The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
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Two coworkers who dislike each other in person fall in love through anonymous letters.
The story
During the Great Depression, Alfred Kralik is the top salesman at Matuschek and Company, a leather goods shop in Budapest. He begins corresponding anonymously with an intelligent woman through newspaper advertisements, agreeing to withhold personal details. Meanwhile, Klara Novak enters the shop seeking work and is hired by the high-strung owner, Mr. Hugo Matuschek. Despite their mutual dislike in the workplace, Kralik and Novak remain unaware of each other's identities as they continue their cultured correspondence. The narrative explores the social themes of the middle class as tensions rise within the shop regarding Mr. Matuschek's suspicions about his wife.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
During the Great Depression, Alfred Kralik, the top salesman at Matuschek and Company in Budapest, corresponds anonymously with a cultured woman. He is hired by the irritable owner, Mr. Hugo Matuschek, who suspects his wife is having an affair. Klara Novak also finds work at the shop; she and Kralik dislike each other in person but continue their anonymous correspondence. As Christmas approaches, Matuschek fires Kralik, suspecting him of the affair, only to later learn his wife is actually involved with a co-worker, Vadas. After a near-suicide by Matuschek is prevented by a delivery boy, Pepi, Matuschek apologizes and promotes Kralik. Kralik eventually meets Novak at a cafe and realizes she is his correspondent. After a series of awkward interactions, Kralik visits Novak at her apartment. On Christmas Eve, they reveal their identities to each other in the shop, confessing that their letters were a way to seek culture and connection, and share a kiss.
- First release year
- 1940
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ernst Lubitsch
- Writers
- Samson Raphaelson · screenplay; Ben Hecht · screenplay (uncredited)
- Cast and characters
- Margaret Sullavan · Klara Novak; James Stewart · Alfred Kralik; Frank Morgan · Mr. Hugo Matuschek; Joseph Schildkraut · Ferencz Vadas
- Genres
- romantic comedy-drama
- Themes
- middle class life; community; identity; money; hierarchy
- Tone and mood
- romantic; comedic; dramatic; vivacious
- Premise and plot tags
- romance; comedy; drama; workplace; letters
- Source material / true-story basis
- Parfumerie by Miklós László
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, praising the performances and production quality. While it performed poorly at the box office initially, it has since been recognized as culturally significant and included in several 'best of' lists.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 96 · scale: 100 · review count: 15
- Awards and nominations
- Best Performances of the Month · Photoplay magazine · win; Best Pictures of the Month · Photoplay magazine · win
- Production trivia
- The film used thirty tons of shaved ice to create 'real snow' for the Christmas Eve scenes.; The release trailer features Frank Morgan introducing the other characters and Lubitsch.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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