MovieChat Forums > The Thin Man Goes Home Discussion > What is Brogan?!?

What is Brogan?!?

posted 15 years ago by StratasFan
5 replies | jump to latest

Does anybody know what Brogan is supposed to be? Is he an undercover agent? They make it obvious that he is not really a greeting card salesman. If anyone knows, I would love to know. Thanks.

[–] altheyankee-1 14 years ago

I gathered from the movie that Nick was sent to his hometown to uncover some espionage.

I also gathered from the movie that Brogan is an undercover agent working with Nick. Hope this helps.

[–] [email protected] 13 years ago

It appears that some very intersting (and certainly clarifying) details were left on the cuttng room floor. While on the train to Sycamore Springs, Nora asks Nick why he wants to go back after all this time. He gives a lame and not very specifc reply.

Also on the train, we meet Brogan who is working for Nick in some kind of undercover role (I always felt that Brogan was one of Nick's shady acquaintances who was trying to go straight, but we are not told) -- so we now know that Nick is going to visit his parents more tha just to say hello. Later we find Brogan watching the Charles House and following Nora. But what is he looking for or looking our for?

Still later, Nick uncovers the espionage ring and Dr. Charles is quite proud of him and that pride wraps up the movie -- but:

1. We never learn if Nick knew about the espionage and that was why he went to Sycamore Springs. Who asked him to get involved? What was he told?

2. We never learn why Brogan was involved by Nick. Clearly it is related to the first question, but no clarification is contained in the final cut.

Are there any old timers or trivia buffs out there who may have the answers?

I have not found the answer in any of the books I have read on Bill Powell, Myrna Loy or the series in general

[–] FilmKoala 10 years ago

Yeah, it definitely feels like they cut out some important details. I enjoyed the movie but at times it feels all over the place.

[–] Soujurn 9 years ago

It seems to me if there was a suspicion of espionage that the FBI rather than Nick Charles would be working the case.
That Nick was going to his home town for more than a vacation is clear, but he takes his sweet time getting into it. Why else keep his knowledge Of Brogan secret?
Whether clarifying scenes were deleted or never shot is unknown. Perhaps a longer script was written, but they ran out of money and had to wrap production?

"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."
-Dennis

[–] fugazzi49 7 years ago

I thought maybe it was just me and I had missed something. I couldn't figure out exactly who Brogan was, why he was in town and why he was in the bushes at the Charles' house at least twice. It seemed he knew Nick like so many small-time crooks in the other films. but Nick himself was surprised to see him and laughed about his greeting card occupation. But Nick had no reason to hire him because he was just going home to visit his parents. Of course he was a comic element but what else I've never been able to figure. I hope somebody comes up with a definitive answer someday.