Little Man, What Now? Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Little Man, What Now? Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 6, 2025

Frank Borzage's "Little Man, What Now?" (1934) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with critic Geoff Andrew; new program with critic Thirza Wakefield; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

We stay together, regardless of how difficult it gets.

"If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want." This famous quote from American writer and philosopher Elbert Hubbard will never lose its relevance because it spells out a timeless truth. Technology will continue to evolve and alter our lives in many different, unpredictable ways, but regardless of the changes, our health will remain the most important factor in them. If we are not healthy, everything else in our lives becomes meaningless.

Frank Borzage directed Little Man, What Now? ninety years ago and its story is about the truth from Hubbard’s quote. It is broken into multiple segments, each quite different, presenting undisputable evidence that Hubbard was spot on.

The location is post-war Germany during the Great Depression, but it just as easily could have been America. Hans (Douglass Montgomery) and Emma (Margaret Sullavan) learn that they will be parents and officially become a couple. However, they are forced to keep their union secret because Hans’ new boss, a dogmatic merchant, requires his employees to be bachelors. It is not long before Hans discovers why -- his boss has an unmarried, slightly loopy daughter, and she wants a husband. When Hans is selected to become her husband and turns down his boss’ official offer to join his family, he is promptly fired. Several weeks later, barely surviving and on the verge of using their final savings, Hans and Emma decide to relocate to Berlin, where Hans’ stepmother, Mia (Catherine Doucet), has arranged for him to work in an upscale clothing store. But upon arriving there, the newlyweds discover that there is no job waiting for Hans, and Mia plans to rent them a room at her place for one hundred marks, a small fortune. Holger Jachman (Alan Hale), a well-connected socialite and Mia’s part-time lover, steps up and helps Hans get employed. However, while working hard to meet expectations, Hans accidentally learns from his colleagues that his stepmother’s place has a special reputation among wealthy men who appreciate the company of beautiful ladies, and, together with Emma, immediately walks away from it. While feeling down and blaming himself for all the misery he and Emma have endured, Hans is visited by Lady Luck and then presented with a special gift.

Borzage places Hans and Emma in a depressing, often strikingly cruel environment where the weaker tend to self-destruct. Hunger, prostitution, alcohol, and drugs are right smack in the middle of it, and some of the weaker can be seen slowly drifting toward the abyss where their misery would end. And yet, Little Man, What Now? is one incredibly uplifting film.

It is such a film because Hans and Emma keep moving forward with the understanding that as long as they are healthy and supportive of each other, their dream of creating a happy family will come true. At the end, after the baby arrives, the two also acknowledge that their happiness is all the wealth they need.

Their realization, a restatement of Hubbard’s quote, is the culmination of multiple scarring but educational failures that are not specific to their environment. It is why Borzage moves the two through different places and scenarios, forcing them to interact with characters from diverse social backgrounds and completely different philosophies of life -- the process enabling this realization is always simple, always the same. While the performances and the quality of the visuals are quite good, it is this clarity that makes Little Man, What Now? a wonderful, timeless film.

Little Man, What Now? Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Little Man, What Now? arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release introduces a 2K restoration from the best surviving elements, prepared on behalf of Universal. I would describe the 2K restoration as very good, but immediately have to mention that some additional, mostly cosmetic work could have been done to ensure that the surface of the visuals is even healthier. In a few places, small blemishes and nicks remain. The rest I like a lot. For example, even though some small density fluctuations appear here and there, delineation, clarity, and depth remain pleasing throughout the entire film. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. The grayscale maintains very nicely balanced blacks, grays, and whites, too. There is no crushing, contrast boosting, flattening, etc. Image stability is good as well, though occasionally a bit of shakiness can be spotted. All in all, the 2K restoration gives the entire film an imperfect but still very good and attractive organic appearance. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Little Man, What Now? Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

For obvious reasons, the audio does not have the consistent fullness and roundness that audio tracks of more recent older films do. However, it is not plagued by any distracting age-related anomalies. While viewing the film, I had the volume of my system turned up quite a bit and did not notice any serious issues in the upper register. The dialog is clear and easy to follow.

Little Man, What Now? Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Fragility of Hope - in this new program, critic Geoff Andrew discusses the production of Little Man, What Now?, some of its themes, and Frank Borzage's life and career. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• A Ray of Hope - in this new program, critic Thirza Wakefield discusses the life and acting career of Margaret Sullavan, as well as her performance in Little Man, What Now?. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a Spanish language theatrical trailer for Little Man, What Now?. In Spanish, with English subtitles. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - presented here is a collection of vintage promotional materials for Little Man, What Now?.

• Script Gallery - presented here is a dialogue continuity script for Little Man, What Now?.

• Booklet - a limited edition illustrated booklet with a new essay by Rick Burin, archival interviews with director Frank Borzage, an archival profile of actor Margaret Sullavan, and technical credits.

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art for Little Man, What Now?.

Little Man, What Now? Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In Berlin, after they are cheated and mistreated, Hans and Emma appear doomed. But despite the many scarring failures and misery around them, the two never give up on each other and continue moving forward. The clarity with which they see the big picture and what matters the most in it helps them survive and discover happiness. Real life is a lot more complicated, its challenges more difficult to navigate? No, it is not. It is exactly as depicted in Frank Borzage's Pre-Code film. Some people simply need plenty of time to see the big picture, what matters the most in it, and start behaving accordingly. I loved this film. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.