So perfectly constructed it can be easy to initially overlook its feeling of spontaneity and human interaction. Even a suicide attempt, framed indirectly by the pop of a light bulb, plays less as black comedy than an impossibly optimistic show of human empathy and interdependence. That its revelation of lovers' identities to each other occurs after all the bright lights have been turned off around them seems so fitting for a film that subtly inverts everything you expect while producing a paragon of generic entertainment.

Jimmy Stewart is perfect.

Not to sound like a 50s grandma complimenting her friends sponge pudding, but this was delightful. My first Lubitsch film but certainly not my last. It has the kind of narrative that would probably fail in most modern romantic comedies, with the air of confusion between the unbeknownst couple gradually wearing thin and the audience growing impatient for the eventual reveal, but not here thanks to Lubitsch’s pacing and how adept he is at using his peripheral characters. It’s such a joyous, fun film yet still augmented with sprinkles of drama and sadness. I didn’t realise it was set around Christmas otherwise I would have waited until December to watch it, but it certainly captures the potential loneliness of the holiday season and the desperate hope to be pulled out of that lull by something/someone magical. This will likely become annual viewing.

Just utterly delightful, incredibly sweet from start to finish. Jimmy Stewart is just the greatest freaking human being. This is one of those times you just want to say "they don't make them like they used to" and for once it be fitting, there just aren't movies this clever, funny and sophisticated being made today and it's just a bummer.

Clerks (1940)

Charming romantic comedy has co-workers (Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart) constantly arguing at work but what they don't know is that they are falling in love via pen-pals.

This is actually the first "big" Lubitsch film I've actually watched as he's a director I haven't really gotten into yet but that'll certainly change after viewing this film. The direction here is incredibly strong and I really enjoyed the way Lubitsch kept the story going without getting everything too complicated or more difficult than it had to be. The pacing of the storytelling was wonderfully done as well.

The big key to the film is the chemistry between Sullavan and Stewart who are wonderful together. Whenever they're fighting it comes off very funny and charming and the romantic scenes come off exactly as they should. Frank Morgan is terrific as their boss and William Tracy does a nice job as an arrant boy.

"Psychologically, I'm very confused… But personally, I don't feel bad at all!"

Merci The Shop Around the Corner d'épouser aussi parfaitement les contours de mon être et de m'enligner sur la bonne track quand j'en ai justement le plus besoin. Peu de films ont ce pouvoir que seule l'amitié possède.

The sweetest little gem of a film.

I don't know why I adore this film so much. It's just so warm and affectionate that I can watch it any day and instantly feel better

i'm soft

100/100
This is what I live for.

A great romantic comedy is hard to come by, but one that’s perfect is pretty much unheard of. This is a simplistic film, but I do not mean that in a bad way. Its just a testament to how clever writing, incredible acting, and clear direction can take an otherwise simple concept to unimaginable heights.

The romance comes on slow because it is a film that takes its time to build its characters but it all comes together perfectly in the last five minutes or so.

I couldn't stop laughing with the ridiculousness of this film, James Stewart will forever be my man crush, but Poppy stole every scene that he was part of.