THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER

US, 1940, 97 minutes, Black and white.
Margaret Sullivan, James Stewart, Josef Schildkraut, Frank Morgan, Sarah Haden, William Tracy.
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch.

The Shop Around the Corner has become a classic. It is a gentle romantic comedy set in Budapest in the '30s. (It was based on a Hungarian play.) It is the story of two people who antagonise each other while working in the same shop while, unbeknownst to each other, they are carrying on a romantic correspondence. The irony is when one recognises who the other is, but the other does not. It all ends happily on Christmas Eve, the department store selling out and having its best season, the man revealing to the woman that he is the secret writer.

The film was adapted for a Van Johnson-Judy? Garland musical in the 1940s, In The Good Old Summertime. It became a Broadway musical, She Loves Me. In the 1990s it formed the basis for the Tom Hanks-Meg? Ryan romantic comedy, You've Got Mail.

Margaret Sullivan and James Stewart had appeared together in Shopworn Angel and The Mortal Storm. James Stewart was to win the Oscar in 1940 for his performance in The Philadelphia Story. Josef Schildkraut had won the first actor Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in The Life of Emil Zola. The year before, Frank Morgan had been The Wizard of Oz.

Director Ernst Lubitsch is always praised for his light comic touch. Making films during the silent era, he came to Hollywood in the '30s and had star vehicles for Jeanette MacDonald? and Maurice Chevalier. After this film he made only three more: That Uncertain Feeling, the classic anti-Nazi film, To Be Or Not To Be and Heaven Can Wait.

1. The continued popularity of this film? The basis for other films and a Broadway musical? Romantic comedy?

2. Black and white photography, the Hollywood sets standing in for Budapest? The suggested European atmosphere? The contrast with the US in the '30s? The musical score?

3. The title and the reference to the ordinariness of the characters, the ordinariness of the shop, a romance for everyone?

4. Matuschek's shop: the owner, his bombastic attitudes, listening to Alfred, frightening his other employees, slow in making decisions, the musical cigarette box? His friendship with Alfred, his inviting him to dinner, growing suspicions about his wife, suspicions on Alfred, his antagonistic attitude, finally dismissing him? The private detective and the truth about Vadas? His relationship to the staff, his accepting Klara? His attempted suicide, the young man stopping him, hospital, coming to his senses, giving the management to Alfred? His return on Christmas Eve, sharing the joy in the shop, his loneliness, going to dinner with the new recruit, Rudi?

5. Alfred and James Stewart's screen personality? Quiet, gentle? In the shop, the advice about the music box and its repetition of song? The discussion with Klara, warning her, her being employed? The growing antagonism and criticism? His efficient work in the shop? The suspicions of Mr Matuschek? His finally being dismissed and humiliated? The discussions about working late, the windows? His correspondence with "Dear Friend"? Confiding in his associate? Going to the rendezvous, his friend seeing Klara in the restaurant, his decision to go in, the continued fights? Her being upset, his going to see her, her fainting when she realised his new position? Encouraging her, writing the letter? The Christmas Eve busyness? Their discussions, her telling him about the attraction, the antagonism? His gradually revealing the truth?

6. Klara, unemployed, desperate, arguing with Mr Matuschek, selling the cigarette box? Her success in the store? The criticisms and edge with Alfred? The blouse and the tie? The time off? The window and the preparations? Her trying to trick him into giving her the time off? Her going to the appointment, the clash with Alfred? Her continually comparing Dear Friend with Alfred, to his detriment? Her being sick, upset? Alfred's kindness, her relenting? Her response to the truth?

7. Vadas, suave, smooth, the yes-man? The affair, his wealth, diamond ring? Obsequious - and being sacked by Alfred?

8. The clerk and his family, his concern about his wife and children, frightened of Mr Matuschek, supportive of Alfred, looking in the window, the discussions about the music box as a gift for Alfred or the wallet? His persuading Klara to give the wallet? The happy ending at Christmas?

9. The other members of the staff: Ilona, Flora, the young man and his doing all the errands, saving Mr Matuschek, in hospital, becoming a clerk, putting on side, employing Rudi and bossing him about?

10. The picture of Budapest in the '30s, the homes, the streets, the shops, the customers, the doctor, the policeman? A magical/realistic world where this kind of fairy tale can come true?