Love with the Proper Stranger (1963)

A salesclerk at Macy's department store finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand with a musician, who does not even remember her.

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writer:

Arnold Schulman

Stars:

Natalie Wood, Steve McQueen, Edie Adams

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Angie Rossini is an innocent Italian Catholic Macy's salesgirl, who discovers she's pregnant from a fling with Rocky, a musician. Angie finds Rocky (who doesn't remember her at first) to tell him she's pregnant and needs a doctor for an abortion. He finds her a doctor and they work together to raise the money. Can these two strangers find love with one another before it's too late?

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Plot Keywords:

love | abortion | italian american | musician | pregnancy | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the 11:17 mark of the movie, you see Rocky rush past a man in the crowd (Richard S. Castellano who would play Clemenza in The Godfather (1972)).

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Goofs

When Rocky is in Barbie's apartment and is talking about the ugly dog, Barbie's body position is different in the shots at eye level (she is bent over) than at dog level (she is upright).

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Quotes

Angie Rossini: Go, go where the wind blows you!

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Crazy Credits

As if to recognize the importance of the script, Arnold Schulman's credit appears right after the main title. This was a rarity in an era when screenplay credits traditionally appeared third to last, before the producer and director cards.

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Connections

Featured in Steve McQueen: Man on the Edge (1990)

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Soundtracks

Love with the Proper Stranger
Written by Johnny Mercer and Elmer Bernstein
Performed by Jack Jones

User Reviews

Star power at its best

This movie is heightened by the fact that Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen are the stars. They have enough acting talent and chemistry together to make it work. The subject matter probably made this controversial in the sixties but the movie doesn't seem old in a stupid way. The supporting cast is good too - Hershel Bernardi, especially, as Natalie's overly-possessive brother.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

25 December 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Love with the Proper Stranger

Filming Locations:

253 West 73rd Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pakula-Mulligan, Boardwalk Productions, Rona

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1