I'm sorry, I don't see it....
I'll check the film again, but I don't recall Andrew doing much to stop Veronica from getting a job. He DOES try to prevent her from speaking to Mr. Oberkugen, but that's HIS job as the head clerk. Mr. Oberkugen originally also tells Veronica that there isn't a job opening...and then upbraids Andrew for putting him in the position of having to speak to her.
When Veronica offers to sing and play the harp for the lady customer, Andrew doesn't do anything to interfere with her performance (even though she somewhat insultingly says to him, "Well, of course, if YOU can't play (the piano)"
And as for Veronica's behavior after she gets the job, I stand by what I said before: that she's constantly rubbing it in Andrew's face. For instance, she comes up to him for some change and says: "Now, let's see, that's (whatever the amount) of business that I've done this morning. So you see, Mr. Larkin, this shop could use another clerk." Here Andrew could easily remind Veronica that Mr. Oberkugen also told her originally that there wasn't a job and lit into him for putting him in the position of having to deal with her, but he doesn't.
Then Veronica says, "You know, I think you're mad and I sold a harp and you couldn't." Never mind that Andrew never tried to sell a harp. When Mr. Oberkugen asks his opinion, Andrew, thinking of the good of the store (which Veronica doesn't) says they shouldn't buy the harps because not enough people play them, a sentiment with which Nellie agrees.
Then there's the condescending/contemptuous manner she treats him while preparing to perform "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland." She not only is condescending to him ("Would you like a little helllp?"), she deliberately keeps trying to get his goat by waiting until after he starts to play to add other bits of business ("I'll sing the verse....; "Introduction please..."; "Key of..." HERE WE GOOO! (Slaps him on the back.) We don't see Andrew doing anything like this to her, or doing anything to interfere with her performance.
Finally, Veronica not only does comic imitations of Andrew in the locker room, but she maliciously spreads a rumor that he's bowlegged. Since everyone else in the shop loves Andrew, we have to wonder who she does the imitations for, and we're left with the uncomfortable realization that Veronica must have fabricated the rumor herself. All she says is: "I have information to the contrary.." without revealing her source. She certainly didn't get it from anyone else at Oberkugen's. In any case, it's very mean-spirited of her to spread the rumors at all.
I'll admit that Andrew does refer to Veronica as "The Duchess" at one point, and there's a scene where Veronica tearfully complains that he's never satisfied with her work, but given Veronica's high-handed and contemptuous attitude toward him from the moment she enters the shop, why shouldn't he be annoyed with her? At least, unlike Veronica, he doesn't spread rumors about her, or attempt to embarrass her in front of customers.
And I'm not impressed with the fact that everyone else in the shop likes Veronica. None of the other co-workers had the unpleasant responsibility of telling her there wasn't a job available, so she's got no reason to have an issue with them. Also, she works under Andrew, is sometimes late for work, and takes exception when he relays an order from Mr. Oberkugen not to wear a certain blouse.
Finally, I don't see Veronica as really needing employment either. She may want it to fill up her days, and it undoubtedly contributes to the family income, but she doesn't seem to need it. Her aunt, Lillian Bronson, seems mildly put off by her applying for a "position." They live in very comfortable surroundings, and Veronica has a very elaborate wardrobe for a shopgirl, even before she starts working at Oberkugen's. She doesn't in any way approximate poor Margaret Sullavan's desperation is the vastly superior original non-musical Lubitsch version.
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gbennett5
11 years ago
Uh, try watching the film before commenting on it. Veronica states
clearly that she was out to look for a job before Andrew bumps into her.
Secondly, he attempts to shoo her away when she tries to seek employment
at the store. (telling her they're not hiring, attempting to block her
from talking to the owner). When she finally uses her brains and sells
the harp by singing and playing, he is clearly threatened and accompanies
her while sulking.
They are competitive with EACH OTHER.
Garland's character is extremely modern in that she goes after what she
wants and GETS IT. She is a great addition to the store (they weren't
even NEEDING another clerk yet she proves to be invaluable!).
Lastly, HOW could say she doesn't need employment when she clearly states
she's out of work??? What's she supposed to do, live off her aunt?
Yes, you need to revisit the film.
