The Shop Around the Corner

The Shop Around the Corner

90% Liked It
liked it

The Shop Around the Corner

Felix Bressart, Frank Morgan, Inez Courtney, James Stewart, Joseph Schildkraut

The Shop Around the Corner is adapted from the Hungarian play by Nikolaus (Miklos) Laszlo. Budapest gift-shop clerk Alfred Kralik (James Stewart) and newly hired shopgirl Klara Novak (Margaret Sullava...( read more  read more... )n) hate each other almost at first sight. Kralik would prefer the company of the woman with whom he is corresponding by mail but has never met. Novak likewise carries a torch for her male pen pal, whom she also has never laid eyes on. It doesn't take a PhD degree to figure out that Kralik and Novak have been writing letters to each other. The film's many subplots are carried by Frank Morgan as the kindhearted shopkeeper and by Joseph Schildkraut as a backstabbing employee whose comeuppance is sure to result in spontaneous applause from the audience. Directed with comic delicacy by Ernst Lubitsch, this was later remade in 1949 as In the Good Old Summertime, and in 1998 as You've Got Mail. It was also musicalized as the 1963 Broadway production She Loves Me.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Id: 10902308

Do you want to see this movie?

My Friends Said...


Recent Reviews


  • December 30, 2007
    Two bickering co-workers with deep enmity are secretly corresponding pen pals in anomynous names. one of sugar-crested comedies toys with the coincidence of fate.

    margaret sullavan demonstrates a great deal of assertiveness as the opinionated clara. this trait could be beautif...( read more)ied with the term called "individuality" but unfortunately from time to time it borders on unforgiving inconsiderateness, indulging herself in those torrid love letters without a slight concern for people around her in reality that could be unpleasant.

    in the scene she dismisses stewart in their cafe encounter, and she's relentlessly tearing him away that infuriates stewart to condemn her as harsh spinster, but she retorts with the complacency of the love letter she receives, then insulting him back with the remark "insignificant worker" just right after he gets unemployed miserably. miss sullavan's character is hardly likable with all her narcissism on her own affair and her rash disregard on stewart while he tolerates her egoism with good sports as well as a patiently willing heart to appreciate her sharp wits even that is utilized to offend him.

    maybe the purpose of this story is that you disguise yourself in reality with shield, sometimes as your heart exposed and prejudices discarded, true love is right in front of you, even from your worst enemy. it might be a bit too naively idealistic.

    the biggest flaw in this flick is its lack of a charismatic female lead to neutralize her bellicosity , maybe katherine hepburn should be considered in this project, considering hepburn's performance in "woman of the year" and "philadelphia story", she could be competent as clara. sullavan's interpretation is like the unpractical reveries of a desperate woman who fears to be old maid. and stewart's fondness over her is unconvincingly bewildering.
  • December 28, 2006
    It was good, not great (I feel like I've been saying that about a lot of movies lately!). James Stewart is definately one of the best actors ever.
  • December 26, 2008
    A great film about two co-workers who hate each other and are also secretly pen-pals. Jimmy Stewart is great and so is the supporting cast. There is also a surprising side story that involves adultery and suicide that works into the main story quite well.This film is mainly abou...( read more)t the store and it's people and has many laugh out loud moments. I can't express enough how great Jimmy Stewart is in this charming film. If you like The Philadelphia Story and His Girl Friday then you should enjoy this film.
  • December 28, 2009
    Jimmy Stewart really makes the movie.
  • December 10, 2009
    Cute little story, predictable, but cute
  • December 5, 2009
    This is a good one - I love the characters! It's so much like You're Got Mail that the similarities in scenes surprised me. I had no idea that this movie is what the latter was based off of!
  • November 14, 2009
    i cud be that girl.........
  • November 8, 2009
    WELL , yesterday i found randomly , my movies archive ....i believed that i had lost it after the late removal ...i saw that many very good films were there but not here !!! So its opportunity to add the here , and this is an amazing film
  • October 29, 2009
    I loved this movie! I knew 'You've Got Mail' was based on this and while 'Mail' was good- this is so much better! Sweet, subtle and very, very smart, the writing is genious; witty, quick and overall lovely. The characters created were awesome- belivable and clear characters, clea...( read more)r individuals. They were my favorite part. Overall, one of the best movies seen this term, and a wonderful old comedy!
  • October 14, 2009
    Classic movie. Of course, the predecessor to "You've Got Mail."

Opening This Week

Top Box Office

Upcoming Movies

New on DVD