As Long As the Envelope's Closed, You're a Millionaire

Recommended to me by several websites listing the "best Christmas movies," today's movie, The Shop Around the Corner is not so much of a Christmas movie. Again. I promise to bring you a real Christmas movie tomorrow.

Despite it not being much of a Christmas movie, it is an awfully sweet movie. The movie is directed by Ernst Lubitsch, and starring James Stewart (who was in more than 100 films, including one of my favorites, The Philadelphia Story), Margaret Sullavan, and Frank Morgan (best known for his many roles in The Wizard of Oz - including The Wizard).

The movie tells the story of two correspondents, who become pen pals via a newspaper ad to discuss culture, literature, and ideas. We soon discover that Klara (Sullavan) and Alfred (Stewart), the two correspondents, work for the same company, which is run by Hugo Matuschek (Morgan), and the two don't like each other very much. They fall in love with each other through the letters, but antagonize each other more every day in person. After various side plots occur, it becomes Christmas Eve, and Klara and Alfred agree via their letters to meet in person. Klara confides in Alfred about this, and that she is very nervous about it, but hoped to be engaged by the end of the evening. After teasing her greatly, Alfred finally admits to her that he is her pen pal. Klara is relieved, happy, and they embrace, and are most certainly engaged by the end of the evening.

The actors are wonderful in this film. Stewart is dry and cold, and yet endearing, as usual. Sullavan's character comes out as a realistic person, which tends to be rare in female roles for most old films. Morgan is as lovable in this film as he is in The Wizard of Oz.

This movie gives you the warm-and-fuzzies of Christmas, even if it's not the most Christmas-focused film. I recommend it, but it's not on my list of best Christmas movies ever.