Little Man What Now? (1934)

Set in Germany, a young man (Douglass Montgomery) is fired for marrying his sweetheart (Margaret Sullavan, luminous as usual) instead of his boss's daughter (Muriel Kirkland). He moves his pregnant wife to Berlin where he gets a job as a sales clerk. But their lives only seem to get more difficult as they struggle to exist against an indifferent world. Based on the novel by Hans Fallada (previously filmed in Germany the year before) and directed by Frank Borzage (A FAREWELL TO ARMS). The quality of Borzage's output in the 1930s was erratic. Despite some flaws, this is one of his better movies of the era. Borzage had dealt with a depression era romance in MAN'S CASTLE (1933) the year before and while this film isn't as successful as that one, it's still a potent look at the overwhelming struggle of a young couple to survive in an often apathetic society. While some characters are unconcerned like the protagonist's money greedy mother (Catherine Doucet), they are offset by the kindly characters like the furniture maker (Christian Rub). Alas, the film is compromised by Montgomery who gives an awkward performance, I found him stiff and almost wooden. Then there's the deus ex machina which comes out of nowhere and ties everything up too neatly. With Alan Hale, Alan Mowbray and Mae Marsh.