The Shop Around the Corner

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

  • 100% of critics liked it
    (24 reviews)

  • 89% of users liked it
    (10,797 ratings)

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 Sullavan) hate each other almost at first sight. Kralik would prefer the company of the woman with whom he… More

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Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By
Ernst Lubitsch
Written By
Samson Raphaelson, Miklós László
Genres
Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1940 Limited
On DVD
Oct 1, 2002
MGM

Critic Reviews

  • , TIME Magazine

    As the plot has as many complications as characters, much of the fun comes in watching Scripter Samson Raphaelson neatly tangle and untangle them without tying himself in a hard knot.

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Although picture carries the indelible stamp of Ernst Lubitsch at his best in generating humor and human interest from what might appear to be unimportant situations, it carries further to impress via the outstanding characterizations by Margaret Sullavan

  • Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

    This 1940 film is one of Ernst Lubitsch's finest and most enduring works, a romantic comedy of dazzling range.

  • Frank S. Nugent, New York Times

    ...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.

  • Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

    Entertaining to a fault, the film doesn't ignite the imagination in the way many other films of the period did.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • moon r


    Lubitsch lends his featherlight comic zest to that most claustrophobic of spaces: the workplace. In this case its a small leather goods retail store where the staff see each other monotonous day in and monotonous day out. The focus is on a young man who happens to be the senior… More

  • Wildaly M


    This one is a classic romance. But one of those really-good-can't-get-enough-of-them classics.

  • Bruce B


    Film 21 is a 1940 black and white film that is a most excellent film, what's amazing is the subjects it touched on in 1940. First we have a couple who meets by mail you know old fashion letter writing, The very young Jimmy Stewart answers a personal add in the newspaper. He works… More

  • Ken S


    A total delight from start to finish

  • AJ V


    This is the movie which was recently remade as You've Got Mail. I liked the original better. It's got Jimmy Stewart for one thing. It's a nice romantic story, and it's enjoyable to watch. I recommend this over the new movie.

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

Cast

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