The Movie The Shop Around the Corner (1940) is a Korean DVD cover
In January 1940, Mao Zedong published "On New Democracy"; the directors of the two Republics, Fei Mu (1906-1951) and Wu Yonggang (1907-1982), successively launched the "national treasure film" "Confucius" and the "Republic of China Realistic Edition" of "Snow White in China"; Ernst Liu Beiqian Ernst Lubitsch (1892-1947) launched a warm romantic comedy "The Shop on the Corner/Penpal Quest" in the United States on January 12, 1940 Around the Corner kicked off the new year; Howard Hawks (1896–1977) followed on January 18 with one of the masterpieces of "neuro-comedy," Tabloid Her Girl Friday (1940), followed by Hollywood star John Ford (1894–1973) The Grapes of Angry Grapes Wrath (1940), Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) butterfly dreams Rebecca (1940), William Wheeler William Wyler (1902-1981) The Letter of Tears (1940), Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) The Great Dictator Different genres of films, such as Dictator (1940) and George Cook George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story (1940) by George Cook (1899–1983), also meet audiences across the United States.
From left to right: Partial posters for the films Confucius (1940), Butterfly Dream Rebecca (1940) and Snow White of China (1940).
Two other Disney animations, Fantasia Fantasia (1940) and Pinocchio (1940), also brought joy to the audience, leaving American audiences still in a state of no feeling about World War II.
By the beginning of 1941, the 13th Academy Awards had awarded best film to Butterfly Dream, while Ernst Liu Beiqian's "The Shop on the Corner", which we will introduce next, was completely ignored and not even nominated, while james Stewart (1908-1997) won the 13th Academy Awards for Best Actor for the film "The Philadelphia Story" released that year.
However, 50 years later, "The Shop on the Corner" was included in the 100-year 100 love films selected by the American Film Institute and collected by the National Film Protection Agency.
On the set of the movie Shop Around the Corner (1940), from left to right: Margaret Sullavan, director Ernst Liu Biechen ernst Lubitsch and James Stewart
In January 1940, Ernst Liu Beiqian's "Shop on the Corner" began a "roadshow" across the United States, and he said in an interview with the news reporter of the New York City Sun at the time: "This is not a blockbuster movie. This is just a funny sketch with a little charm. Its production cost is not high, and this one main cast of cass does not exceed 500,000 US dollars. We spent 28 days making this movie. Hopefully, it will bring intoxication and good emotions to the audience. ”
According to the reports of the tanban news media at that time, "The Shop on the Corner" was filmed in the order of the development of the plot. In order to better wait for the suitable film schedule of James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan (1909-1960), Ernst Liu Bieqian has been delaying the preparation time period for this film.
During that time, he first made the film Ninočka / Ice Beauty / The Exotic Mandarin Duck Ninotchka (1939).
Images of Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart in the film The Shop Around the Corner (1940) by Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart
"The Shop on the Corner" is about a grocery gift shop that has been in business for many years on a bustling street corner. The boss is Meituchek (played by Frank Morgan). There are several men and women clerks.
Among them, Clarrick (James Stewart) is the oldest but not too old chief clerk. Novak (Margaret Sullavan) is a recent clerk. But the fanciful Novak looked down on her superior, Krerick.
The two quarreled over this. The Prince Charming in her mind is a "pen pal" she has never met before! But in fact, this "pen pal" is none other than Kryrick.
James Stewart's image in the film The Shop Around the Corner (1940).
Soon, the situation in the store suddenly changed. Kryrick was dismissed by his boss on the pretext of finding a job because he was suspected of having an affair with the boss's wife. But at this time, he was just going to go to the pen pal's appointment. But guilty of losing his job, Crierick did not identify himself.
On the other hand, the boss soon after the fact found that there was someone else who actually put a green hat on him. Embarrassed and frustrated, he tried to shoot himself. Fortunately, it was stopped by Trotting Poor Pippi. During the hospitalization, the owner entrusted the store to Kryrick.
Christmas Eve is coming, and with the efforts of Clarrick and others, the single-day income of the small shop has reached a record high! At this time, all the members of the small shop, including the boss who has just recovered and been discharged from the hospital, have a good mood to welcome the arrival of the new year.
Stills from the movie The Shop Around the Corner (1940), frank Morgan Morgan (left) and James Stewart
And our hero, but found that the "pen pal" who was thinking about the twilight was actually Novak, and after hesitating for a long time, he finally plucked up the courage to confess his love to novak, the "pen pal" who had always been in the dark...
The film does not describe the economic crisis at that time too much, but only depicts the life of people in the background of this big era, although compared to the main line of love, this branch is only a branch, but such a branch provides a lot of viewing points and depth for the film, but also makes people feel a little sad, and it is also what makes the film not only happy but also touching.
