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Little Man, What Now? (1934)
Little Man, What Now? (1934) poster
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3.6

Little Man, What Now? (1934)

Drama, Romance • 1h 38m

Overview

A young couple struggling against poverty must keep their marriage a secret in order for the husband to keep his job, as his boss doesn't like to hire married men.

Director: Frank Borzage

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

No comparison available, but from track record, Indicator Blu-ray is likely better than Kino Lorber

Format

1080p Blu-ray

Featured Lists

External Links

Length

98 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

9 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

No comparison available, but from track record, Indicator Blu-ray is likely better than Kino Lorber

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
Length
98 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
9 months ago
Contributors

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Best English-Friendly:

Universal DVD

Upcoming Release:

Universal Blu-ray in October

Best Video:

Universal DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Universal DVD

Upcoming Release:

Universal Blu-ray in October

Best Video:

Universal DVD

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DVD
Best English-Friendly:

WB Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume 7 DVD

Upcoming Release:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume 7 DVD

Best English-Friendly:

WB Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume 7 DVD

Upcoming Release:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume 7 DVD

Lilly Turner poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Film Detective or Film Masters Blu-ray

Best Video:

Film Detective or Film Masters Blu-ray 4K restoration from 35mm Original Camera Negative

Best English-Friendly:

Film Detective or Film Masters Blu-ray

Best Video:

Film Detective or Film Masters Blu-ray 4K restoration from 35mm Original Camera Negative

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DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best Video:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best Video:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

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DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best Video:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best Video:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

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DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best Video:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best Video:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

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DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best Video:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Additional Info:

Restored but no release yet

Best English-Friendly:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Best Video:

Turner/Sony Columbia Pictures Pre-Code Collection DVD

Additional Info:

Restored but no release yet

This Is the Night poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray seems to be an old HD scan and doesn't look too good

Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray seems to be an old HD scan and doesn't look too good

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1080p Blu-ray
Upcoming Release:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray 4K scan from the 35mm B&W nitrate original negative and 35mm B&W composite fine grain

Upcoming Release:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray 4K scan from the 35mm B&W nitrate original negative and 35mm B&W composite fine grain

Moonrise poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Moonrise poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

A Farewell to Arms poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray with minimal encoding improvement compared with Kino Lorber Blu-ray see DVDBeaver caps 

Additional Info:

BFI has alternative ending as extras that's not present on Kino Lorber

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray with minimal encoding improvement compared with Kino Lorber Blu-ray see DVDBeaver caps 

Additional Info:

BFI has alternative ending as extras that's not present on Kino Lorber

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Bad Girl poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

I've Always Loved You poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Streaming (Amazon US)

Best Video:

Amazon US Streaming is from the 2018 UCLA restoration. Olive Films Blu-ray is from an older scan and quite rough. caps

Best Audio:

Olive Films Blu-ray is again rough, with distortion, crackle and other issues, but sounds much more natural. With some EQ the restored track can be significantly improved

Best English-Friendly:

Streaming (Amazon US)

Best Video:

Amazon US Streaming is from the 2018 UCLA restoration. Olive Films Blu-ray is from an older scan and quite rough. caps

Best Audio:

Olive Films Blu-ray is again rough, with distortion, crackle and other issues, but sounds much more natural. With some EQ the restored track can be significantly improved

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Best English-Friendly:

Carlotta France Blu-ray

Best Video:

Carlotta France Blu-ray. 4K restoration has no home media release yet

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Carlotta France Blu-ray

Best Video:

Carlotta France Blu-ray. 4K restoration has no home media release yet

Three Comrades poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Three Comrades poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

The Spanish Main poster
1080p Blu-ray
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Warner Archive Blu-ray

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Warner Archive Blu-ray

The Mortal Storm poster
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Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

The Shining Hour poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray, 4k scan

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray, 4k scan

Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray, 4k scan

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray, 4k scan

More from Kino Lorber

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray

Best Video:

Indicator Blu-ray is encoded by FiM and likely better than Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Indicator Blu-ray see comparison

Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray

Best Video:

Indicator Blu-ray is encoded by FiM and likely better than Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Indicator Blu-ray see comparison

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray

Best Video:

Indicator Blu-ray is superior to Kino Lorber transfer see caps. 2K restoration

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray

Best Video:

Indicator Blu-ray is superior to Kino Lorber transfer see caps. 2K restoration

Kindergarten Cop poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray > US Kino Lorber see comparison and caps

Kino Lorber has an exceedingly poor encode, only slightly improved by the DV layer.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Universal US Blu-ray
Dolby Atmos remix: Plaion DE 4K Blu-ray

Universal's BD uses the same transfer as the old LaserDisc and sounds a bit better than Plaion's, which has worse dynamics.

Plaion's Atmos remix is tastefully done and preserves the original mix's characteristics, the 5.1 track on Kino's release is overly aggressive and unbalanced.

