The Shop Around the Corner

Film Notes

"Ernst Lubitsch is offering some attractive screen merchandise in "The Shop Around the Corner" which opened at the Music Hall yesterday. "Ninotchka" appears to have used up his supply of hearty comedy for the time at least, but his sense of humor is inexhaustible. He has employed it to brighten the shelves where his tidy Continental romance is stored and, among the bric-à-brac, there are several fragile scenes which he is handling with his usual delicacy and charm, assisted by a friendly staff of sales-people who are going under resoundingly Hungarian names, but remind us strangely of Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan and Joseph Schildkraut. All told, they make "The Shop Around the Corner" a pleasant place to browse in.

The shop Mr. Lubitsch has opened, for his romantic-comedy purposes, is a very real one: Matuschek & Co. is its name; it seems to be in Budapest, and Mr. Morgan is not alone Matuschek, but the "& Co." as well. His clerks are most deferential. The ritual of each day's shop-opening is punctiliously observed. Less reverent, perhaps, is the circumstance that Clerk Vadas (Mr. Schildkraut) is having an affair with Madame Matuschek. Still more distressing is the fact that Matuschek suspects Clerk Kralik of the intrigue, while Kralik (being Mr. Stewart and therefore purer than Galahad) has been doing nothing worse than conducting an anonymous Lonelyheart correspondence with a dream girl who also happens to be working in the shop—although neither of them has the faintest notion that the other is the Dear Friend of the letters. In fact, Kralik and Miss Novak just don't get along at all.

So there it is, and a pretty kettle of bubbling brew it makes under Mr. Lubitsch's deft and tender management and with a genial company to play it gently, well this side of farce and well that side of utter seriousness. Possibly the most surprising part of it is the adaptability of the players to Mr. Lubitsch's Continental milieu whose splendid evocation is one of the nicest things of the picture. But they all have become natural figures against a natural background—even Mr. Stewart, who, on the face and speech of him, hardly could be called the Budapest type, and Mr. Morgan, who plays a benevolent dictator (in leather goods) with scarcely a trace of the comic fluster and bluster that have established him as one of Hollywood's most standardized funny men.

Miss Sullavan, making one of her all-too-infrequent appearances, reminds us she still is one of our most piquant and delightful screen ladies, and there have been amusing contributing performances by Mr. Schildkraut as the unctuous rascal of the piece, by Felix Bressart as the timorous senior clerk and by William Tracy as the epitome of all sassy (and much put upon) errand boys"

Frank S. Nugent, The New York Times, Jan. 26, 1940

Remake Rumble: The Shop Around the Corner (1940) vs. You’ve Got Mail (1998) - Melanie Novak

"In the Remake Rumble, I’ll throw one (or more) versions of the same film into the ring and let them fight it out.  I’ll discuss the good and the bad, and end with the ultimate judgement of the best version.  Judgements can be appealed through well-reasoned arguments in the comments section. For this week’s remake rumble, we begin in 1940 with The Shop Around the Corner, the Ernst Lubitsch directed romantic comedy starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan as Alfred Kralik and Klara Novak, a manager and sales clerk at Matuschek and Company in Budapest".

Melanie Novak, Golden Age of Hollywood,  December 15, 2021

What you thought about The Shop Around the Corner

Film Responses

Collated Response Comments

101 members and guests attended this screening. We received 50 responses giving a film score of 4.28 and a responses ratio of 49%. Thanks so much. Enjoy the festive season and look forward to seeing everyone for the screening of ‘A bunch of Amateurs’ on Tuesday 13^th January 2026.

"I watched this last Christmas, on iPlayer, knowing it was the inspiration for 'You've got mail'. Then watched the Hanks and Ryan classic rom com assuming that a smart Nora Ephron script and modern production values would reveal it as it naive and simplistic. Which it did not, in fact it looked baggy and meandering in comparison. This certainly looks of its time but in a good way, the characters are crisply delineated, the script sharp and witty, the black and white cinematography lush and sympathetic. The acting is a trifle stagy but with reason, the heightened reactions play nicely into the brisk script and dialogue, heightening emotions and allowing our complete engagement. The finale is as brilliant a pas de deux as one could hope for, Stewart and Sullivan duelling perfectly. Merry Christmas all".

