Why this 1940 romantic comedy is a masterclass in middle-class human connection
In short: Ernst Lubitsch’s The Shop Around the Corner follows two bickering shop clerks who unknowingly fall in love through anonymous letters. Though it struggled at the box office upon release, this film has since become a celebrated classic, praised for its authentic portrayal of ordinary lives and its enduring, sophisticated emotional depth.
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch and released in 1940, The Shop Around the Corner was adapted from Miklós László’s 1937 play Parfumerie. The film centers on Alfred Kralik and Klara Novak, two employees at a leather goods shop in Budapest who despise each other in person while unknowingly sharing a deep, romantic connection through anonymous correspondence. Lubitsch, who purchased the rights in 1938, faced significant hurdles in production; major studios were hesitant to back a film focused on the middle class, and the project was eventually greenlit by MGM only after Lubitsch agreed to direct Ninotchka first.
The film’s production was defined by a commitment to realism and atmosphere. Lubitsch insisted on using thirty tons of shaved ice to create genuine snow for the Christmas Eve sequences, and the set was meticulously researched to accurately reflect a period leather goods shop. Despite a modest production budget of $474,000, the film is now lauded for its nuanced character work. Critics like David Thomson have called it a treasury of hopes and anxieties, noting that the film’s power lies in its ability to make the audience sympathize with the vulnerabilities of its leads.
Beyond the romance, the film is a study of social identity. Scholars argue that the characters’ obsession with their professional status—and their desire to appear cultured—reveals a deep-seated fear of being perceived as insignificant. Unlike Lubitsch’s earlier, more upper-class comedies, this film focuses on the community and the economic anxieties of the middle class. Its influence has been vast, inspiring numerous adaptations, including the 1963 Broadway musical She Loves Me and the 1998 film You’ve Got Mail, cementing its status as a landmark in American cinema.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Shop Around the Corner
- Also: Wikidata — The Shop Around the Corner · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Shop Around the Corner · CC0
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