You're looking for George Arliss. Specifically, you're looking for that 1933 Warner Bros. gem where he plays a high-powered businessman trying to find a bit of anonymity. It’s a classic setup. But finding out is A Working Man streaming in a world dominated by Netflix originals and Disney+ reboots is a whole different ballgame.
The short answer? It’s complicated.
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Most people hunt for this film because they’ve stumbled onto a TCM (Turner Classic Movies) clip or they're deep-diving into the "Pre-Code" era of Hollywood. That brief, glorious window before the Hays Code started wagging its finger at everything fun. George Arliss was a titan then. In A Working Man, he plays John Reeves, a shoe manufacturer who fakes a vacation to see how his rival’s business (and his own nephews) are actually holding up. It’s charming. It’s witty. It’s also surprisingly hard to find on a standard subscription service.
The Reality of Streaming Pre-Code Cinema
If you’re hoping to find A Working Man on the "big three" streamers, you’re going to be disappointed.
Netflix doesn't care about 1933. Hulu is focused on next-day TV. So, where does that leave the vintage enthusiast? Usually, your best bet for anything under the Warner Bros. umbrella from this era is Max (formerly HBO Max). Because Warner Bros. Discovery owns the library, they rotate these titles in and out. However, as of right now, A Working Man isn't a permanent fixture on the platform. It cycles.
Digital rental is the more reliable path.
You’ve likely checked Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV. Sometimes it's there for a $3.99 rental fee. Other times, it vanishes due to licensing "windows" that feel like they were designed by a madman. Honestly, the most consistent way people are watching it right now is through the TCM app (Watch TCM). If you have a cable subscription or a cord-cutting equivalent like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV that includes TCM, you can often find it in their "on-demand" section after it airs on the linear channel.
Why This Movie Specifically?
Why do we care if this specific 1933 film is streaming?
George Arliss. That’s why.
He wasn't your typical leading man. He was older, lived-in, and possessed a theatrical gravitas that felt sophisticated rather than stuffy. In A Working Man, he shares the screen with Bette Davis. Yes, that Bette Davis. She was early in her career here, playing Jenny Hartland. Seeing her before she became the "First Lady of the American Screen" is a trip. The chemistry is there, even if the roles are product of their time.
The plot itself—a wealthy man pretending to be a "nobody" to learn the truth about his world—is a trope we still use. Think Undercover Boss, but with better suits and transatlantic accents. It deals with the Great Depression without being a total downer. It’s about work ethic. It’s about the "common man."
Is A Working Man Streaming on Niche Platforms?
Sometimes the best stuff is hidden in the corners.
The Criterion Channel is the gold standard for film nerds. They often run "Warner Archive" spotlights. While they don't have A Working Man as a permanent resident, it pops up in curated collections. If you’re a fan of this era, you basically have to check their "Coming Soon" list every month like it’s a religious text.
Then there’s the Warner Archive Collection.
This is important. If you can’t stream it, the physical media world still exists. Warner Archive released A Working Man on DVD-R (Manufacture-on-Demand). For the purists, this is the only way to ensure you actually "own" the film without worrying about a licensing deal expiring at midnight.
- Check the TCM schedule. It’s the most frequent broadcaster.
- Search "George Arliss" on the Archive.org moving image library. Sometimes public domain-adjacent prints end up there, though the quality is usually... questionable.
- Look at YouTube. Seriously. Occasionally, rights holders overlook full-length uploads of 90-year-old films, though they get yanked eventually.
The Technical Hurdles of 1930s Distribution
Digital restoration costs money.
A lot of it.
When a studio decides what to put on a streaming service, they look at the "elements." If the original nitrate film for A Working Man is sitting in a vault in a state of decay, it requires a 2K or 4K scan to look decent on your 65-inch OLED. For a 1933 B-side (even one with Bette Davis), the ROI isn't always there for the suits. That’s why these films "disappear." They aren't gone; they’re just waiting for a restoration budget.
Interestingly, the film was based on a play called The Adopted Father by Edgar Selwyn. This theatrical DNA makes it very dialogue-heavy. It’s "talky." Modern audiences sometimes struggle with that, but if you love the crackle of 1930s scriptwriting, it’s a feast.
How to Actually Watch It Right Now
If you are staring at your remote right now wondering is A Working Man streaming at this exact second, follow this hierarchy:
Step One: The Search Aggregators.
Don't manually check every app. Use JustWatch or Reelgood. They track the daily shifts in library content. Type in "A Working Man 1933." If it’s on a subscription service, it’ll show up. If it’s only for "buy/rent," it’ll give you the price.
Step Two: The "Deep" Libraries.
Check Kanopy or Hoopla. These are free services you access with a library card. They have an incredible selection of classic cinema that Netflix wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Many people forget their local library is the ultimate streaming hack.
Step Three: Physical Media / Warner Archive.
If the digital hunt fails, go to the source. The Warner Archive DVD is often available on Amazon or Movies Unlimited. It’s not "streaming," but in an era of digital vanishing acts, a disc is the only thing that's permanent.
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The film serves as a fascinating time capsule. It shows us a Hollywood that was still figuring itself out. The pacing is different. The morality is a bit looser than what would follow in 1934 once the Code was strictly enforced. It’s a glimpse into a version of George Arliss that was essentially the "Grand Old Man" of the theater making his mark on the moving picture.
Actionable Advice for the Classic Film Hunter
Stop relying on the "home screen" of your streaming apps. Those algorithms are designed to push new content, not 1930s classics.
Instead, set up a Google Alert for "A Working Man 1933" or follow the Warner Archive social media accounts. They often announce when they’ve struck a new master for a digital release. Also, consider a subscription to a live-TV streaming service that includes TCM if you are serious about this era. It is, bar none, the most consistent way to see these films.
The hunt is part of the fun. Finding a "lost" classic feels a lot better than just clicking the first thing Netflix recommends.
If you find it, pay attention to the scene where Arliss’s character is trying to "blend in" with the common folk. It’s a masterclass in physical comedy from a man who was mostly known for his dignified, serious roles. It’s the reason the movie survives in the hearts of collectors today. Happy hunting. Keep the search filters set to "Oldest First" and you might just get lucky tonight.
Summary Checklist for Finding the Film
- Check Kanopy: Use your library card; it’s the most likely "free" source for high-brow or vintage cinema.
- Search "Warner Archive" on Max: They often hide these under the "Classics" hub or the TCM hub within the app.
- Rent via Apple/Amazon: If it's a $3.99 "must-watch," this is the path of least resistance.
- Monitor TCM: Use their schedule search tool for the next 30 days. If it's airing, you can "DVR" it digitally via your provider.
Ultimately, the availability of A Working Man reflects the fragile state of film preservation. It’s a reminder that unless we actively seek out and support the platforms that host these films, they risk falling into the "lost" category of history. Support the streamers that value the 1930s, or better yet, buy the physical copy.