Ben & "Another Thin Man"

[Moraldo Rubini]

Ben introduced this morning's Thin Man movie explaining this was the first return of the couple to the series after a three year absence. The reason? He had cancer and was undergoing radium pellet treatment, leaving him too ill to work. So that confused me, as how does that explain the half dozen movies he did in those three years? He was too sick for Thin Men, but strong enough for The Emperor's Candlesticks (which I started to watch last night).

Addendum: On further research, I see he was diagnosed in 1938, and treatment lasted 6 months. Today's movie was released in the magical year of 1939.