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How much do you know about The Shop Around the Corner? | Quiz

A film with a great deal of charm and grace, 'The Shop Around the Corner' (1940) is a real treat for classic movie enthusiasts. Let's take a quick look at this great film, now preserved by the National Film Registry.

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
251,984

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
647

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (9/10), Debba2024 (10/10), Guest 168 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. 'The Shop Around the Corner' is not set in the English speaking world, but rather the story comes to us from a capital city in eastern Europe. In what city and country does the action in this lovely film take place? Hint

Sofia, Bulgaria

Prague, Czechoslovakia

Budapest, Hungary

Warsaw, Poland

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Question 2 of 10

2. The events of the film revolve around a small gift shop and the employees within. Beautifully filmed, and, for the most part set within the confines of the shop, who artfully directed this romantic comedy classic? Hint

Clarence Brown

Preston Sturges

Ernst Lubitsch

Howard Hawks

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the name of the gift shop at which all of the main characters of this film work? Hint

Katona's

Matuschek's

Gruillard's

Karensky's

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Question 4 of 10

4. Among the employees at the gift shop, none works harder than Alfred Kralik, a young man who has worked himself up from clerk to lead salesman. What classic Hollywood icon plays the part of young Mr. Kralik? Hint

Jimmy Stewart

Cary Grant

Clark Gable

Henry Fonda

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Question 5 of 10

5. The 'leading lady' in this film, namely Miss Novak, is played by Margaret Sullavan. What is the first name of this delicate but occasionally cantankerous character? Hint

Klara

Teresa

Antonia

Sophie

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Question 6 of 10

6. Miss Novak enters the shop one day looking for a job, but Alfred Kralik and the store's owner are very hesitant to hire her. What item is she cleverly able to sell to a customer that lands her a job? Hint

Handbag

Cigarette case

Telescope

Sunglasses

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Question 7 of 10

7. What winner of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar plays Ferencz Vadas, an obsequious fop who gets himself into trouble after its discovered that he has been carousing with the shop-owner's wife? Hint

Walter Brennan

Joseph Schildkraut

Thomas Mitchell

Van Heflin

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Question 8 of 10

8. Despite his work as an exemplary employee at the shop, Alfred Kralik is summarily dismissed by the owner of the shop. Why has this happened? Hint

The owner believes that Kralik has been having an affair with his wife

The owner has heard that Kralik is a member of the Communist underground movement

The owner believes that Kralik has been embezzling money from the shop

The owner believes that Kralik is undermining his authority with the other employees

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Question 9 of 10

9. An important side plot revolves around a love affair that Kralik is having via the mail. He has met a woman through the local want ads, and they have been exchanging letters ever since. Kralik is finally able to have a meeting with this mystery woman at a local cafe. What book is she supposed to have set on her table to identify her? Hint

Crime and Punishment

Robinson Crusoe

Madame Bovary

Anna Karenina

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Question 10 of 10

10. At the end of the film, Alfred Kralik decides to reveal to Miss Novak that it is he who has been secretly correspondong to her by mail. Before doing so, he decides to tell her as a ruse that he met the man with whom she has been sending love letters. What name does he give her? Hint

Nikolaus Morensky

Charles Novotny

Mathias Popkin

Pieter Komova

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 07 2024 : Guest 174: 9/10
Nov 04 2024 : Debba2024: 10/10
Sep 30 2024 : Guest 168: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Budapest, Hungary

'The Shop Around the Corner' was based on a 1937 play entitled 'Parfumerie' by Hungarian playwright Mikl�s L�szl�. All the events took place during the pre-World War II era in Hungary, during which time the economy was depressed.

Interesting fact: The 1998 movie 'You've Got Mail' was a remake of this film!

Answer: Ernst Lubitsch

Ernst Lubitsch was a German-born Jewish film director who started his movie career in Germany, but moved to Hollywood in the early 1920s. He is considered to be one of the greats of the 'screwball', romantic comedy genre. Some of his other films include 'Ninotchka', 'To Be or Not to Be' and 'Heaven Can Wait'.

