I liked You've Got Mail well enough, although I think it got seriously weird in a few parts, but this movie, that it was based on, totally outshines it.

The Shop Around the Corner was based on a Hungarian play, and was set in Hungary, which is funny, as everyone has Hungarian names, but don't try to use Hungarian accents or anything. Could you imagine Jimmy Stewart using a Hungarian accent?

Stewart is amazing in this film. The amount of nuance he brings to his character of the shop manager who is corresponding with a girl through letters is striking. He brings such a calm dignity to everything he does - it is a delight to see.

Margaret Sullavan, at the co-worker who he fights with at the store, while unknowingly sending love letters to each other, is not as good as Stewart, but she acquits herself fairly well.

I really enjoy the supporting cast, though, from the owner of the store to their various co-workers. A lot of good performances.

Probably my favorite scene comes late in the film, when Stewart is mocking Sullivan's pen-pal (himself, of course) by pointing out stuff like where he plagarized a line from Victor Hugo.

This is a delightful film, and since it ends at Christmas-time, you can even argue that it counts as a Christmas film!!

Anyone else watch this one?

-Brian