MovieChat Forums > The Shop Around the Corner (1940) Discussion > getting engaged

getting engaged

posted 17 years ago by shokwave-1
10 replies | jump to latest

so people in the 40s and 50s got engaged pretty quick in a relationship huh? how did they stay married, or didn't they? it's hard to imagine. my how things have changed.

[–] KatzaSchuk 16 years ago

Although the film was made in 1940, I believe that the actually story takes place around the turn of the century (1900ish).

But I do agree that it is hard to imagine becoming engaged over the weekend to a man you have never even met face-to-face.

"She is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me!" Mr. Darcy

[–] beckeis 15 years ago

My brother and his wife met ove the phone -- He was in the Airforce and she was an Airforce operator and they talked all of the time. They met for a weekend when he came back to the states, became engaged, married a year later and have been married for 32 years! No joke!

[–] cmashieldscapting 13 years ago

If he was so sure he was getting engaged, why a necklace and not a ring? Is the custom different in Hungary?

[–] Stratego 12 years ago

This movie most certainly does NOT take place around the turn of the century. The play is from 1937 and takes place in 1937. And looking at the way people were dressed, the movie also appears to take place in the late 1930's.

[–] movieghoul 12 years ago

Agreed, near the end someone notes that the store had its best day since 1928.

[–] d120421 12 years ago

I agree that SHOP is no period piece.

In an interview extolling the virtues of YOU'VE GOT MAIL, Nora Ephron said it was the first version of this plot to have a "contemporary setting," but I think she was wrong.

In addition to the previous contemporary touches in SHOP,it also makes several pointed references to the Depression ("so many people are out of work") which was still very much an issue in the late 1930s.

[–] movieghoul 12 years ago

I think it's Alfred and CLara's naive approach to love which makes people think this is a period piece, even in 1930s Budapest, their attitudes would be considered quaint and hopelessly old fashioned. Alfred's coworker is somewhat bemused at the idea of falling in love through letters, and in the musical version of the film She Loves Me, Clara confidnes in a coworker who's equally bemused.

[–] irvberg2002 10 years ago

Katza, watch the film again and check out the cars (taxis) shown - late thirties.

[–] doug7347 11 years ago

Director William Wyler proposed to Margaret Tallichet after an acquaintance of 2 weeks, and they married a week later. The marriage lasted until the end of his life, and reportedly was very happy. In his work Wyler was known as 100-take Willi, but in romance he made up his mind quickly.

In the movie Klara and Alfred really knew each other quite well from their work at the store.

[–] rck_n_rll 11 years ago

It's definitely not set that early. I always felt like this movie was meant to be contemporary. You have the boss whose wife is cheating on him. Pirovitch who has a hard life, but is trying to make the best of it and is happy for what he has. Then the two main characters who are hopeless romantics with their heads in the clouds. I think for the time, it was a contemporary look at love.