A Reel Retro Review: THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)

With no new films to review for the foreseeable future, Reel Speak will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week. Not just for the sake of filling time, but to hopefully introduce some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

In 1998, the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks-led romantic comedy YOU’VE GOT MAIL was a hit with audiences and critics that had everyone talking. Unbeknownst to most audiences was that the film had its roots in a 1937 Hungarian play called Parfumerie by Miklos Laszio. That play was adapted for the screen in 1940 as THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER starring a few Hollywood legends…

Two employees at a store in Budapest; Alfred (James Stewart), and Klara (Margaret Sullavan), can not stand to be around each other…not realizing they are falling in love as anonymous correspondents through letters. 

Directed by German director Ernst Lubitsch, THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER spends most of its time around Alfred and Klara…as they battle each other in the workplace while not knowing that they are each other’s pen-pals. There is an early playfulness between the two that eventually turns hostile, and the passion that they both have for their pen-pals makes the feud all the more fun. Things get even more complicated when the shop-owner (Frank Morgan, fresh off his role as the Wonderful Wizard), has a personal tragedy that puts Alfred in charge of the shop. Alfred’s new role allows him to figure out that Klara is his pen-pal, which gives him a new mission; see her in a different light. 

Director Ernst Lubitsch keeps the pacing brisk and the atmosphere light, and the film is a breeze at 99 minutes. The story takes place around Christmastime which actually makes the film the potential to land on holiday watch-lists in December. The dialogue is sharp as a razor, very funny, and the war of words between Alfred and Klara a blast to listen to. Set in 1940, this is a world before WWII, and it still has the innocence of mankind at work. Despite having a cast full of American actors, the place-setting of Budapest is a bit strange, but never derails the film. 

James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan are like firecrackers in their little battles, but both act with a sincerity that makes us root for them to get together. Frank Morgan feels like he just stepped out of Oz (he kinda did), but it’s quite interesting to see him and his mustache in a different setting. 

It wouldn’t be a spoiler to say that Alfred and Klara get together at the end, for a story like this of course deserves a happy ending. THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER is ground-zero for the Ryan/Hanks hit that would come nearly 60 years later, and is one of the best examples of romantic comedy. 

Bottom Line: See it 

*

Reel Facts: YOU’VE GOT MAIL uses much dialogue from the 1940 film, especially in the first date scene, and a bookstore is featured named The Shop Around the Corner. The film also spawned a remake in 1949, named IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME starring Judy Garland.