Ernst Liu Beiqian gave the film a very rich connotation, so that the audience will feel cold for a second during the viewing process, and the interest will be pulled from beginning to end. This may be the greatness of Ernst Liu Beiqian, who does not deliberately pursue depth, he only uses superb storytelling to make us admire from the bottom of our hearts.
Although the personal characters and character relationship between the two protagonists, James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan, influence the course of the story, they do not have such a prominent position in the success of the film. Because the performances of several other supporting characters are equally outstanding.
The boss, Metuchek, is not bad in heart, and his employees are not bad. And diligent and sincere, more than 20 years as a day into the business.
However, the ability is limited, and there is also a slight hypocrisy and good fortune. These small faults are vividly reflected in the well-designed and choreographed section of the director Ernst Liu Beiqian's sales of eight-tone cigarette boxes.
Stills from the film The Shop Around the Corner (1940), Felix Bressart (left) and James Stewart
Played by Bilović was one of the ace supporting characters in Ernst Liu's films, Felix Bressart (1892-1949). He was Jewish and was born in Germany in 1892. In his early years, he was a famous actor in the German Benny Theatre Company.
It is said that Hitler turned out to be a big fan of his. In his autobiography, Conrad Hetton also mentioned that Hitler once said, "It's a pity that Felix Bressart is a Jew!" ”。
Back to The Shop on the Corner. Felix Bressart plays Bilović. Cowardly by nature, I never want to get ahead. Although the situation forced it to often express respect for the leader, but also suffering from the limitation of qualifications, often the horse patted on the horse's hoof. For example, it was hard to open the car door, but it was the playboy dressed as a colleague who came down.
Stills from the movie The Shop Around the Corner (1940).
In addition, he is also a good friend of the protagonist Kryrick. The two often exchanged their work intentions and life insights in private. As a person who drags the family and brings his mouth, this old man can always give his friends some advice that is not lacking in wisdom and philosophy. On one occasion, he talked to Krerick about some of the problems the latter would encounter in his possible future marriage:
Kryrick: For example, there has to be a three-bedroom apartment. Dining room, bedroom and living room.
Bilovich: What do you want to do with the three-bedroom apartment? You live in the bedroom on it!
KRELLIK: Where to eat?
Bilovich: The kitchen! A nice big kitchen is enough.
KRELLIK: What about entertaining guests? Where to entertain guests?
Bilovich: Who do you think you are, Ambassador? What guests do you need to entertain? If they're really your friends, they should come back after dinner!
In Ernst Liu Beiqian's comedy films, many of the philosophies of life usually come from the dialogue between the secondary supporting role and the protagonist. And these dialogues, because of the huge contrast between the status and literacy of the speakers and their wise words, can often produce strong comedic effects!
This comedic model was also borrowed by Preston Sturges (1898-1959), a loyal admirer of Ernst Liu Bieqian.
In Preston Sturges's film Sullivan's Travels (1941), the butler who gushes about his interests before his master leaves...
Most of the scenes in "The Shop on the Corner" are done in a gift shop, which is just a very limited space, and it is not expected that the interaction of the characters will make the audience look endlessly fun, as if they are in a big family.
When Ernst Liu Beiqian created clever humor, he also added a plot of the boss lady's affair, enriching the story itself, but not hindering the operation of the main plot.
In fact, Ernst Liu Beiqian arranged the love story of James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan very cleverly, and he did not constantly ink too many annoying details of the fight on these two men and women who looked at each other, but instead confessed the fact of their discord in the first time That Margaret Sullivan first joined the store and confessed the fact of their discord in the middle of the conversation, making the plot tend to be concise and bright.
Director Ernst Liu Beiqian's technique is both commercial and playful, such as one of the paragraphs describing the music cigarette box, after making a bunch of jokes, only subtly use a shot to explain its fate, needless to say, Ernst Liu Beiqian's high-chapter technique can be seen.
The creation of "Street Corner Shop" follows the mainstream comedy model of Hollywood, advocating mainstream social values and promoting an optimistic and positive attitude towards life. The characters in the story are more personal and distinct, and at the same time, the use of the classic "touch" of Ernst Liu Beiqian in the past is relatively reduced. But this did not affect the overall quality of the film. Because Ernst Liu Beiqian, as a great director, can still ensure that the work always develops in the direction he requires through perfect control of the actor's performance and story rhythm.
The Shop Around the Corner (1940) set, from left to right: director Ernst Liu Biechen Ernst Lubitsch, James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan
Ernst Liu Beiqian, a comedian whose career spanned the era of silent and sound films, was highly praised for his comedies, and even the Japanese giant Yasujiro Ozu (1903-1963) and the Chinese director Sang Arc (1916-2004), who had directed "Long Live the Wife" (1947) and "Mourning Middle Age" (1949), thought that they stole a lot from him.
