PygmyLion January 04, 2026 05:45 AM
Member since November 12, 2022
Directed by Frank Borzage from a novel by Hans Fallada.
This movie deals with a young couple Hans and Emma Pinneburg (Robert Montgomery and Margaret Sullavan), living on the edge of poverty in Germany. The movie has sort of 3 scenarios. In the first one, Hans and Emma have just gotten married. Hans has to hide his marriage in order to keep his job as a clerk for a corn merchant - because the corn merchant is looking for a husband for his daughter. In the 2nd scenario, Hans and Emma move in with his stepmother, Mia Pinneburg (Catherine Douchet) in a rather fancy place. Hans gets a job as a salesman in a clothes store but isn't very good at it. His stepmother's friend, Holger Jachman (Alan Hale), takes a liking to Emma and helps them out. Hans' coworkers reveal to him that his stepmother's place is a house of ill repute. In the 3rd scenario, Emma finds them a loft in an elderly furniture salesman's place, Herr Puttbreese (Christian Rub). Hans has lost his job, but Puttbreese looks out for them. In the background of all this we occasionally see some of the unrest occurring in Germany at the time, but Hans avoids getting involved.
Sullavan is radiant in her role, and Montgomery is good in his. The supporting cast is pretty entertaining - especially Alan Hale. I give it an 8 (out of 10).
Hans makes friends with another clerk at the store, Herr Heilbutt (G.P.Huntley), who says he is a nudist.
I don't think I have run into anyone calling themselves a nudist in a 1930s or 1940s movie before.
Sort of a prophetic line:
Hans: "It [the world] changed one day back in 1914, and there has been blood in the air ever since."
The nudist scene was already very active in Germany in earlier times.
And the German movie adaptation of Hans Fallada's book is a year older than this 1934 USA version.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Man,What_Now%3F(1933_film)
Kleiner Mann, Was Nun? (1933) Comedian Harmonists
​​

This is a great little film and they're the perfect couple.
My password is password.

Thanks for the heads up. As I said before, Borzage didn't always get the best scripts, but I still always appreciated his sensitive approach to the material. It will be interesting if I feel the same about
Moonrise
.

I watched
Moonrise
a couple nights ago. I realized that I had seen it before. It is a good movie but not outstanding.

So glad to see another Borzage fan, PL. He had a real talent. I still haven't seen
Moonrise
, but I hope to get to it sometime soon. And I really liked
Lucky Star
, starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farell. I saw it just a few months ago on Tubi. Borzage made several films with Gaynor and Farrell. They were a good team.
And I hope you enjoy
Man's Castle
. It's special in so many ways.

I really like the scene where Borzage has Sullavan and Montgomery frolicking around outdoors. She in her light dress, showing her legs - lightly erotic.
Man's Castle

• Ack, now I'll have to amend my 6th academy awards list.
  The
  Mortal Storm
  and
  Three Comrades
  are with Margaret Sullavan again. Both good ones.
  I don't think I have seen
  Moonrise
  or
  Lucky Star
  , both sound interesting.

So glad to see your review of this, PL. I've seen it and loved it (and I agree with your rating, btw). Director Frank Borzage, a two time Oscar winner, is one of my favorite directors. I love his work even when the scripts aren't that good, because of his highly sensitive approach to everything. He's really a cinematic poet, something that I think this film reflects.
My favorite Borzage films (of those I've seen) are
Man's Castle, The Mortal Storm, 7th Heaven, History is Made at Night, Lucky Star, Three Comrades, Strange Cargo
and
Lilliom
.
Oh, now you've got me wanting to watch him again! I think my all time favorite of his films is
Man's Castle
, so maybe I'll give that another go. Or better yet, I should watch
Moonrise
, which I've been meaning to see for a long time and haven't gotten to yet. Thanks for the reminder.