Review of The Shop Around the Corner (1940) by Darryl C — 26 Apr 2013

Ernst Lubistch is a canonized name whose filmography has kept evading me until now, THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, acclaimed as one of his most competent and most mature light comedies, is the ultimatum delight to savor under any circumstances.

One might fully aware that this film is the archetype of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's commercial sensation YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998, 7/10), but even its inception is over half a century older than the latter, the former still manage to overshadow it (or even any other praiseworthy rom-coms) in every possible aspect. An ingenious script renders a witty plot set-up which only leaves our leading lady unwittingly snared inside a white lie while audiences' appetite has been fully whetted and the final revelation is well-anticipated, humorous, affecting and sincerely good-natured, this is "the" kind of film which Hollywood doesn't (or is unable to) produce any more, pitifully!

The temperaments of the two leads are plain congenial and mutually harmonious, the James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan pair oozes the optimal chemistry in the conventional rom-com mis-matched setting. The two represents the quintessential precious nature of the two sexes, role models of the golden age and rarely can be found in reality now, it all reminds us nostalgically what a pure golden-heart could be and elicits more whole-hearted appreciation. Stewart would win his Oscar for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940, 8/10) the same year, but under Lubistch's guidance, his slightly reserved suaveness and gentleman-like diffidence achieve an irresistible personal debonair which also is difficult to find at present. Sullavan, not quite a household name but in this film, her performance is exquisite, heartwarming, say, the ending, when she finally gets to know the man of her dream is her bickering partner in the shop, her psychologically-shocking-but-exhilaratingly-content transition is the killing of the film and saves the film from being an emotional overkill or worse, a stroke of bathos.

Frank Morgan (afresh from THE WIZARD OF OZ 1939, 8/10) and Joseph Schildkraut both deliver excellent work as the credulous but kind-hearted shop owner and the sycophantic poseur in the shop respectively, pristine frills added to the main storyline.

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, is a rare gem of its own kind, I highly doubt Lubitsch could excel himself in his canon, where I will burrow and wish me luck!