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Cast: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan
Genre: Drama Comedy Romance
Synopsis: Two employees at a small Budapest gift shop (Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart) can't stand being in each other's presences...they bicker and argue all the time. What they don't realize is that they have fallen in love with each other, anonymously, when each secretly sends a 'lonely hearts letter' to the newspapers personal ads.
Review: Ernst Lubitsch brings out the small moments that make up life. His focus is on the character's idiosyncrasies and by that we experience their world. The Shop Around the Corner is a world unto itself. The majority of the film takes place inside the shop, this gives us an intimate feel. Inside the shop the lives of the sales people unfold for us. Their simple yet telling actions allows us to connect to them in a personal way. Lubitsch understands people, this film is a showcase for his talents.
James Stewart is arguably one of the greatest actors of all time. His strength is in how he can 'play it small'. He can bring a dramatic moment to life by doing the opposite of what most actors do. At the end of his dialogue he often will lower his voice and trails it off to almost a whisper. This works well and brings out his humanity, he seems real to us. Stewart is a very likable actor and here his character is perfectly tuned for the story.
Margaret Sullavan has top billing, with her name before Stewart's in the title sequence. Which seems odd as she wasn't as big of a star as Stewart at the time. Margaret didn't make very many movies and this is her most well known performance. It's a good one too. I liked her in this and she fits the character to a tee. Another producer might have went with a platinum blonde glamor queen for more eye appeal and ticket sells, Lubitsch chose wisely with his leading lady.
Lubitsch is one of the great directors and The Shop Around the Corner is one of his great films.
The Shop Around the Corner (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940)
Director: Ernst LubitschCast: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan
Genre: Drama Comedy Romance
Synopsis: Two employees at a small Budapest gift shop (Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart) can't stand being in each other's presences...they bicker and argue all the time. What they don't realize is that they have fallen in love with each other, anonymously, when each secretly sends a 'lonely hearts letter' to the newspapers personal ads.
Review: Ernst Lubitsch brings out the small moments that make up life. His focus is on the character's idiosyncrasies and by that we experience their world. The Shop Around the Corner is a world unto itself. The majority of the film takes place inside the shop, this gives us an intimate feel. Inside the shop the lives of the sales people unfold for us. Their simple yet telling actions allows us to connect to them in a personal way. Lubitsch understands people, this film is a showcase for his talents.
James Stewart is arguably one of the greatest actors of all time. His strength is in how he can 'play it small'. He can bring a dramatic moment to life by doing the opposite of what most actors do. At the end of his dialogue he often will lower his voice and trails it off to almost a whisper. This works well and brings out his humanity, he seems real to us. Stewart is a very likable actor and here his character is perfectly tuned for the story.
Margaret Sullavan has top billing, with her name before Stewart's in the title sequence. Which seems odd as she wasn't as big of a star as Stewart at the time. Margaret didn't make very many movies and this is her most well known performance. It's a good one too. I liked her in this and she fits the character to a tee. Another producer might have went with a platinum blonde glamor queen for more eye appeal and ticket sells, Lubitsch chose wisely with his leading lady.
Lubitsch is one of the great directors and The Shop Around the Corner is one of his great films.