“Loved the film; very well chosen for the season and lengthwise, for the occasion.  Surprisingly good film quality for an 85-year-old piece, but no doubt heavily and invisibly restored.  Glad there weren't subtitles: the speed of delivery, especially Margaret Sullavan's, would have rendered subtitling almost impossible; and, as usual, it was a short time before one got one's ear in.  Story somewhat kitschy by today's standards and acting somewhat stagey by today's standards, but overall - good”.

“An enjoyable seasonal film to get us in the mood for all the festivities to come. Thank you again to the committee for all your efforts to entertain us and broaden our horizons in 2025. Have a lovely Christmas and see you in 2026!”

“Just after watching I simply thought, "That was jolly", but later a film-club friend explained the significance of its Budapest setting and the experience of immigrants (including Jewish communities) who brought Central European stories to America at the time the film was made. Reflecting on the film's timing during the Second World War--when the world was anxious and everyday Central European life, including the shop culture it portrays, was under threat--gave it even greater depth. Michael's explanation and the recommended notes comparing it with You've Got Mail added insight as well. All of this made me realise how meaningful the film is, and how lucky I am to be part of the club. I'm also grateful for all the wonderful films I've discovered this year thanks to the film club. Happy Christmas to the committee and all the members, and thank you”.

“Perfect as the final film for 2025”.

“"They don't make 'em like they used to," crossed my thoughts during this delight. The central premise - mutual ignorance on the part of two work colleagues waging petty warfare daily set against the letter-based courtship – steers the effect on those involved. The rhythms of the workplace generally central to those dynamics, and the women and men subsisting in the Depression era. Recalled The Smiling Lieutenant with Maurice Chevalier and Miriam Hopkins flirtations as well. The brightness of the shop contrasted with darkness of December, with Lubitsch lighting the close-ups with a bit of a twinkle. Matuschek's portrayal, surprised about many things save his flawless appearance, as a father type, a semi-benign despot, regarded with a little love and a lot of fear, yet generous. His breakdown from news of an unfaithful wife propels the bookish Kralik (Stewart) back to the shop thus allowing us to see how his 'letter romance' Klara can move on. Pirovitch, already aware of the mailbox romance, says softly to Kralik, "Think about it. Those were nice letters". So, the screen kiss seals the romance, as the Xmas Eve sales bonanza brings good feelings and a bonus. Lively shooting style, mixed with jokiness, sharp realism and serendipitous love. What else can you ask for ...”

“A great choice to kick off the festive season. Humorous and heartwarming. The short was a bit odd but had its moments! Thanks”.

“Very dated. Disappointing. Supporting characters more interesting, but with regret, I write, give me Hanks and Ryan”.

“An enjoyable classic love story reminds me of the films, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Megan Ryan. . The nostalgia of the fashion during the 1940s with the style of clothes, hair, makeup and the simplicity of life”.

“So difficult to see old b&w films on the big screen…so appreciated this opportunity & thoroughly enjoyed it! The quirky short was very amusing”.

The short film…”Respect to each other is human kindness and behaviour. This short film was an egotistical person, who went against the grain of human kindness and behaviour. They need to move onto the next chapter of their life. Very depressing”.

“Slow start but improved as it went on. Very amusing”.

“Outstanding! Perfect choice for Christmas. Everyone in the audience wants to be like James Stewart, cool, unflustered, and a twinkle in the eye!”

“Absolutely superb”. “Loved it”.

“Good example of the connections between Eastern European economic concerns and American imperialism”.

“Never seen this before. Will have to watch ‘You’ve got mail’ again!”

“Great story. Fabulous actors and actresses’”.

“Wonderful and brilliant. Miss seeing black and white movies that don’t rely on big bangs; just simply good acting and a great storyline”.

“Brilliant, funny, comedy timing. Loved it!”

“Got better as the film progressed”.

“Very much a film of its time, but entertaining”.

“They don’t make films like that anymore. Jimmy Stewart was outstanding”.

“Very enjoyable. Just right for the Christmas screening”.

“Great to see older films. Very enjoyable”. “Enjoyable film”.

“What a wonderful Christmas film. very enjoyable. (will have to watch the modern version now)”.

 “Good choice for a Christmas movie”.

“Very entertaining and of its era. Enjoyed the wit”.