Starring Van Johnson, Judy Garland, Buster Keaton, S.Z Sakall, Spring Byington

(7-Very Good Film)

Remake. Lovely. Extravagant.

Fantastic musical remake of The Shop Around the Corner, starring Van Johnson and Judy Garland as the antagonistic though smitten couple. The Shop Around the Corner (which was again remade and given a modern updating in 1998 as You’ve Got Mail) starred James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan as two always-at-war coworkers who are unknowingly each other’s pen pals. Johnson and Garland do a memorable job in these roles. Buster Keaton has a small but wonderful role as a coworker of the lead actors, and one prone to embarrassing bouts of clumsiness. The plush sets and Technicolor make this a truly beautiful film. The Shop Around the Corner remains the best version of this story, but both this film and You’ve Got Mail find their own way and make for great entertainment.

-Walter Tyrone Howard-

(388)