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d120421
11 years ago
Well, I probably will check it out again soon since it's the Holiday Season, butI think you might be better served revisiting the film than I, GB:
For instance, as I mentioned in my previous comment it's Andrew's job to keep potential job seekers away from Mr. Oberkugen, and, as a result of Veronica's high-handed tactics, he's upbraided by Mr. Oberkugen for not doing so
Andrew may look a little wary while he's accompanying Veronica on the piano, but unlike Veronica's sarcastic and insulting attitude toward him when setting up the performance of "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland," ("Would you like a little helllppp?" etc.) he does nothing to hinder her performance (in front of a potential customer yet), or to prevent her from showing off her skills as a singer and saleswoman.
And how is it admirable that Veronica takes out her frustrations about Andrew by cattily spreading the word that he's "bowlegged" and "doing imitations of him in the locker room?" Just where does she get her "information to the contrary?" And just who is she doing these imitations for? Everyone else in the shop likes Andrew...Small wonder that Andrew criticizes her work when she's blatantly (and publicly) insulting about him, personally and professionally.
Where is there anything in the film to show that Andrew is comparably vindictive about her?
I agree that Garland's character in this film is proactive, and it's a good thing she is, since she's put Oberkugen's on the hook for 99 harps in order to get her "position." Yeah, I know Byington reminds Sakall that the dealer will take the harps back, but he might never have to have faced the issue if Veronica hadn't buttered him up by alleging the harps would be an easy sell.
Veronica's a trained musician for heaven's sake...Not to mention an experienced music store saleswoman. Do you honestly believe she didn't know fully well that the harps would be a hard sell? Notice that all Veronica's success in the store, she's not able to sell another one.
And whatever Veronica's success I see no reason for her to be so catty and vindictive about her success in the store with Andrew, whose sullen attitude toward her seems appropriate to me, given her high-handed, contemptuous attitude towards him. They may be competitive with each other, but Veronica seems to be the aggressor/agitator in the relationship, constantly pushing Andrew's buttons to get a negative reaction out of him. And what is he supposed to do when she behaves this way? Ignore her?
And yes, I think Veronica could live off her aunt, if the aunt is making a comfortable enough living for both of them. She's certainly got an elaborate wardrobe for a "shopgirl." Their apartment/carriage house also seems pretty ritzy for a "working girl," and the aunt doesn't seem at all concerned whether Veronica has a job or not. While I don't object to her having a job (or wanting one, I do object to the haughty way she conducts herself at the store.
Veronica's not exactly Margaret Sullavan in the original SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, who, the script makes clear, needs the job to support her elderly aunt and grandmother. Judy may want a job to stave off boredom, but she's not desperate for one. Sullavan is on the verge of tears when James Stewart tells her there isn't a job available ("I've just GOT to have a job!") Veronica is just annoyed when Andrew tells her there isn't one.
I still maintain "Veronica Fisher" is Judy's most unlikeable role at MGM. It's a credit to Judy Garland's considerable talent that she's so appealing in it...as "Judy" but not as "Veronica."
You'd be well served to have another look at the film yourself.
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gbennett5
11 years ago
We'll just have to agree to disagree. I've seen the film so many times
I can't even count. And, to me, Andrew is just as bad (his finding out
about their being pen pals, then proceeding to humilate her and "ruin"
her evening is pretty awful). It is a tribute to BOTH Garland and the
always underrated Johnson that they make their characters LIKEABLE (they
are kind to everyone else, another reason it works).
As for the harps, WHO CARES if she only sold one? This was far better
than anyone else in the store! And look at all the other sales she
makes! The whole point of the harp angle is to:
A): Show how resourceful Veronica is; how gifted she is; how charming
she is, and what a great sales lady she can be.
B): To show how stubborn Otto is by purchasing instruments that
DON'T SELL!
The fact that you think Veronica isn't worth the hire because she doesn't
sell the rest of the harps is absurd. Guess what? She doesn't
fly either, but she's still a good sales lady and it makes sense that
she was hired and kept on.
Lastly, you suggest that there would be nothing wrong with Veronica living
off her aunt! Talk about someone not being likeable - sponging off
their elderly relative. Uh, how long should she have done this? A
year? Two years? Until she gets engaged? Married? Bizarre.
This is one of Garland's best comic performances. I find Veronica
gutsy, even ballsy. And not unattractively so.
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