Best English-Friendly:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray > US Kino Lorber see comparison and caps

Kino Lorber has an exceedingly poor encode, only slightly improved by the DV layer.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Universal US Blu-ray
Dolby Atmos remix: Plaion DE 4K Blu-ray

Universal's BD uses the same transfer as the old LaserDisc and sounds a bit better than Plaion's, which has worse dynamics.

Plaion's Atmos remix is tastefully done and preserves the original mix's characteristics, the 5.1 track on Kino's release is overly aggressive and unbalanced.

The Ringer poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best Video:

Kino Lorber US Blu-ray - Brit Noir: Collection I set

Best Audio:

Network UK PAL DVD

Both DVD and BD use the same transfer. Blu-ray is more cleaned up (hiss, clicks, pops) but loses detail in quiet moments due to noise gating and sounds less natural throughout.

The Ringer poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best Video:

Kino Lorber US Blu-ray - Brit Noir: Collection I set

Best Audio:

Network UK PAL DVD

Both DVD and BD use the same transfer. Blu-ray is more cleaned up (hiss, clicks, pops) but loses detail in quiet moments due to noise gating and sounds less natural throughout.

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber US / Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

1.85:1: Kino Lorber 4K  / Capelight 4K

1.66:1: Criterion 4K but low pass filtered

Comparison between the 4Ks, Criterion on the AR choice

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

Other discs have unnecessary filtering and sound worse, the difference isn't substantial but audible

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber US / Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

1.85:1: Kino Lorber 4K  / Capelight 4K

1.66:1: Criterion 4K but low pass filtered

Comparison between the 4Ks, Criterion on the AR choice

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

Other discs have unnecessary filtering and sound worse, the difference isn't substantial but audible

Fallen Angels poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2010 US Kino Lorber or 2012 UK Artificial Eye

Best Video:

2017 JP Kadokawa Blu-ray has the best encoding out of all the older discs.


Kino Lorber and Artificial Eye Blu-ray use the same master, between the two the PQ on Kino's release is slightly better, but the difference is negligible.

The 4K restoration (Criterion, 4K etc) are cropped to 2.35:1, have revisionistic colour grading and other changes.

Caps: old master, old master vs 4K restoration

Wong Kar-Wai on the framing:

With Fallen Angels, I have changed the format to cinemascope, because it was originally what I had intended to release the film in. When we were cutting the film, we accidentally turned the Steenbeck on anamorphic instead of standard. I felt that the film looked much more interesting because it enhanced the distance of the characters on top of the extreme wide angle that we shot on. Back then, it was impossible to shoot a film in standard and release it in anamorphic. With this restoration, we have successfully fulfilled this wish.

Fallen Angels poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2010 US Kino Lorber or 2012 UK Artificial Eye

Best Video:

2017 JP Kadokawa Blu-ray has the best encoding out of all the older discs.


Kino Lorber and Artificial Eye Blu-ray use the same master, between the two the PQ on Kino's release is slightly better, but the difference is negligible.

The 4K restoration (Criterion, 4K etc) are cropped to 2.35:1, have revisionistic colour grading and other changes.

Caps: old master, old master vs 4K restoration

Wong Kar-Wai on the framing:

With Fallen Angels, I have changed the format to cinemascope, because it was originally what I had intended to release the film in. When we were cutting the film, we accidentally turned the Steenbeck on anamorphic instead of standard. I felt that the film looked much more interesting because it enhanced the distance of the characters on top of the extreme wide angle that we shot on. Back then, it was impossible to shoot a film in standard and release it in anamorphic. With this restoration, we have successfully fulfilled this wish.

Jazz on a Summer's Day poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

FRA Carlotta Blu-ray: FiM encode. At least slightly better than the Kino see caps

Additional Info:

Carlotta ports over all special features from the Kino release, except the booklet essay. All specials are in English.

Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

FRA Carlotta Blu-ray: FiM encode. At least slightly better than the Kino see caps

Additional Info:

Carlotta ports over all special features from the Kino release, except the booklet essay. All specials are in English.

To Live and Die in L.A. poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

 Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray (damage removed, improved color/HDR, and best audio) or Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray (best compression but no damage removal and LaserDisc audio from Arrow)

Best Video:

Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray >
Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray  Kino Lorber US Blu-ray, see caps

Arrow has done additional cleanup work removing nearly all the damage in the transfer. They have massaged the color timing and HDR to try and improve what they could. The Capelight may have better encoding but it does not have these improvements. The Arrow encoding is solid and in motion there are no issues whatsoever. The Kino release has the damage and other issues plus frequent noise due to the lesser encoding.

Some scenes in the Arrow transfer are better, some better in the Capelight.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Arrow  4K Blu-ray or Image Entertainment LaserDisc
(Arrow is a port of the LD track, see spectrograms) This track has the best fidelity of any release but does have some channel bleeding baked in. The 2017 2.0 on the Arrow and Shout BDs was the Dolby Stereo original mix without channel bleeding but that had heavy noise reduction resulting in a very flat and underwhelming presentation. The surround winds up being lessened as well due to the processing. It's a tough choice between the two but the Image LD audio wins out because it hasn't been messed with and the impact is so unrestrained that no other version hits in the same way.

