You've Got Mail!

  Real Mail, Not That Modern Electronic Stuff

The Shop Around The Corner (1940) –   Two employees at a small gift store are constantly at odds with one another.  They don’t realize that they are also secret pen pals.  They’ve fallen in love with their anonymous correspondents as they argue their ways through the workday.

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch

Starring – Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan 

Why I Liked It – Just a charming little story polished to perfection by the performances and direction.

This is the movie (and the original stage play) that inspired 1998’s “You’ve Got Mail.”  In fact, the bookstore owned by Meg Ryan’s character is named “The Shop Around The Corner”.  It’s also the perfect example of a movie that didn’t require a huge budget to be a great story.  Lubitsch was known for his extravagant, stylish movies but goes with a straightforward style here.  Every detail is perfect (the story in the movie is based on the one he grew up in), and provides the ideal setting for the battles between the characters.  Add in Jimmy Stewart, whose career would skyrocket over the next decade, and his long-time friend, Margaret Sullavan.  Sullavan’s fame is not as widespread as it could be.  Known for a fiery, almost unforgiving personality, she brings steel to Klara Novak’s personality.  Add in Frank Morgan, fresh off his role as the Wizard in the “Wizard of Oz”, as the genial but suffering store owner, Mr. Matuschek.  Miss Novak and Mr. Kralik (Stewart) are crazy about each other on paper.  In person, everything sets them off about the other.  Add in an avuncular older colleague and two other co-workers with different approaches to ambition, and you get a fun, warm-hearted movie. You’ll fly happily through its hour and forty minute run time.

 You can stream this movie on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, and Redbox.

 Rating – **** Recommended

  The original trailer.