The Enduring Charm of The Shop Around the Corner

The longing for genuine connection remains a timeless desire. Whether it is in the confines of social media or in our everyday lives, we are presenting a version of ourselves. There are many reasons why we do so: for protection or the need to be perceived in a certain light. When you think about allowing someone in and seeing the real you—all of you—it is a scary feeling. It is much easier to share sides of yourself when you are sitting behind a screen or writing an anonymous letter to someone from the Lonely Hearts ads you found in a newspaper. For Mr. Kralik and Kara Novak falling in love with each other was easy when they didn’t know who they were talking to each other. The Shop Around the Corner captures this yearning with both warmth and wit. Directed by the well-regarded Ernst Lubitsch (To Have and Have Not, Ninotchka), the film centers on two seemingly incompatible people who unexpectedly fall in love. 

Set in a small gift shop in Budapest, The Shop Around the Corner follows Alfred Kralik, the head clerk played by James Stewart, and Klara Novak, an outspoken new employee portrayed by Margaret Sullavan. Kralik takes great pride in his work, but tension arises as he begins to clash with his demanding boss and Klara, whose strong will and determination make her a standout addition to the sales team. Once a part of the team as a sales assistant, she quickly proves that she is a great addition to the shop. Kralik doesn’t make it easy working at the shop and the two are constantly at odds. 

Unbeknownst to them, Kralik and Klara respond to a Lonely Hearts advertisement in the newspaper and begin corresponding with an anonymous pen pal. Through these heartfelt letters, they open their hearts, sharing their dreams, vulnerabilities, and deepest emotions. As their connection grows stronger, neither realizes that the person they’ve fallen for on paper is the same person they can’t stand.

Stewart and Sullavan have a sensational chemistry in The Shop Around the Corner. As headstrong as Kralik and Klara tend to be, the two actors bring an endearing charm to their roles. Their dynamic moves seamlessly from witty banter to moments of tenderness which creates a believable authenticity to their relationship. Kralik and Klara Novak epitomize the beloved “enemies-to-lovers” trope. From their very first meeting, Kralik and Klara establish a combative dynamic. Klara’s confident and determined attitude immediately clashes with Kralik’s more reserved personality. Now having to share space in the gift shop and having to work together, their rivalry grows stronger. 

As pen pals, they unknowingly pour their hearts out to one another, building an emotional intimacy that stands in stark contrast to their bickering in person. The progression of their enemies-to-lovers romance is when Kralik discovers that Klara is his mystery correspondent. When he goes off to meet his mystery date, he is met with it being Klara sitting and waiting. At first, he wants to stand her up but eventually, he goes in to speak with her. He doesn’t tell her that it is him that she is meeting, he lets her believe that she has been stood up. 

Rather than immediately revealing the truth, Kralik’s demeanor begins to shift subtly. His teasing becomes gentler and his interactions with Klara more considerate. One notable scene in The Shop Around the Corner is when Kralik visits Klara at her home. Despite her initial hostility, his kindness and warmth begin to break down her defenses. This becomes a significant turning point in their relationship. Stewart and Sullavan’s chemistry breathes life into every moment they share. Their ability to convey both conflict and affection with such authenticity makes their characters’ love stories feel deeply earned.

The Shop Around the Corner allows Kralik and Klara to fall in love through anonymous letters while remaining antagonistic in their real-world interactions. The hidden identity tropes in The Shop Around the Corner highlight the gap between how Kralik and Klara perceive each other and who they truly are. As coworkers, they are rivals and always at odds. Klara sees Kralik as highly critical, while Kralik views Klara as opinionated. However, in their letters, they reveal their softer sides. They only know what is written on the page and have no biases towards one another. They share their souls through letters and build a foundation of trust and intimacy that transcends their real-world animosity.  

Through their letters, Kralik and Klara’s craft romanticized portraits of each other. They have created an idealized person in their minds and have fallen head over heels for that person. However, they forget that no one is without flaws. When Kralik realizes that Klara embodies both the pen pal he admires and the coworker he finds exasperating, it forces him to reconcile these two versions of her. As he accepts Klara for all that she is, he can feel deeply for her and feels a more authentic love. This also provides growth for both Kralik and Klara. When he finds out who she is, he allows himself to become more patient and understanding. When Klara finally realizes it has been Kralik all along, she also has to reconcile with the idea of who she is in love with and who Kralik is. He has flaws, however, his heart is genuine.

The idea of true genuine connection remains as relevant today as it was in 1940. Kralik and Klara’s yearning for a soulmate reflects the universal desire to be understood and loved for one’s true self. Through their anonymous correspondence, they express feelings and ideas that they cannot share in their daily lives, both due to the constraints of their professional roles and the walls they have built around themselves. For Alfred, the letters offer an escape from the pressures of his job. For Klara, they provide a reprieve from the judgments of others and a space to dream of a love rooted in mutual understanding. The Shop Around the Corner poignantly captures the deep human desire to be seen and valued for who we truly are.

Finding genuine connection is a universal human experience. We are looking for the one person who we connect with, someone who sees and loves us wholly. It is easy to reveal the imperfect and unguarded sides of ourselves with someone who isn’t right in front of you. It is easy for Kralik and Kara to let their guards down when there is no one standing in front of them to judge them or have to present themselves in a way to the world. Their story in The Shop Around the Corner beautifully illustrates the struggle to move past surface-level judgments and embrace the entirety of another person, flaws and all. Their story reminds us that the path to true connection often requires us to look beyond initial impressions and take the risk of vulnerability. 

While Kralik and Kara’s romance takes center stage in The Shop Around the Corner, the shop owner Mr. Matuschek, played by Frank Morgan, is also longing for connection. His loneliness and insecurity lead him to misjudge Kralik and alienate himself from those around him. If it wasn’t for one of his loyal employees, Mr. Matuschek’s loneliness almost got the best of him. By the end of the film, he begins to rediscover a sense of belonging. Mr. Matuschek’s subplot adds to the theme of longing for connection, showing that connection also isn’t just about romance. Humans are constantly looking to connect whether it is romantic or just friendship. We just want to be seen and heard. 

The Shop Around the Corner is more than just a film—it is a celebration of the moments, both tender and tumultuous, that define our shared humanity. It stands as a near-perfect romantic comedy intertwining sharp wit and humor with heartfelt human emotions. In the years since its release, The Shop Around the Corner has inspired numerous adaptations and re-interpretations including Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The Shop Around the Corner remains not only a blueprint for romantic comedies, but a gold standard for the genre.