The Shop Around the Corner

Summary

“I think people who like to smoke candy and listen to cigarettes will love it.”

Warner Archive has released the classic Ernst Lubitsch romantic comedy The Shop Around the Corner on Blu-ray just in time for Christmas. This is a cause for celebration for all of Ernst Lubitsch’s devoted fans. Lubitsch was an incredibly popular filmmaker in the 1930s and 1940s. He passed away at the age of 55 in 1947, but his legacy of films made a permanent mark on cinema and have been embraced by each succeeding generation. Some of his best known films are: Trouble in Paradise, Ninotchka, Heaven Can Wait, and To Be or Not To Be. Mel Brooks was such a fan of his work that he remade To Be or Not To Be with his wife Anne Bancroft. Lubitsch’s film The Shop Around the Corner may be his most enduring film in terms of securing his legacy. The film has been remade twice (so far) as the films In the Good Old Summertime and You’ve Got Mail. The original is much better than those imitations, despite their best intentions. What should have been obvious to those who approached remaking the film is that the Lubitsch touch is just not something that can be replicated with ease. I count myself as a fan of Lubitsch and excitedly viewed the new Blu-ray presentation by Warner Archive the other night.

In Budapest, Hungary, the employees of Matuschek and Company package store work together to please their eccentric boss Hugo Matuschek (Frank Morgan) who has made the store his life work and has made a great deal of money in the process. The favorite employee of Hugo is Alfred Kralik (Jimmy Stewart) who has endeared himself to the boss not by being a sycophant, but by consistently disagreeing with Hugo’s ideas. Kralik has worked for the store for years and has risen from errand boy to clerk to lead salesman of the shop. The stage has been set for Kralik to eventually become manager of the shop if Hugo ever decides to hand off the business. Kralik is like a son to Hugo, who has no children of his own. Hugo does have a wife of over twenty years who is constantly dipping into his wallet. Unlike the other employees, it is not uncommon for Hugo to invite Kralik to his home for dinner. This spurns jealousy from his coworker – the rakish Ferencz Vadas (Joseph Schildkraut)- who is a busy body and a bit of a dandy. Kralik has become dismayed with the dating scene and he confides to his coworker Pirovitch (Felix Bressart) that he has found himself in a relationship through mail correspondence. While looking through some want ads he stumbled upon an advert for someone seeking a pen pal with whom to discuss the world and literature. Over their correspondence, Kralik has found himself feeling drawn to this person romantically that he has never met. One day at the shop, a woman named Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan) walks in off the street seeking employment. She manages to gain employment at the shop when she simultaneously disagrees with Kralik’s assessment of a cigarette case and proceeds to sell the item to a woman who walks in off the street. Six months later, Kralik and Klara continuously trade barbs with one another unaware that they are actually corresponding with one another. At the same time, Hugo begins to behave towards Kralik in a way that shows disfavor for reasons unknown to Kralik. As Christmas approaches, things come to a head between Hugo and Kralik and Kralik discovers that his enemy at work is the woman he has been pining for all this time.

The Shop Around the Corner is one of Ernst Lubitsch’s best loved films. Watching the film for the first time the other night, I was struck by how well Lubitsch mixes in feelings of melancholy with his flair for romance and comedy. For example, the character of Hugo should feel like a caricature, but his worries that pervade him about his wife’s fidelity have some real dimensionality. The film manages to explore these feelings much deeper than on a surface level. Another example of the dramatic presence would be found in Jimmy Stewart’s portrayal of Kralik. When he is terminated by Hugo for reasons unknown to him, he wears the shock on his face like a child who has been slapped but must keep a stiff upper lip. It is well known that Lubitsch was an excellent comedic filmmaker, but I think it is worth noting that the performances he drew from his performers make his films feel real even when the conceit itself sounds fantastic. His films tend to be more fulfilling than any imitation of his art could hope to achieve. Working with a script by Samson Raphaelson based on a play by Miklos Laszlo, Lubitsch mines the material for nuances that elevate the material. The film is also helped along by a well-realized Christmas setting that makes its heartwarming charm even more attractive. If you have ever seen the film You’ve Got Mail, a rare misfire from writer-director Nora Ephron, the characters never come together in the same way that they come across here. Basically – you can’t bottle lightning and you can’t remake Lubitsch.

The lead performances in the film are great. Jimmy Stewart was one of the best actors of his generation and he lends his intelligence and likability to the role of Kralik. Margaret Sullavan had a reputation of being difficult, but her friendship with Stewart stretched years before this film. This comfortability between the two lead actors comes across well onscreen in an easy chemistry. The supporting actors all do admirable jobs in their roles with a solid turn by Frank Gordon in particular.

The Shop Around the Corner is a very well made romantic comedy from Ernst Lubitsch. Fans of the director will be glad to finally add this gem to their collection.

Video

Warner have once again proved themselves to be some of the best in the business with how well they treat the material in their vault. Presented in 1080p in 1.37:1, the transfer looks fantastic. The contrast levels are sharp and the grays and blacks look rich and deep. Fine detail is exceptional. The cinematography by William H. Daniels becomes incredibly attractive in the final third of the film as Christmas draws near and an abundance of snowflakes fill the screen. The sequence outside the Christmas Eve sale may be one of the most attractive sequences from that period to arrive on Blu-ray. Fans of the film will be incredibly pleased to see what Warner has done here.

Audio

The new DTS-HD MA 2.0 track sounds really good. There is no hiss. Dialogue is clear. The film is largely dialogue based with music by Werner R. Heymann only occasionally used in the film. The track has been restored very precisely. 

Supplements

• The Miracle of Sound – a 1940 documentary short on sound in films.

• Screen Guild Players- this radio broadcast which aired on 9/29/40 features Margaret Sullavan and Jimmy Stewart.

• Lux Radio Theater – Another radio adaptation starring Don Ameche and Claudette Colbert.

• Theatrical Trailer

Overall Scores:

Video – 5/5 

Audio – 4.5/5

Supplements – 3/5

Overall – 4.5/5

The Shop Around the Corner is a classic romantic comedy from Ernst Lubitsch that ranks as one of the director’s most charming films. With strong performances and a well-written script, there is a lot to enjoy about the film. I consider myself a fan of the director, and am beyond pleased that Warner Archive has given the film a release on Blu-ray, just in time for Christmas! Warner Archive has provided a beautiful transfer of the film that has some sequences that rank as some of the best looking from that era to display on the Blu-ray format. Fans will want to upgrade immediately, and newcomers should feel safe with a blind-buy if they enjoy romantic comedies or Ernst Lubitsch films.