Love with the Proper Stranger (1963)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writer:

Arnold Schulman (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

she needed him...he needed her...if they only realize it!

Plot:

Angie Rossini is an innocent (Italian Catholic) Macy's salesgirl, who discovers she's pregnant from a fling with Rocky...

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Abortion | Italian | Department Store | Catholic

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Pakula-Mulligan

Trivia:

Tom Bosley's movie debut.

Quotes:

Rocky Papasano: [in Barbie's apartment after he and Angie stayed the night there] What are *you* doing here?
Barbie: Payin' the rent, for one thing. Which brings me to little orphan Annie you parked here - incidentally without my permission, number one which I would not give you, number two over my dead body.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Steve McQueen: The King of Cool (1998) (TV)

good on-screen chemistry makes for a great little film

Very satisfying movie that involves us completely in the conflicted relationship of the leads, played beautifully by McQueen and Wood (evidently Paul Newman was originally slated for the part). We find ourselves really rooting for them to get together. Sounds like a soap-opera "chick flick", but the story is sufficiently gritty and has enough comic touches to appeal to the guys, too. B&W works well to emphasize the New York atmosphere of the flick, with its many locale shots. The ethnic Italian ethos is well-captured, too. And to top it off is a wonderful score by Elmer Bernstein, whose music veers awfully close to sounding like that other Bernstein (and that's not a criticism!). I don't know why we don't see this one more often; thank you American Movie Classics.