The shop around the corner

Cecil says: At last a feel-good film. This 1939 classic was showing at the NFT to a packed audience. Average age in the room must have been 70 and I couldn't help wondering how many were watching the film for the 10th or 12th time. For Bea and me, it was our first, but may well not be our last!

Set in Hungary, in a small, family-run leather goods store. James Stewart is the lead salesman (or clerk, as the Americans obviously called them then). Stewart the actor is already 31 when this film was made (his first film was at what would now be considered the ancient age of 28), but he is probably supposed to be quite a bit younger in role (and the programme notes suggested that he was chosen over other Hollywood greats of the time as he was thought to be relatively 'ugly', which seems a bit unfair).

The most charming character is Pirovitch, the Groucho Marx lookalike whose comic value early in the film (he does an about-turn every time the shop owner asks for an 'honest opinion') slowly changes into compassion and warmth: he is the one who is always there to support Kralik (Stewart) through thick and thin.

The plot centres around an early-day Lonely Hearts correspondence. Remember those days when a hand-written letter could be eagerly awaited in the poste restante? The ending is predictable but warm and delightful; the kind of boost to the spirit everyone needs around Christmas. A film to rival 'It's a Wonderful Life' for cosy charm on a winter's night.

Just not sure about the garters in the last scene...

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Bea says: The garter scene was completely lost on me - too young I guess to remember men wearing garters with socks! Yes this film was a tonic after our recent overwhelmingly gloomy choices. Lovely Christmas-y snow scenes, and a certainty that it was all going to turn out alright in the end - Stewart was going to get the girl. The best scene for me was Matuschek describing their shared Christmas dinner to the young messenger lad - roast goose, red cabbage, potatoes, cucumber salad, stewed apple, and apple strudel to follow. Exactly as my own (German) grandmother would have made for Christmas. It made my mouth water just to think of it, and a trip to Cafe Daquise wouldn't have been out of order afterwards. However, we were on the South Bank, so Wagamamas had to do.
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