Love with the Proper Stranger

Love with the Proper Stranger
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Mulligan
Written by	Arnold Schulman
Produced by	Robert Mulligan Alan J. Pakula
Starring	Natalie Wood Steve McQueen Edie Adams Herschel Bernardi Tom Bosley
Cinematography	Milton R. Krasner
Edited by	Aaron Stell
Music by	Elmer Bernstein
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	December 25, 1963 (1963-12-25)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$8.5 million
Box office	$3.6 million (rentals)[1]

Love with the Proper Stranger is a 1963 American romantic comedy-drama film made by Pakula-Mulligan Productions and Boardwalk Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Robert Mulligan and produced by Alan J. Pakula from a screenplay by Arnold Schulman.

The film stars Natalie Wood, Steve McQueen, Edie Adams, Herschel Bernardi and Harvey Lembeck. The film also marked the screen debut of Tom Bosley and features a brief, uncredited appearance by the director's younger brother Richard Mulligan, who later became a well-known television actor. The film received five Academy Award nominations including Best Actress (for Wood).

Plot[]

The film tells the story of Angie Rossini (Natalie Wood), a salesclerk at Macy's department store who finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand with musician Rocky Papasano (Steve McQueen). When she tracks him down, he doesn't remember her. She wants the name of a doctor for an abortion. Meanwhile, Angie is being pressured by her older brothers, played by Herschel Bernardi and Harvey Lembeck, to marry the unappealing restaurateur Anthony (Tom Bosley).

Rocky and Angie scrape up enough money for the crude backroom abortion. But when he and Angie meet the abortionist, who turns out not to be a doctor, Rocky refuses to let her go through with the dangerous procedure. The maturity he shows in doing this brings them closer. After meeting her brothers, Rocky decides to "take his medicine" by marrying her. Angie is insulted and turns him down. Angie wants romance, with "bells and banjos".

As an act of independence, Angie moves out of her family home. She begins dating Anthony, who offers to marry her and claim the baby as his own. By acting aloof, she attracts Rocky, whom she invites to dinner at her apartment. At dinner, he makes advances on her and is rejected. Angie says she does not want to make the same mistake again. They quarrel and she throws him out. The next day, Rocky waits for her outside Macy's, ringing bells and playing a banjo, and wins her heart.

Cast[]

• Natalie Wood as Angie Rossini
• Steve McQueen as Rocky Papasano
• Edie Adams as Barbie
• Herschel Bernardi as Dominick Rossini
• Harvey Lembeck as Julio Rossini
• Penny Santon as Mama Rossini
• Virginia Vincent as Anna
• Nick Alexander as Guido Rossini
• Augusta Ciolli as Mrs. Papasano
• Anne Hegira as Beetie
• Mario Badolati as Elio Papasano
• Elena Karam as the Woman
• Nina Varela as Mrs. Columbo
• Marilyn Chris as Gina
• Wolfe Barzell as the Priest

and introducing

• Tom Bosley as Anthony Columbo

Accolades[]

Also, the film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

• 2002: AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions – Nominated^[6]

See also[]

• List of American films of 1963
• 1963 in film

References[]

External links[]

• Love with the Proper Stranger at IMDb