Little Man, What Now? (1934 film)
Little Man, What Now? is a 1934 pre-Code American drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Margaret Sullavan.[1] It is based on the novel of the same name by Hans Fallada. The novel had been turned into a German film the previous year. The film was a box office disappointment for Universal.[2]
Little Man, What Now? | |
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Film poster | |
Directed by | Frank Borzage |
Produced by | Carl Laemmle Jr. |
Screenplay by | William Anthony McGuire |
Based on | Little Man, What Now? (novel) by Hans Fallada |
Starring | Margaret Sullavan Douglass Montgomery |
Music by | Arthur Kay (uncredited) |
Cinematography | Norbert F. Brodin |
Edited by | Milton Carruth |
Production company | Universal Studios |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
In Germany in the 1930s, a young couple are struggling against poverty. Hans is a small business agent. He is happily married to Emma, whom he affectionately calls 'Lämmchen' (small lamb). They must keep their marriage a secret in order for Hans to keep his job, as his boss wants him to marry his daughter. Hans loses his job when the truth comes out. They move in with his stepmother in bustling Berlin to find success. Hans gets a small job in a department store. Things are okay until they find out that his stepmother is really a notorious madam and runs an exclusive brothel.
Cast
- Margaret Sullavan as Emma 'Lämmchen' Pinneberg
- Douglass Montgomery as Hans Pinneberg
- Alan Hale as Holger Jachman
- Catherine Doucet as Mia Pinneberg
- DeWitt Jennings as Emil Kleinholz
- G. P. Huntley, Jr. as Herr Heilbutt
- Muriel Kirkland as Marie Kleinholz
- Fred Kohler as Herr Karl Goebbler
- Mae Marsh as Frau Goebbler
- Donald Haines as Emil Kleinholz Jr.
- Christian Rub as Herr Puttbreese
- Alan Mowbray as Franz Schluter
- Paul Fix as Lauderbock
References
- Hall, Mordaunt. "Little Man, What Now?". New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
- D. W. (November 25, 1934). "TAKING A LOOK AT THE RECORD". New York Times. ProQuest 101193306.