Love with the Proper Stranger (
1963The year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City....
) is a romantic comedy
drama filmA drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, crime and corruption put the characters in conflict with themselves,...
made by Pakula-
MulliganRobert Mulligan was an American film and television director.-Early life and career:Mulligan studied at Fordham University before serving with the United States Marine Corps during World War II...
Productions and Boardwalk Productions and released by
Paramount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is a Worldwide American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is the world's oldest existing American film studio; it is also the last...
. It was directed by
Robert MulliganRobert Mulligan was an American film and television director.-Early life and career:Mulligan studied at Fordham University before serving with the United States Marine Corps during World War II...
and produced by
Alan J. PakulaAlan Jay Pakula was an American film director, writer and producer noted for his contributions to the conspiracy thriller genre.-Career:...
from a screenplay by
Arnold SchulmanArnold Schulman 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....
.
The film stars
Natalie WoodNatalie Wood was an American actress....
, Steve McQueen,
Edie AdamsEdie Adams was an American singer, Broadway, television and film actress and comedienne. Adams, a Tony Award winner, "both embodied and winked at the stereotypes of fetching chanteuse and sexpot blonde."-Biography:...
,
Herschel BernardiHerschel Bernardi was an American film, Broadway and television actor.He is best known for his starring roles on Broadway including Fiddler on the Roof , Zorba, and Bajour, but he also acted in many television shows, including Harbor Command and The Eleventh Hour Herschel Bernardi (30 October...
and
Harvey LembeckHarvey Lembeck was an American comedic actor best remembered for his role as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on The Phil Silvers Show in the late 1950s, and as the stumbling, overconfident outlaw biker Eric Von Zipper in the Beach Party movie series during the 1960s...
. The film also marked the screen debut of
Tom BosleyThomas Edward Bosley is an American actor, best known for his starring and supporting roles on the television shows Happy Days, Murder, She Wrote and Father Dowling Mysteries.-Early life:...
.
The film's title song, written by
Elmer BernsteinElmer Bernstein was an American film score composer. He was famous for composing music for The Ten Commandments, The Man with the Golden Arm, The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven, Meatballs, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Ghostbusters.-Early life:Bernstein was born in New York City, the son of...
and
Johnny MercerJohn Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American songwriter and singer. As a songwriter, he is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
, was recorded by
Jack JonesJack Jones may refer to:*Jack Jones , a fictional Texan tycoon in Oliver Stone's film Nixon*Jack Jones , American jazz and pop singer*Jack Jones , Welsh novelist and playwright...
.
The film tells the story of Angie Rossini (
Natalie WoodNatalie Wood was an American actress....
), a salesgirl at
Macy'sMacy's is a chain of mid-to-high range American department stores. Its selection of merchandise can vary significantly from location to location, resulting in the exclusive availability of certain brands in only higher-end stores...
department store who finds herself pregnant after a brief affair with musician Rocky Papasano (Steve McQueen).
Love with the Proper Stranger (
1963The year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City....
) is a romantic comedy
drama filmA drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, crime and corruption put the characters in conflict with themselves,...
made by Pakula-
MulliganRobert Mulligan was an American film and television director.-Early life and career:Mulligan studied at Fordham University before serving with the United States Marine Corps during World War II...
Productions and Boardwalk Productions and released by
Paramount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is a Worldwide American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is the world's oldest existing American film studio; it is also the last...
. It was directed by
Robert MulliganRobert Mulligan was an American film and television director.-Early life and career:Mulligan studied at Fordham University before serving with the United States Marine Corps during World War II...
and produced by
Alan J. PakulaAlan Jay Pakula was an American film director, writer and producer noted for his contributions to the conspiracy thriller genre.-Career:...
from a screenplay by
Arnold SchulmanArnold Schulman 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....
.
The film stars
Natalie WoodNatalie Wood was an American actress....
, Steve McQueen,
Edie AdamsEdie Adams was an American singer, Broadway, television and film actress and comedienne. Adams, a Tony Award winner, "both embodied and winked at the stereotypes of fetching chanteuse and sexpot blonde."-Biography:...
,
Herschel BernardiHerschel Bernardi was an American film, Broadway and television actor.He is best known for his starring roles on Broadway including Fiddler on the Roof , Zorba, and Bajour, but he also acted in many television shows, including Harbor Command and The Eleventh Hour Herschel Bernardi (30 October...
and
Harvey LembeckHarvey Lembeck was an American comedic actor best remembered for his role as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on The Phil Silvers Show in the late 1950s, and as the stumbling, overconfident outlaw biker Eric Von Zipper in the Beach Party movie series during the 1960s...