Of his films that I have seen, this one is my favorite.

3. What is the name of the gift shop at which all of the main characters of this film work?

Answer: Matuschek's

One of the real treats of this film is the fine performances of the supporting characters. In particular, a notable performance is submitted by Frank Morgan, who plays the owner of the shop, Mr. Matuschek. You may have heard of Frank Morgan before, perhaps, I don't know...from 'The Wizard of Oz'? He played the wizard himself!

Answer: Jimmy Stewart

One of the all-time greats, Jimmy Stewart could play it both serious and screwball. Within a two year period (1939-1940), Stewart made such classic films as 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington', 'Destry Rides Again', 'The Shop Around the Corner' and 'The Philadelphia Story'.

He would then take leave from Hollywood after the following year to serve in World War II. He returned in 1946 to do a little film called 'It's a Wonderful Life', and continued to make fantastic films until the late 1970s (though he did return one more time to voice Wylie Burp in 1991's 'An American Tail: Fievel Goes West').

5. The 'leading lady' in this film, namely Miss Novak, is played by Margaret Sullavan. What is the first name of this delicate but occasionally cantankerous character?

Answer: Klara

Margaret Sullavan short but interesting Hollywood career. A rising star in the 1930s, she appeared in such films as 'Only Yesterday' and 'The Mortan Storm'. After failed marriages with Henry Fonda and director William Wyler, Sullavan was married to agent Leland Hayward and had several children.

She essentially dropped out of Hollywood in the early 1940s. Here's a quote from the ill-fated actress: 'Perhaps I'll get used to this bizarre place called Hollywood, but I doubt it.' Sadly, she committed suicide in 1960 after a longtime battle with a mental disorder.

Answer: Cigarette case

Mr. Matuschek discusses the cigarette case with Alfred prior to Miss Novak's entry into the store. Despite Matuschek's pleasure with the case, Alfred convinces him that it will never sell. Miss Novak, desperate for a job, shows off her salesmanship by unloading the cigarette case on a customer. Matuschek hires her after this impressive display!

7. What winner of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar plays Ferencz Vadas, an obsequious fop who gets himself into trouble after its discovered that he has been carousing with the shop-owner's wife?

Answer: Joseph Schildkraut

Joseph Schildkraut is only one among several great supporting actors in this film. I especially enjoyed the performance of Groucho Marx-lookalike Felix Bressart, who plays Alfred Kralik's closest confidant, the charming Pirovitch.

By the way, Schildkraut won his Oscar for the 1937 film 'The Life of Emile Zola', where he played Lt. Dreyfus.

8. Despite his work as an exemplary employee at the shop, Alfred Kralik is summarily dismissed by the owner of the shop. Why has this happened?

Answer: The owner believes that Kralik has been having an affair with his wife

Alfred Kralik loses his job at Matuschek's with no explanation. Mr. Matuschek simply hands him his last month's worth of salary, provides him a with a glowing recommendation letter and dismisses him from his job. It turns out that Matuschek's wife has been having an affair, and Matuschek initially believes it to be with Kralik.

As mentioned above, however, it turns out that this is just not true!

Answer: Anna Karenina

Released from his job on the very day he is set to meet his mystery date, Kralik ends up going to the cafe, despite his reservations. There he is surprised to discover that the woman he has been corresponding with is his co-worker Klara Novak! He does not reveal to her at this time who he is, choosing instead to prod and poke her.

She acts rather defensively and describes Kralik very unflatteringly. Needless to say, he walks away without having let on that he is her secret love.

Answer: Mathias Popkin

Kralik is amusingly coy with Klara, leading her to believe that he has met her secret love and describing him as someone very undesirable. Finally, he reveals that he is her secret love, and they live happily ever after!

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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