Little Man, What Now?

Remarkably faithful adaptation of a truly great novel, though obviously a bit politically defanged (especially in the ending). Fallada saw nazism coming, Borzage tones that down and focuses on the human drama of day-to-day scraping-by and trying not to give up hope. Montgomery is a bore, but Sullavan and a good supporting cast more than carry the movie.

Star Rating: ★★★★1/2

What an odd film. Frank Borzage portrays Germany's between-war depression with such a dreamy positivity. So corny, so jolly, so far from reality. Yet it's done with such full hearted artistry that it in some strange way works! I still don't know what to make of it. It's poetry, I guess.

Sullavan is as charming as ever and the supporting cast is pretty good, but I found Montgomery in the lead to be ineffective. He holds the film back from greatness, but it still largely succeeds in spite of him. It's a great depression era script that balances humanity with a social conscience and brings joy and laughter without undermining the the seriousness of the themes underlying the film, typical Borzage really. It has wonderful visual moments as well, and on the whole I enjoyed it a lot.

It's a great film made horrifying by the looming, unseen specter of Nazism, which answers the titular question.

Escapism swamped Hollywood during the thirties. No one seemed to want a film they could relate to, and this allowed to Borzage to work under the radar and create pieces that are both timely and timeless, as if specifically crafted for the future generations of film enthusiasts, and not the marketable public.