Capelight and old Arrow BD included the original stereo mix, but with excessive noise reduction rendering it much less detailed. Kino only included a painfully defective 2.0 track sourced from somewhere with limited fidelity, volume spikes and screechy high end which frequently ruins the music. The 5.1 remix on most modern release is a processed version that does not sound as good as it once did.

The best and most accurate of the 5.1 mixes is the original version from the 2003 Special Edition DVD in lossy AC3 form.

Best English-Friendly:

 Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray (damage removed, improved color/HDR, and best audio) or Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray (best compression but no damage removal and LaserDisc audio from Arrow)

Best Video:

Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray >
Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray  Kino Lorber US Blu-ray, see caps

Arrow has done additional cleanup work removing nearly all the damage in the transfer. They have massaged the color timing and HDR to try and improve what they could. The Capelight may have better encoding but it does not have these improvements. The Arrow encoding is solid and in motion there are no issues whatsoever. The Kino release has the damage and other issues plus frequent noise due to the lesser encoding.

Some scenes in the Arrow transfer are better, some better in the Capelight.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Arrow  4K Blu-ray or Image Entertainment LaserDisc
(Arrow is a port of the LD track, see spectrograms) This track has the best fidelity of any release but does have some channel bleeding baked in. The 2017 2.0 on the Arrow and Shout BDs was the Dolby Stereo original mix without channel bleeding but that had heavy noise reduction resulting in a very flat and underwhelming presentation. The surround winds up being lessened as well due to the processing. It's a tough choice between the two but the Image LD audio wins out because it hasn't been messed with and the impact is so unrestrained that no other version hits in the same way.

Capelight and old Arrow BD included the original stereo mix, but with excessive noise reduction rendering it much less detailed. Kino only included a painfully defective 2.0 track sourced from somewhere with limited fidelity, volume spikes and screechy high end which frequently ruins the music. The 5.1 remix on most modern release is a processed version that does not sound as good as it once did.

The best and most accurate of the 5.1 mixes is the original version from the 2003 Special Edition DVD in lossy AC3 form.

The Phantom poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

4K is defective with color space issues and poor encoding, disc replacement program for the 4K disc has been setup to correct the color space issue. The UHD has visible artifacts from the bad encoding. The HDR is overdone and the Paramount 4K master has grain management.
The new Kino Blu-ray has none of the UHD's problems and is superior to the UHD in every way though it still uses the same Paramount master.

Best Audio:

DVD 5.1 or LaserDisc 5.1 AC3, LD PCM 2.0 for the matrix stereo version. The LD and DVD seem to be the theatrical audio mix untouched with plenty of low end. This low end like a number of 90's Paramount titles was mixed out or tamed on subsequent releases. 

Additional Info:

The Lionsgate BD and Paramount BD share the same lackluster HD master with DNR and image distortion. The Lionsgate is much better encoded but has a 7.1 remix which messed up the original mix design by lessening all the great Foley work in favor of the score. The Paramount BD had a 5.1 lossless version of the original mix but it's a new version where the bass has been tamed so the track has lost its punch. The Kino Lorber UHD and Blu-ray recycle this same lesser 5.1 mastering. The original mix can still be heard on LD and DVD. The 2.0 stereo on the Kino is matrixed but also does not sound as good as the 2.0 matrix audio on DVD or LD.
Kino has announced a replacement program for the defective UHD but it is highly likely all the other problems will go unaddressed. The Billy Zane interview on the Kino BD has technical issues in the editing and clip quality used.

The Phantom poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

4K is defective with color space issues and poor encoding, disc replacement program for the 4K disc has been setup to correct the color space issue. The UHD has visible artifacts from the bad encoding. The HDR is overdone and the Paramount 4K master has grain management.
The new Kino Blu-ray has none of the UHD's problems and is superior to the UHD in every way though it still uses the same Paramount master.

Best Audio:

DVD 5.1 or LaserDisc 5.1 AC3, LD PCM 2.0 for the matrix stereo version. The LD and DVD seem to be the theatrical audio mix untouched with plenty of low end. This low end like a number of 90's Paramount titles was mixed out or tamed on subsequent releases. 

Additional Info:

The Lionsgate BD and Paramount BD share the same lackluster HD master with DNR and image distortion. The Lionsgate is much better encoded but has a 7.1 remix which messed up the original mix design by lessening all the great Foley work in favor of the score. The Paramount BD had a 5.1 lossless version of the original mix but it's a new version where the bass has been tamed so the track has lost its punch. The Kino Lorber UHD and Blu-ray recycle this same lesser 5.1 mastering. The original mix can still be heard on LD and DVD. The 2.0 stereo on the Kino is matrixed but also does not sound as good as the 2.0 matrix audio on DVD or LD.
Kino has announced a replacement program for the defective UHD but it is highly likely all the other problems will go unaddressed. The Billy Zane interview on the Kino BD has technical issues in the editing and clip quality used.

Monsieur Vincent poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

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Little Man, What Now? (1934) backdrop