MovieChat Forums > The Shop Around the Corner (1940) Discussion > Top Billing?

Top Billing?

posted 17 years ago by Eponymous-too
2 replies | jump to latest

In the closing credits Margaret Sullavan gets top billing over Jimmy Stewart who had been in several hit movies prior to this one. I took a look at what Sullavan had been in and none of them even rang a bell.

Does anyone know why Stewart got second billing?

"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider."

[–] rexshard93 17 years ago

Margaret Sullavan was one of the actresses who is responsible for developement of James Stewart's career.

[–] Tolmides 16 years ago

Also, if the two leads were of similar notability (not sure whether this would be true of Sullavan or not) the male would often be billed second; a little bit of Hollywood chivalry.