Many of the Hollywood moguls were sentimental about their European backgrounds and Carl Laemmle Jnr, whose father had emigrated from Germany and founded Universal Studios, thought "Little Man, What Now?" would make (with Frank Borzage in the director's chair) a topical but romantic drama. The book, by Hans Fallada, had already been turned into a German movie. Margaret Sullivan and Douglass Montgomery were to be the stars. Opinionated, stage trained Sullivan had a very low opinion of Hollywood and her movies in general but this was a film she always liked. Apparently there was not much rapport between her and Montgomery but fortunately it didn't show on the screen. "Little Man, What Now" had a lot in common with D.W. Griffith's "Isn't Life Wonderful" (1924) as it attempted to show young Germans coping with the depression caused by World War 1.
Johannes (Douglass Montgomery) has a problem - he is employed by Emil Kleinholtz (DeWitt Jennings) who only employs single men so his plain daughter Marie (Muriel Kirkland) can find a husband. But Johannes is married already to the luminous Lammchen (Margaret Sullivan) and soon to be a father, so he must keep it a secret. Eventually he is found out and so begins the desolate search for a job. There is a gorgeous scene where Lammchen goes to the amusement park and when Johannes finds her on the merry go round she confesses that she has been too scared to go home - because she eat all their tea (salmon) on the way home.
Meanwhile Lammchen has written to Johannes' stepmother and they soon find themselves living with her in Berlin. It is not the wonderful opportunity they had hoped for - she charges them exorbitant rent, the job she promised is not forthcoming and Lammchen finds herself having to fend off Holger Jackman's playful advances. Because he is played by Alan Hale, you know that underneath he is just a good hearted scoundrel and they find, in him, one of their few friends in the big city. Johannes finds a job in a department store, but once again his employment is in jeopardy. An uppity salesman (Monroe Owsley, in the type of role he played so well) sees an advertisement in the paper - "Discreet Evenings - Ladies Supplied" and as it is Johannes' address, he makes a snide remark about Lammchen. Johannes explodes as he realizes it is his stepmother!!! An afternoon with an egotistical actor (Alan Mowbray) who has come to the store not to buy but to "do research for a role" is the last straw and Johannes quits. Lammchen finds cheaper lodgings but for Johannes it is the start of a deep depression and months of joblessness, until the chance meeting of a good friend and the birth of their son shows him that life is there to be lived.
I though Douglass Montgomery was absolutely brilliant in the role. He bought so much sensitivity and pathos to his role of the life discouraged Johannes who has only the unwavering love of Lammchen to pull him through. It seems the love of a good woman can make you do anything. Douglass Montgomery's career was far more patchy than Sullivans. It seemed for every excellent role he played ("Waterloo Bridge" (1931), "Little Women" (1933)) he was then cast in some lack lustre parts ("Music in the Air" (1934), "Lady Tubbs" (1935)). Even though his movie career petered out - he never stopped acting and had a fulfilling career.
Highly, Highly Recommended.
Johannes (Douglass Montgomery) has a problem - he is employed by Emil Kleinholtz (DeWitt Jennings) who only employs single men so his plain daughter Marie (Muriel Kirkland) can find a husband. But Johannes is married already to the luminous Lammchen (Margaret Sullivan) and soon to be a father, so he must keep it a secret. Eventually he is found out and so begins the desolate search for a job. There is a gorgeous scene where Lammchen goes to the amusement park and when Johannes finds her on the merry go round she confesses that she has been too scared to go home - because she eat all their tea (salmon) on the way home.
Meanwhile Lammchen has written to Johannes' stepmother and they soon find themselves living with her in Berlin. It is not the wonderful opportunity they had hoped for - she charges them exorbitant rent, the job she promised is not forthcoming and Lammchen finds herself having to fend off Holger Jackman's playful advances. Because he is played by Alan Hale, you know that underneath he is just a good hearted scoundrel and they find, in him, one of their few friends in the big city. Johannes finds a job in a department store, but once again his employment is in jeopardy. An uppity salesman (Monroe Owsley, in the type of role he played so well) sees an advertisement in the paper - "Discreet Evenings - Ladies Supplied" and as it is Johannes' address, he makes a snide remark about Lammchen. Johannes explodes as he realizes it is his stepmother!!! An afternoon with an egotistical actor (Alan Mowbray) who has come to the store not to buy but to "do research for a role" is the last straw and Johannes quits. Lammchen finds cheaper lodgings but for Johannes it is the start of a deep depression and months of joblessness, until the chance meeting of a good friend and the birth of their son shows him that life is there to be lived.
I though Douglass Montgomery was absolutely brilliant in the role. He bought so much sensitivity and pathos to his role of the life discouraged Johannes who has only the unwavering love of Lammchen to pull him through. It seems the love of a good woman can make you do anything. Douglass Montgomery's career was far more patchy than Sullivans. It seemed for every excellent role he played ("Waterloo Bridge" (1931), "Little Women" (1933)) he was then cast in some lack lustre parts ("Music in the Air" (1934), "Lady Tubbs" (1935)). Even though his movie career petered out - he never stopped acting and had a fulfilling career.
Highly, Highly Recommended.