generations are coming to know and appreciate the magic of Asta's performances.
Asta was immensely popular with audiences in the thirties and forties. So popular in fact, that many smitten fans wanted a clever little companion like Asta to call their own. Unfortunately, this surge of interest then led to an over breeding problem for Asta-like terriers. Asta's charm still holds strong with dog lovers, and the name "Asta" remains a popular name for dogs to this day.
Asta is sometimes referred to as "Skippy," and was credited as Skippy in the 1939 film Topper Takes A Trip. Asta's birth name was Skippy, but it was changed to Asta after the first Thin Man film was released. Some fans feel strongly that Skippy is the "real" name, and therefore the proper name to use, while others prefer Asta, which is the name by which he is best known. From all accounts, the canine star was comfortable answering to both.
.jpg)
The popularity of the "Thin Man" movies led to a "Thin Man" television series in the 1950s. The role of Asta was not played by the same dog that made the role popular in the films. The television role was portrayed by one of his canine relatives.
Asta's owner was the dog trainer Henry East. He was also trained and worked by Frank Weatherwax.
Endless cocktails and abundant wealth aside, Nick and Nora Charles presented a picture of the kind of married domestic life people really wanted and still want. So many films of that era painted an unrealistic, sickeningly sweet, and utterly unbelievable two-dimensional picture of romantic love. Nick and Nora were different. Although the theatrical "Thin Man" comedies are anything but realistic, on some level Nick & Nora seemed real. They didn't just coo about how much they loved one another, they bickered and had opinions and disagreed. As a result, their marriage and their love for one another seemed all the more wonderful and true. The Thin Man movies accomplished what so many others under the rules of the oppressive MPAA motion picture code could not. They depicted a marriage that was vibrant, connected and interesting.
And then there was that dog Asta...
Nick and Nora's above average lives wouldn't be complete without their above average dog. Asta found clues, created diversions to get Nick & Nora out of tough situations, and generally added that little extra something that made the Charles' life complete. In the Thin Man movies, Asta is as much a part of the family as Nick and Nora and seems to be just as clever and alert.
Asta strikes a chord with dog lovers in these films because he characterizes all the wonderful things we love about dogs. He's loving, goofy, intelligent, and a protector. He's their companion, ally, and loyal friend. He truly is one of the family. Watching these films, it's easy to forget that Asta the dog isn't really Nick and Nora's dog. He's a talented performer acting on cue for the camera, who repeated his actions over and over in take after take along with the rest of the actors until the director called "It's a print!"
The Thin Man was the basis for six movies, a radio series, and a television series that ran in the late 1950s. The role of Asta was played by one of Asta's relatives in the television program.
1934 - The Thin Man (as Himself)
1936 - After The Thin Man (as Himself)
1937 - The Awful Truth (as Mr. Smith)
1938 - Bringing Up Baby (as George)
1939 - Topper Takes A Trip (as Mr. Atlas) credited as "Skippy"
1939 - Another Thin Man also released as Return Of The Thin Man (as Himself)
1941 - The Shadow of the Thin Man (as Himself)
1945 - The Thin Man Goes Home (as Himself)
1947 - Song of the Thin Man (as Himself)
