THE SHOP ON MAIN STREET (1965, CZECHOSLOVOKIA)

My own personal March movie madness. My goal is make 31 posts in 31 days about 31 movies. They all must be non-U. S. films that I haven’t seen before. Why do I make this stipulation? Don’t know exactly, by we all have to have goals, don’t we?

Day eighteen, from Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
The Shop on Main Street (1965)

Since this is my eighteenth blog post in eighteen days, I’m a little tired and will just recount some of the original critical reception to this film:

“A Haunting Masterpiece”
Eleanor Perry, Life Magazine (How I miss Life magazine in its original form, meaning 1936-1972.)

“A Stunning Picture by any critical standard”
Bosley Crother, New York Times (Maybe the most influential American critic of his era)

“Masterful. One of the Great Films of Our Time”
William Wolf, Cue Magazine (I reckon Cue was a pretty important film magazine in its day.)

Brilliant and Extraordinary”
Judith Crist, New York Herald Review (If Crist gave a film a positive review during the 60’s and 70’s, her praise was usually the first critical review to go on the marquee. I was on the phone with Judith Crist on a talk show during the 70’s but got cut off, so never did find out what she thought of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

“A rare mixture of comedy and tragedy.”
Archer Winsten, N. Y. Post

Guess I could throw in that it one the Best Foreign Film Academy Award in 1965.

Since I agree with Mr. Winsten and Mr. Crother and don’t want to write a full review, I’ll just embellish their blurbs.

“Archer Winsten said it’s a rare mixture of comedy and tragedy and Bosley Crother found it stunning and I’m in agreement.”
Chris, a librarian
www.1001afilmodyssey.blogspot.com