Love with the Proper Stranger

1963
Approved
1h 42m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

5.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 5 Oscars
- 1 win & 11 nominations total

Trivia
Natalie Wood said that working on this film was "the most rewarding experience I had in all films, all the way around."

Goofs
When Rocky is lying down on Barbie's bed after she has left to sit at the kitchen table, only the second and third buttons on Rocky's shirt are done up, his shirt not tucked into his pants. In the next shot when he is about to get up, the second, third and fourth buttons on the shirt are done up, the shirt still not tucked into his pants. In the next shot as Rocky is now off the bed, all but the top button on his shirt are done up, the front of his shirt now tucked into his pants.

Quotes
Barbie: You know me in the cold weather - how I love to be in love. We are in love, aren't we? Really in love.
Rocky Papasano: Yeah - you with yourself, and me with myself.

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.

Connections
Featured in Entertainment This Week Salutes Paramount's 75th Anniversary (1987)

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

User reviews84

Review

Featured review

9/10

Charming and brilliant

Watching this film today, it's easy to forget how daring it was for its day (1963) -focusing on an illegal abortion.

It's also an fascinating mix of conventional romantic comedy mixed with real grit and passion - and the fact it starts off as unconventional as possible; girl meets boy, girl gets pregnant, girl and boy try to organise an abortion - and THEN girl and boy fall in love.

Natalie Wood was often miscast throughout her career - her dark beauty was used to try and pull of Nat as Hispanic, Nat as half-black, Nat as Mexican. In this film she's cast as Italian, and pulls it off perfectly. This could possibly be her greatest performance (alongside Splendor in the Grass and The Cracker Factory). She received an Academy Award nomination for this film. She gives such a natural performance (usually she's more self-conscious on film) - she is such a joy to watch and absolutely stunning.

Steve McQueen is at his most charming - usually he is playing the hero of an action film, so its great to see him display tenderness. Wood and McQueen have such great chemistry, its a shame this was their only film together.

Added to the mega-watt performances is the beautiful black and white cinematography and the NYC location shooting. A great film. Completely underrated.