The Shopworn Angel is one of my favorite movies because it's not a typical romantic comedy with a happy ending.
The year is 1917 and WWI is underway. Jimmy is a soldier stationed in New York before being sent overseas. We get a sense of his character's loneliness when he goes into a soda shop to write himself a few postcards.
Margaret plays Daisy, a nightclub singer famous enough to get her picture in a magazine or two. How to describe her personality? Well, let me put it this way; from the first minute she appears onscreen in her high-rise apartment, you get a good idea of how she might treat someone like Jimmy if she ever had the chance.
Alas, they do meet-cute and Jimmy is instantly hit by cupid's arrow (bless his little heart) despite unreciprocated feelings from Daisy and sneers from her jealous boyfriend-manager, played by Walter Pidgeon (Mrs Miniver). Jealous of a country bumpkin, you might ask? It's true - in one scene, Mr. Miniver knocks over what appears to be a ceramic Statue of Liberty that Jimmy won at Coney Island (Ah, the days when they gave out fragile ceramic prizes).
Jimmy is very good in this role. His character, Private Bill Pettigrew, has all the idealism that we love about Jimmy Stewart which makes the character so convincing. Pettigrew's sincere determination to win over Daisy before he leaves for the trenches will melt your heart. I swear, every time I watch this movie and see Jimmy with a box of chocolates in one hand and flowers in the other I ask myself will they or won't they? He and Margaret Sullivan had such great chemistry; it's hard for me to choose which movie with them I love more - this one or Shop Around the Corner.
All of the performances are top notch, including a very memorable performance by Hattie McDaniel who has to make a very brave decision toward the end of the film. If you have not seen this film, I highly recommend adding it to your must-see list. It's a beautiful, thought-provoking film. Directed by HC Potter.
If you want to read more about the making of the film,
check out the TCM full synopsis here, where you'll find trivia and more about the production (before she died, Jean Harlow was considered for the part of Daisy).
This post is part of the
James Stewart Blogathon hosted by the Classic Film & TV Cafe.
You can view the complete blogathon schedule here.
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Hoskins, who starred in the groundbreaking 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, one of my favorites.
