One of my all time favorites.

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I first saw this gem, knowing nothing about it, over thirty years ago in the much missed Theater 80 St. Marks in the east Village in NYC. I remember how deeply the film moved me as vividly today as back then. This is the kind of modest, sweet and emotionally true - and superbly written, acted and directed - movie that is the glory of the Golden Age.I cannot add to the perfect reviews above (especially the first few) except to reiterate their points about the emotional maturity and complexity of the picture. We feel the raw, physical nature of the relationship between Daisy and Sam - amazingly, with no nudity or the crudeness of films today. May I add the highly accomplished direction of the unsung pro H.C.Potter. His direction of the final scene is masterly: heartbreaking, with no dialogue, thereby heightening the very emotional climax's impact on the viewer., One of the chief techniques which make those films so superior to the vulgar, self-indulgent excess of today.

When the United States enters World War I, patriotic Texan Jimmy Stewart (as William "Bill" Pettigrew) is among those to sign up for service. In New York for basic training, Mr. Stewart is bowled over by showgirl Margaret Sullavan (as Daisy Heath), but she is promised to distinguished Walter Pidgeon (as Sam Bailey). With Mr. Pidgeon's okay, Ms. Sullavan shows young Stewart around the city, including the roller-coaster at Coney Island. They're supposed to be "just friends" but Stewart is falling in love… This was a direct re-make of the 1928 silent/sound success starring Nancy Carroll and Gary Cooper, and there were dozens of films with this romantic wartime love triangle. Most of the time, the male characters had different outcomes. The story is strained in places and diluted from the original, but the picture is nicely produced and performed well. The Stewart/Sullavan chemistry is easy to appreciate. A new Broadway musical sensation known as Mary Martin provides Sullavan with a beautiful singing voice.****** The Shopworn Angel (7/15/38) H.C. Potter ~ Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Walter Pidgeon, Hattie McDaniel

This is a cute romantic gem where a young Texan Private soldier (James Stewart) is receiving his final training prior to shipping to WW1-torn Europe when he is almost run over by a wealthy New York socialite Daisy Heath (Margaret Sullavan). After kind of "playing either hard to get or annoyed", she realizes that he is going to war and probably won't come back. Her eternal fiancé Sam (Walter Pigeon) is a true gentleman in doing a good deed to give some hope to this poor condemned soldier. Daisy (who is very well educated in real life – Harvard) initially doing a kind act of the heart is slowly seduced by the simplicity and genuineness of this young cowboy's heart.This story touched me deeply and I identified strongly to it. Margaret Sullavan is very articulate and so kind that she accepts to marry this young recruit because to him "she is a dream come true that may keep him alive during the years of hell that he will endure…" Years, Americans were very patriotic and draft/conscription was a fact of life for most young males. As a Veteran of three wars (Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq), I paid dearly for my own dreams of saving my country from the "commies" - I was raised in the late fifties. On one day of May 2003, on my 118th mission, my number came up; I woke up minutes later... disabled for life.I witnessed war, I saw destruction, and I experienced fear not to say terror. I shared room with many dismembered service members, some did not make it, some died with me as their only companion. Most of the expectant men that could talk, told me about their loved ones, often a young woman they never had the courage to ask in marriage before leaving... As an officer, I wrote many notes to "loved ones" as I promised my troops. The times may have changed in America, may be too much for our own good but basic human needs do not... we still need the love, the hope, the dream (so nicely expressed by "Daisy" in "The Shopworn Angel") that someone special does care back home.May God Bless America and brings justice to the evils that are eroding our country. Bring our troops back. And for the readers of my comments, please, for the memory of all the men/women that gave their lives for this country, treat our returning troops with respect and love. Thank you.

This is a great Classic film with great actors like James Stewart,(Pvt. William Pettigrew),"The F.B.I. Story",'59,who was very young in this picture and played a love sick soldier going to fight in WW1. Pvt. Pettigrew met Margaret Sullivan,(Daisy Heath),"The Mortal Storm",'40, a show gal who had a kind heart and some what fell in love with him even though she liked Walter Pidgeon(Sam Bailey),"The Bad & the Beautiful",'52, Sam stood by and watched the young couple go dating and enjoying themselves in Luna Park, Coney Island, N.Y. Amusement Park. Hattie McDaniel (Martha, Daisy's Maid),"Gone With the Wind",'39, who had a brief supporting role, gave a great performance and a few laughs. There was a musical scene during the film where Margaret Sullivan sings and dances to an audience of soldiers and sang,"Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag & Smile Smile Smile",which was an old time song sung during WWI. If you like an old Classic Film from 1938, and loved James Stewart when he was very young, this is the film for you!