Love with the Proper Stranger
Directed by Robert Mulligan
Written by Arnold Schulman
1963/USA
Pakula/Mulligan; Boardwalk Productions; Rona
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] Rocky Papasano: [about family] That’s what makes it rough – when they love you.[/box]
Could super-cool Steve McQueen be tender? Why, yes he could!
Angie (Natalie Wood) is a salesclerk at Macy’s. She is from a very traditional Italian family but is a bit rebellious. A couple of months back, she had a brief fling with musician Rocky (McQueen) after a dance as an “experiment”. The experiment left her pregnant and she now approaches Rocky asking him to find her a doctor to abort the child. He does but neither can go through with it.
After a bit of persuasion from Angie’s brother, Rocky says he will marry Angie. She isn’t interested in spending the rest of her life with an unwilling partner. The outcome is inevitable.
I really liked this one. It’s an off-beat romance for the era and the writing and acting are strong. Wood is feisty and fiery in her role and I have never seen McQueen quite like this. Recommended if the plot appeals.
Love with the Proper Stranger was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Actress; Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen; Best Art Direction – Set Decoration, Black-and-White; and Best Costume Design – Black-and-White.
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