The Shop Around the Corner

              One of my favorite movies to watch is You’ve Got Mail.  For years I have watched this film, but it was not until this past Christmas season that I saw the film upon which You’ve Got Mail is based.  The Shop Around the Corner is the original You’ve Got Mail.  Even though they are set in two different time periods, it is clear one is based off of the other.  Some of the scenes are practically exact copies.  All I would have to do is switch the actors.  Other scenes are not so similar, but the basic premise is the same.  In person, a man and a woman can’t stand each other; but through their letters, they are in love.

                Alfred (James Stewart) is a dedicated clerk at leather goods shop in Budapest.  He has worked at the store for years, but does not feel fully appreciated by its owner, Mr. Matuschek (Frank Morgan).  The tension between them grows worse when Mr. Matuschek decides to not listen to Alfred’s opinion about a cigar box that plays music.  Alfred does not think the boxes are something that should be in the shop, but a woman who has come in looking for a job, Klara (Margaret Sullavan), manages to sell one.  Taking this as proof that the shop should stock the box, Mr. Matuschek orders more as well as hires Klara on the spot.

                As time goes on, the boxes do not sell and the relationship between Alfred and Mr. Matuschek continues to worsen.  On top of it, Alfred and Klara do not get along.  Klara uses every opportunity she can find to take a stab at Alfred.  Irritated, Alfred retaliates, making it difficult for the two of them to work together.

                With everything going so badly at work, the only positive thing Alfred has to hold onto is his correspondence with an anonymous woman.  They exchange letters, and through the letters Alfred falls in love.  Alfred knows he has to meet the woman.  He arranges a date, and once it is set, Alfred can hardly wait for the day to arrive.  Unfortunately, things do not go as planned.

                On the day of the date, Alfred gets fired.  After years of service, Mr. Matuschek has suddenly decided Alfred should no longer work for him.  Despite what happened, Alfred still decides to meet his date.  He expects to find the woman of his dreams, but instead he gets another shock.  The woman he has been writing to all this time is Klara. 

                Not sure what to do, Alfred eventually goes into the restaurant and sits with Klara.  She is not happy to see him as she is expecting the man she has fallen in love with.  Of course that man could not possibly be Alfred.  No, instead of considering that possibility, Klara goes about her usual routine of insulting Alfred and putting him down.  As a result, Alfred does not reveal who he truly is and Klara ends up sitting alone, never meeting her mystery man.                             

                After leaving the restaurant, Alfred is called to the hospital.  Mr. Matuschek is recovering there after a suicide attempt.  He admits to Alfred that he suspected Alfred of having an affair with his wife.  That is why their relationship was going so badly and why Alfred was fired.  Now, after receiving further information, Mr. Matuschek knows he was wrong.  To make it up to Alfred, Mr. Matuschek makes him the shop’s manager.  Alfred accepts this position gladly.  Even before he was fired Alfred felt unworthy to be with the woman he desired.  Now that he is a manager, he no longer has this concern.  The only problem he has now is how to share his feelings with the woman that loves him in letters but so detests him in life.

                As I watched this film, I completely understood why Klara got on Alfred’s nerves.  She was really annoying.  So was Pepi (William Tracy), the errand boy.  I could have done without him.  Pirovitch (Felix Bressart) I really liked.  He was Alfred’s friend and co-worker at the shop.  No matter what happened, he always had everyone’s best interests at heart.  When Alfred was fired, Pirovitch went to check on him.  After Alfred discovered his mystery woman was Klara, Pirovitch helped with that situation too.  In other words, Pirovitch was just a good man.  As was Alfred.  Yes, he got heated at Klara, but he was never out to hurt anyone.  It made it easy to cheer for him, even if it meant he ended up with Klara.      

                I think it would be really interesting to watch The Shop Around the Corner and You’ve Got Mail back to back.  That way I could fully note the similarities and differences between the two.  I think I’ll do that some day.  When, I’m not sure, but it will certainly be a fun afternoon.