The Shop Around the Corner on DVD
This film has to be one of the most charming and romantic films
ever made, and is a great film to watch with the one you love.
James Stewart stars as Alfred Kralik, the head salesman in a
small Budapest shop during a more innocent age. Hes the strong and silent
type, but he wants to be in love and has been corresponding secretly with a pen
pal with whom hes been getting very serious - though theyve never
met in the flesh.
Its nearly Christmas, and the stores getting ready
for the holiday season rush. This leads to them hire an extra salesperson,
Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan) - against Kraliks better judgment. He
almost runs the store, and owner Mr. Matuschek (Frank Morgan) thinks of him
almost as a son - at the movies outset anyway.
Klara and Alfred really dont get along and take pains to
let each other know it. It isnt one of those sexual tension
situations, but a clear case of mutual disdain. Or so it appears.
Meanwhile, Mr. Matuschek starts going weird and treating Kralik
like dirt, causing the situation in the shop to become even more strained.
And Alfred finally screws up the courage to meet this girl of his
dreams...
This is a wonderful movie, and todays screenwriters can
learn a lot from it. As it says in the blurb on the back of the box its
Wrapped in the ribbon of director Ernst Lubitschs trademark touch:
wit instead of buffoonery, sentiment instead of sentimentality, affection
instead of attitude. We have a cast of characters who are all real people
with real foibles, situations that are believable and never strain our
credulity, performances from giants of Hollywoods Golden Age,
and a master directors touch.
For what more could anyone ask?
Stewart and Sullavan are great as the couple who hate each
others guts face to face, unaware that theyre both really in love
with each other thanks to their written relationship. Frank Morgan is wonderful
as their boss, and the rest of the gang is perfectly cast and delivers
wonderful performances.
Its too bad its difficult to get many of todays
younger generation to watch black and white movies, because The Shop Around the
Corner beats the dickens out of most of todays comedies. It was remade in
1989, as Youve Got Mail, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan - though
this reviewer hasnt seen the newer version and so cant comment on
whether or not it holds a candle to this classic. Hes willing to bet that
it doesnt, however.
This is a very good DVD, too, though owners of 16x9 TVs
will have to stretch and/or zoom the 4x3 picture (presented in its original
full screen 4x3 aspect ratio) to make it fit their rectangular
screens. This causes a certain loss of resolution, but despite that the black
and white picture is still sharp and bright; its even better when you
watch it on a 4x3 TV.
Audio is Dolby Digital mono and, as is usual with older movies,
is unremarkable.
Extras include whats basically a monster trailer. Its
called A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound, and while
it gives some interesting technical perspective on how they marry the picture
and the sound onto a single piece of film, its mostly previews for
upcoming films. You also get A Great Story is Worth Retelling, a
text-based essay on the film and its remakes, as well as theatrical
trailers.
The Shop Around the Corner, from Warner Home Video
99 min. full screen (4x3 aspect ratio), not 16x9 TV compatible,
Dolby Digital mono
Starring James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan
Written by Samson Raphaelson
Produced and directed by Ernst Lubitsch
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