Great Moments From Cinema - 8

Sealed With A Kiss
Movie: The Shop Around The Corner (Loew’s Inc. and MGM; 1940)
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Screenplay: Miklós László (play), Samson Raphaelson and Ben Hecht
Major Cast: Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart

Film Synopsis: Stewart and Sullavan are co-workers in a little gift shop and who can’t stand each other. However, neither one knows that they are secret pen pals, madly in love.

My Favorite Moment: Stewart disclosing to Sullavan that he is her mystery man.

Why I Like It: What a pleasure it is to see films like these. In most cases you know what you are going to get. Sure there will be some anguish, some misunderstanding, some drama; but there is something so wonderful about watching two people in love come to that realization and live happily ever after. Plus, if that couple happens to be Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, well then it’s like being in a candy store. This is one of those delights from the classic era of Hollywood.

In the course of working together in the store, Sullavan and Stewart have grown to dislike one another, even though she feels more strongly about it than him. During their correspondence, they have gradually fallen in love because they firmly believe that it is the minds which matter, not looks. Although they do not know each others description, they are impressed by their mutual taste in literature and poetry. When finally they decide to meet, Stewart, who had just been fired that day, arrives at the rendezvous café and sees her. He is reluctant to reveal himself because he is sure that she would reject him, even though he is the author of those letters. Furthermore, thinking of him as her hated colleague, she proceeds to insult him thus making him leave without disclosing his identity. Some more heartache follows, after which it is the magical Christmas Eve with snow outside (of course), and Stewart and Sullavan are alone in the shop. She is excited because she’s going to meet her mystery person and expects him to propose. By this time Stewart has managed to mellow her feelings towards him as a co-worker and it is now when Stewart, with all his skills as an actor encourages her by saying that he is certain that she will be engaged before the weekend is through. The audience is pleading, “Tell her already” and so he does. He wears a flower on the lapel of his coat, which is their pre-decided symbol for identification, and looks at her as only Jimmy Stewart can. Sullavan’s eyes become big as she processes this information and when she asks if it is was really him all this time; there is just a subtle nod, as only Jimmy Stewart can nod. The audience lets out a collective sigh of relief as they finally kiss.

This movie is like that small puppy dog that just begs to be loved each time he looks at you with those wide eyes. The film was remade in 1999 as “You Got Mail” where email has replaced letters and Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are the leads. That is a good movie and Hanks and Ryan are excellent actors. But they are not Stewart and Sullavan; plus the famous ‘Lubitsch touch’ is missing. Besides there is something breathtaking about a love story shot in black and white. In all my years of watching films, I have not understood why audience likes predictable romantic movies. Do I really need to ask?