Film critic William Paul William Paul noted, "Ernst Liu Has never paid much attention to the dynamic effects of social groups in past films. Previously, his films, even with social groups, were set up to better define personal impulses. It is the first time that Ernst Liu Bie-chim's film has used the individual as part of a social group. James Stewart lived up to expectations as the "manager" of that team, a character with individual heroism.
Stills from the movie The Shop Around the Corner (1940), from left to right: Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan Morgan, and James Stewart
The film is also reminiscent of director Frank Capra (1897-1991), who is also good at comedy, and frank Capra's classic "How Nice Life/ The Good Life It's a Wonderful Life", which is also about the lives of small people, is also full of positive attitudes to life, is also so funny and warm, and is also starring James Stewart.
In both films, the directors have done a little, and they let us living in reality really feel the joys and sorrows of the people and are full of enthusiasm and hope for life in a slightly dramatic form.
Maybe this is the light, knowing that there is darkness in the world, but every time we look up, we always feel the beauty of life.
Compared to the old classmates James Stewart and Henry Henry Fonda (1905-1982) Margaret Sullivan, the three of whom became good friends because they studied theater together, she went to Hollywood earlier to make a film, and Margaret Sullivan was already a popular actress when she made this film, and James Stewart was able to star in "The Shop on the Corner" thanks to her introduction, saying that she took over the film at the same time, named the company to borrow the popular newcomer James Stewart, just right, He just starred in one of the best films, Mr. Smith to Washington/Long Live Democracy. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), so he was very popular, so he successfully made this film, really launched his own silver journey, and took a big step forward for future success.
Promotional photo for the magazine by Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart by Margaret Sullivan and James Stewart
Margaret Sullivan appeared in only 16 films in her lifetime. Among them, only this film is a classic. American film critics generally believed that no other actress at the time was more suitable to play Novak than she was. According to them, "Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) was too hard, while Jean Arthur (1900-1991) was too soft".
Yes, Margaret Sullivan was involved in Ernst Liu's film, not as a charismatic star but as a girl next door with naïve fantasies and a cute personality.
In terms of image, her simplicity coincides with the image of a working woman in a small shop, and at the same time, her unique voice is more conducive to comedic effects in line processing. It can even be said that without Margaret Sullivan, there would be no such a great comedy classic!
In "The Shop on the Corner", the friendship between the two is touching, according to the other actors in the play, James Stewart falls in love with Margaret Sullivan, the two are full of vitality, it can be said that Margaret Sullivan awakened James Stewart's faith and enthusiasm. Ernst Liu Bieqian, director of "The Shop on the Corner", reflected that James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan are the most tacit partners, and only they can show the fragile and delicate feelings of the lost soul.
Although they worked closely together at work and lived closely, none of Margaret Sullivan's successive marriages included James Stewart's name.
This is just like many people in China like to read "chicken soup for the soul" style of "imaginary" couple articles, just like Gregory Peck (1916-2003) and Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993), obviously not even a little love, to say that he is the "love of life".
From left to right: the first is a still with Giger Rogers in the film Vivacious Lady (1938); the second is a promotional photo with Marlene Dietrich for the film "Blood Fireworks/Desiring Horse Destin Rides Again" (1939); the third is a promotional photo with Olivia de Olivia de Olivia Havilland attended the premiere of his film Pot o' Gold (1941), in which he starred
In fact, James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan were just good friends, and in March 1939, James Stewart made Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992), the actress of "Blue Blood Fireworks/Dysquin Horse Destin Rides Again" (1939), pregnant; and married "Queen of Song and Dance" Rogers Rogers (1911-1995) and Nauma Sheila Norma Notable Hollywood actresses such as Shearer (1902-1983) and Olivia de Havilland (1916-2020) have been in a relationship.
And many of our domestic articles about James Stewart not only say that he is clean and self-righteous, but also have to make him an "obsessive gentleman", saying that he has been "obsessed" with Margaret Sullivan all his life.
The film In the Good Old Summertime (1949), starring Judy Garland and Van Johnson (right), is an adaptation of the original film, featuring Judy Garland's song and dance
In Hollywood, either you're full of emotions or you're happy. Obviously, James Stewart chose one love after another, and the women he chose were more plump, which was completely inconsistent with the image of Margaret Sullivan's life.
Judy Garland (1922-1969) starred in the 1949 song and dance film In the Good Old Summertime, which was adapted from "The Shop on the Corner", and the heroine's image was closer to the "dream" demanded by Hollywood than Margaret Sullivan; and half a century later, "The Shop on the Corner" was replaced by the "e-Love Letter/Online Love Story You've Got Mail" (e-Love Letters/Online Love Affair You've Got Mail) in the Internet age. In 1998), Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks gave the remake a new charm – the "screen couple" 'awe' for the original version was palpable.
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