Little Man, What Now?

Released May 1, 1934

1h 31m

Romance

List

83%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

79%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Hans (Douglass Montgomery) and Emma Pinneberg (Margaret Sullavan) are a newly married couple living in rural Germany. In search of fortune, the pair set out for Berlin, moving in with Hans' stepmother, who works with the shady Holger Jachman (Alan Hale). After Jachman finds him a job, Hans discovers that his stepmother is running a brothel, and that Jachman has eyes for Emma. Leaving the house, the pair struggles to find solid ground as Hans looks for work to support his pregnant wife.

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Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

For Douglass Montgomery as the Little Man, the only logical comment is, So what -- which comment may as well be enlarged to include the whole lagging story.

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

Little Man, What Now is not one of Director Borzage's best pictures but it has the qualities of intelligence, honesty and observance which are indelibly part of his style.

Jul 20, 2020

Full Review

Dan Callahan

Slant Magazine

Maybe it's hindsight, or maybe it's Borzage's talent, but Little Man, What Now? does manage to suggest what was happening within this embattled, darkening country.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 26, 2006

Full Review

Anne Brodie

What She Said

Borzage's great attention to detail in pre-War Germany (shot on the Universal lot) foreshadows with its portrayal of misery, starvation, and economic failure, the rise of someone like Hitler who said he could fix everything.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 14, 2022

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

Margaret Sullavan and Douglass Montgomery make this tale of young love and poverty one of the most poignant films of the season.

Jul 22, 2019

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Borzage's Berlin Alexanderplatz

Feb 29, 2012

Full Review

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acsdoug D

A decent enough story and a good performance from Margaret Sullivan

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/29/23

Full Review

Ken R

Legendary American born director Frank Borzage was a master at romance set in difficult situations. He specialised in stories set in Germany just before or during the build-up to WW11 (The Mortal Storm '40 - Three Comrades ‘38) In this interesting pre-code drama he's following two young lovers in 1930s Germany - as they hide the fact they are newly married and expecting a child. The young man (Douglas Montgomery) is keeping his secret to protect his current job - that for various reasons demands he's single. The settings (outdoor and indoor) are a delight to the eye, even when they are living in a stable! This is life as raw as it can be for two young newlyweds living in the glow of their own love—within a rapidly changing pre-war German landscape. Prolific veteran cinematographer Norbert Brodin (known for several classic Noir dramas including "The Kiss of Death" '47) who, with a combination of fine art and set direction; create a dreamlike poetic look for this thoughtful and offbeat film that deserves to be better known. Highly recommended for lovers of vintage dramas that highlight a historical time gone by, and do so with a special flair. Also, for the truly remarkable, unforgettable Margaret Sullavan.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/26/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Borzage's Berlin Alexanderplatz

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Seldom can you go wrong with Borzage! And Sullavan, for that matter.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Beautiful romance. One of Borzage's best films about love conquering the external forces of the outside world. Not as soft focused and fairytale-ish as Man's Castle or Mannequin, but still a wonderful film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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Frank Borzage

Director

Margaret Sullavan

Emma 'Lammchen' Pinneberg

Douglass Montgomery

Hans Pinneberg

Alan Hale

Holger Jachman

Catherine Doucet

Mia Pinneberg

DeWitt Jennings

Emil Kleinholz

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Synopsis

Hans (Douglass Montgomery) and Emma Pinneberg (Margaret Sullavan) are a newly married couple living in rural Germany. In search of fortune, the pair set out for Berlin, moving in with Hans' stepmother, who works with the shady Holger Jachman (Alan Hale). After Jachman finds him a job, Hans discovers that his stepmother is running a brothel, and that Jachman has eyes for Emma. Leaving the house, the pair struggles to find solid ground as Hans looks for work to support his pregnant wife.

Director: Frank Borzage
Screenwriter: Wm. Anthony McGuire
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 1, 1934, Original
Release Date (DVD): Oct 2, 2013
Runtime: 1h 31m