. The film also marked the screen debut of
Tom BosleyThomas Edward Bosley is an American actor, best known for his starring and supporting roles on the television shows Happy Days, Murder, She Wrote and Father Dowling Mysteries.-Early life:...
.
The film's title song, written by
Elmer BernsteinElmer Bernstein was an American film score composer. He was famous for composing music for The Ten Commandments, The Man with the Golden Arm, The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven, Meatballs, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Ghostbusters.-Early life:Bernstein was born in New York City, the son of...
and
Johnny MercerJohn Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American songwriter and singer. As a songwriter, he is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
, was recorded by
Jack JonesJack Jones may refer to:*Jack Jones , a fictional Texan tycoon in Oliver Stone's film Nixon*Jack Jones , American jazz and pop singer*Jack Jones , Welsh novelist and playwright...
.
Plot
The film tells the story of Angie Rossini (
Natalie WoodNatalie Wood was an American actress....
), a salesgirl at
Macy'sMacy's is a chain of mid-to-high range American department stores. Its selection of merchandise can vary significantly from location to location, resulting in the exclusive availability of certain brands in only higher-end stores...
department store who finds herself pregnant after a brief affair with musician Rocky Papasano (Steve McQueen). When she tracks him down he doesn't remember her. She does not expect him to marry her; all she wants is enough money to pay for an
abortionAn abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
. Meanwhile, Angie is being pressured by her older brothers, played by
Herschel BernardiHerschel Bernardi was an American film, Broadway and television actor.He is best known for his starring roles on Broadway including Fiddler on the Roof , Zorba, and Bajour, but he also acted in many television shows, including Harbor Command and The Eleventh Hour Herschel Bernardi (30 October...
and
Harvey LembeckHarvey Lembeck was an American comedic actor best remembered for his role as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on The Phil Silvers Show in the late 1950s, and as the stumbling, overconfident outlaw biker Eric Von Zipper in the Beach Party movie series during the 1960s...
, to marry the unappealing cook Anthony (
Tom BosleyThomas Edward Bosley is an American actor, best known for his starring and supporting roles on the television shows Happy Days, Murder, She Wrote and Father Dowling Mysteries.-Early life:...
).
Rocky scrapes up money for the crude backroom abortion. But when he and Angie meet the abortionist, it turns out the abortionist is not a doctor. Rocky refuses to let her go through with the dangerous procedure. The maturity he shows by doing this brings them closer. After meeting her brothers, Rocky proposes he "take his medicine" by marrying her. Angie is insulted and refuses. Angie wants a love relationship, with "bells and banjos."
As an act of independence Angie moves out of the family home. She begins dating Anthony, who offers to marry her. By acting aloof she attracts Rocky, whom she invites to dinner. At dinner he makes advances on her and is rejected. Angie says she doesn't want to make the last mistake. They quarrel and she throws him out. The next day, Rocky waits for her outside Macy's, ringing bells and playing a banjo, and wins her over.
Academy Award and other nominations
The film was nominated for five
Academy AwardsThe Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is...
for:
- Best Actress in a Leading Role
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
(Natalie Wood)
- Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Black-and-White
The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999...
(Hal PereiraHal Pereira was an American art director and production designer....
, Roland AndersonRoland Anderson was an acclaimed movie art director, famous for receiving 15 Academy Award nominations but never winning an Oscar. Anderson's fist Oscar nomination was for his first film in 1933, "A Farewell to Arms". A frequent collaborator with Cecil B...
, Sam Comer, Grace GregoryGrace Gregory was an American set decorator. She was nominated for two Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.-Selected filmography:Gregory was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction:* Love with the Proper Stranger...
)
- Best Cinematography, Black-and-White
The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work in one particular motion picture....
(Milton R. KrasnerMilton R. Krasner, A.S.C. was a film cinematographer. He won an Academy Award for Three Coins in the Fountain .-Career:...
)
- Best Costume Design, Black-and-White
This Academy Award was first given for movies made in 1948 when separate awards were given for black-and-white and color movies.- 1940s :Black-and-White*1948: Roger K. Furse – Hamlet** Irene Lentz – B...
(Edith HeadEdith Head was an American costume designer who had a long career in Hollywood that garnered eight Academy Awards—more than any other woman in history.-Early life and career:...
)
- Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen.
The film was also nominated for two Golden Globes Awards for Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories.