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Love with the Proper Stranger
Love with the Proper Stranger
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Mulligan
Written by	Arnold Schulman
Produced by	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;
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$8.5 million
Box office	$3.6 million (rentals)

Love with the Proper Stranger is a 1963 American romantic 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).

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 department store who finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand with part-time musician Rocky Papasano. When she confronts him at mass audition at Carnegie Hall, he claims to not remember her. Her only request is that Rocky help fund and find the name of a doctor who is willing to perform an abortion. Meanwhile, Angie is being pressured by her working-class older brothers to marry Anthony, an unappealing but successful restaurateur.

Rocky and Angie scrape up enough money for the abortion but are confronted by Angie's brothers, who chase them through the neighborhood. Rocky is able to sneak into a friend's warehouse, where the two discuss life, their mistakes and future prospects. When he and Angie meet the crude abortion-care provider in a dubious part of the New York City Meatpacking District (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 ex-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 marriage-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 restaurateur, 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 mentions marriage once again, Angie invites him to "just come over for dinner" at her apartment. 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 two 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 the "bells and banjos" she expects 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, slamming the door. The next day, Rocky wins her heart by waiting for her outside the crowded Macy's, holding the sign, "Better Wed Than Dead", ringing bells and playing a banjo.

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
Marilyn Chris as Gina

and introducing

Tom Bosley as Anthony Columbo
Richard S. Castellano as Extra

Accolades

Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
Academy Awards^[2]^[3]	Best Actress	Natalie Wood	Nominated
	Best Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen	Arnold Schulman	Nominated
	Best Art Direction – Black-and-White	Hal Pereira, Roland Anderson, Sam Comer and Grace Gregory	Nominated
	Best Cinematography – Black-and-White	Milton Krasner	Nominated
	Best Costume Design – Black-and-White	Edith Head	Nominated
Golden Globe Awards^[4]	Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama	Steve McQueen	Nominated
Golden Globe Awards^[4]	Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama	Natalie Wood	Nominated
Laurel Awards	Top Drama		4th Place
Laurel Awards	Top Female Dramatic Performance	Natalie Wood	Nominated
Mar del Plata International Film Festival	Best Film	Robert Mulligan	Nominated
Mar del Plata International Film Festival	Best Actress	Natalie Wood	Won
Writers Guild of America Awards^[5]	Best Written American Comedy	Arnold Schulman	Nominated

References

^ "Big Rental Pictures of 1964". Variety. January 6, 1965. p. 39.
^ "The 36th Academy Awards (1964) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
^ "NY Times: Love with the Proper Stranger". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-03-16. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
^ "Love with the Proper Stranger – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
^ "Awards Winners". wga.org. Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-06-06.