''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 Robert Patrick Mulligan (August 23, 1925 – December 20, 2008) was an American director and producer. He is best known for his humanist dramas, including ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962), '' Summer of '42'' (1971), ''The Other'' (1972), '' Same ...

and produced by

Alan J. Pakula Alan Jay Pakula (; April 7, 1928 – November 19, 1998) was an American film director, writer and producer. He was nominated for three Academy Awards: Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Picture for ''To Kill a Mockingbird (film), To Kill a Moc ...

from a screenplay by

Arnold Schulman Arnold Schulman (born August 11, 1925) is an American playwright, screenwriter, producer, a songwriter and novelist. He was a stage actor long associated with the American Theatre Wing and the Actors Studio. Biography Born to a Jewish family i ...

. The film stars

Natalie Wood Natalie Wood ( Zacharenko; July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981) was an American actress who began her career in film as a child and successfully transitioned to young adult roles. Wood started acting at age four and was given a co-starring r ...

, Steve McQueen,

Edie Adams Edie Adams (born Edith Elizabeth Enke; April 16, 1927 – October 15, 2008) was an American comedian, actress, singer and businesswoman. She earned the Tony Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award. Adams was well known for her impersonations ...

Herschel Bernardi Herschel Bernardi (October 30, 1923 – May 9, 1986) was an American actor and singer. He is best known for his supporting role in the drama television series ''Peter Gunn'' (1958–1961) and his leading role in the comedy television serie ...

and

Harvey Lembeck Harvey Lembeck (April 15, 1923 – January 5, 1982) was an American comedic actor best remembered for his role as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on ''The Phil Silvers Show'' (a.k.a. ''Sgt. Bilko'', a.k.a. ''You'll Never Get Rich'') in the late 1950s, and a ...

. The film also marked the screen debut of Tom Bosley and features a brief, uncredited appearance by the director's younger brother

Richard Mulligan Richard Mulligan (November 13, 1932 – September 26, 2000) was an American character actor known for his roles in the sitcoms ''Soap'' (1977–1981) and ''Empty Nest'' (1988–1995),. Mulligan was the winner of two Emmy Awards (1980 ...

, who later became a well-known television actor. The film received five

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

nominations including

Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress aw ...

(for Wood). The film addresses themes of abortion, norms of conventional marriage and adulthood.

Plot

The film tells the story of first generation Italian, Angie Rossini (

), a salesclerk at

Macy's Macy's (originally R. H. Macy & Co.) is an American chain of high-end department stores founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy. It became a division of the Cincinnati-based Federated Department Stores in 1994, through which it is affiliated wi ...

department store who finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand with part-time musician Rocky Papasano ( Steve McQueen). When she confronts him at mass audition at Carnegie Hall he claims to not remember her. Her only ask is that Rocky fund and find the name of a doctor that is willing to perform

abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pre ...

. Meanwhile, Angie is being pressured by her working-class older brothers, played by

and

, to marry the unappealing but successful restaurateur Anthony ( Tom Bosley). Rocky and Angie scrape up enough money for the abortion but are confronted by Angie's brothers who chase them in the neighborhood. Rocky is able to sneak into a friend's warehouse where the two discuss life, their mistakes and future prospects in life. When he and Angie meet the crude abortion care provider in a dubious part of the New York City

Meatpacking District The Meatpacking District is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan that runs from West 14th Street south to Gansevoort Street, and from the Hudson River east to Hudson Street. The Meatpacking Business Improvement District along ...

(who turns out not to be a doctor but a back-room abortionist), Rocky refuses to let her go through with the dangerous procedure much to the relief of Angie, who rests from the trauma in Rocky's old girlfriend's apartment. The maturity he shows in doing this brings them closer and Angie grows to respect him. After meeting her brothers, Rocky(who was given the requisite black eye by the oldest brother) decides to "take his medicine" by agreeing to marry her. Angie, who has more romantic aspirations in life, is insulted by the insinuation of marry by duty and refuses. Angie wants romance, with "bells and banjos". As an act of independence, Angie moves out of her family home much to the chagrin of her immigrant mother. She begins dating the restauranteur, Anthony, who offers to marry her (and claim the baby as his own.) By acting aloof, she confuses and attracts Rocky back to Macy's where he inquires about her condition. When Rocky, once again discusses marriage, she invites to him to "just come over for dinner" at her apartment instead. The dinner is structured as a "date night" with a well-prepared meal and cocktails. Rocky is impressed with her ability as a homemaker, but even more impressed by her well-dressed and sexy appearance. After 2 stiff drinks, he makes crude advances on her and is rejected yet again. Angie says she does not want to make the same mistake again citing that she is expecting "bells and banjos" in her relationships and that after all the time spent together she actually "likes him." They quarrel and the sobbing Angie throws him out of the apartment and slams the door. The next day, Rocky waits for her outside the crowded Macy's with the sign, "Better Wed than Dead", ringing bells and playing a banjo, and wins her heart.

Cast

as Angie Rossini * Steve McQueen as Rocky Papasano *

as Barbie *

as Dominick Rossini *

as Julio Rossini *

Penny Santon Pierina Burlando (September 2, 1916 – May 12, 1999) was an American film, stage and television actress. She was known for playing the role of Mama Rosa Novelli in the American crime drama television series ''Matt Houston''. Santon died in May ...

as Mama Rossini *

Virginia Vincent Virginia Vincent (May 3, 1918 – October 3, 2013) was an American film, television and theatre actress. She was known for playing the role of "Jennie Blake" in the 1958 film ''The Return of Dracula''. Vincent died in October 2013, at the ...

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 Marilyn Chris (born May 19, 1938) is an American actress, possibly best known as Wanda Webb Wolek on the ABC soap opera, '' One Life to Live''. Education Born in Brooklyn, New York, Chris attended the High School of Performing Arts and City ...

as Gina * Wolfe Barzell as Priest ''and introducing'' * Tom Bosley as Anthony Columbo *

Richard S. Castellano Richard Salvatore Castellano (September 4, 1933 – December 10, 1988) was an American actor who is best remembered for his role in ''Lovers and Other Strangers'' and his subsequent role as Peter Clemenza in ''The Godfather''. Early life Castella ...

as Extra

Accolades

Also, the film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: * 2002: AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions – Nominated

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Love With The Proper Stranger 1963 films 1963 comedy-drama films 1963 romantic comedy films 1960s romantic comedy-drama films American black-and-white films American pregnancy films American romantic comedy-drama films 1960s English-language films Films about abortion Films directed by Robert Mulligan Films scored by Elmer Bernstein Films set in New York City Paramount Pictures films 1960s American films

Plot

Cast

Accolades

See also

References

External links