Love with the Proper Stranger backdrop
Love with the Proper Stranger logo
1963·Comedy·1h 42m
7.1
Angie Rossini, an innocent New York City sales clerk from a repressive Italian-American family, engages in a short-lived affair with a handsome jazz musician named Rocky Papasano. When Angie becomes pregnant, she tracks down Rocky hoping he'll pay for her abortion.
Directed by Robert Mulligan
new york city
italian american
jazz singer or musician
unwanted pregnancy
abortion

Cast

Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood
Angie Rossini
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen
Rocky Papasano
Edie Adams
Edie Adams
Barbie
Herschel Bernardi
Herschel Bernardi
Dominick Rossini
Anne Hegira
Anne Hegira
Beetie
Harvey Lembeck
Harvey Lembeck
Julio Rossini
Penny Santon
Penny Santon
Mama Rossini
Virginia Vincent
Virginia Vincent
Anna
Nina Varela
Nina Varela
Mrs. Columbo
Marilyn Chris
Marilyn Chris
Gina
Augusta Ciolli
Augusta Ciolli
Mrs. Papasano
Wolfe Barzell
Wolfe Barzell
The Priest

Crew

Robert Mulligan
Robert Mulligan
Director
Elmer Bernstein
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
Milton Krasner
Milton Krasner
Director of Photography
Alan J. Pakula
Alan J. Pakula
Producer
Robert Mulligan
Robert Mulligan
Producer
Wally Westmore
Wally Westmore
Makeup Supervisor
Sam Comer
Sam Comer
Set Decoration
Edith Head
Edith Head
Costume Design

Popular Reviews

25 reviews
A
A
Love with the Proper Stranger
Second Favorite Romance Movie. The ending was cimena ldk how explain it.
Second Favorite Romance Movie. The ending was cimena ldk how explain it.
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L. Hepinstall
L. Hepinstall
Love with the Proper Stranger
Somehow the poor Natalie wood and the cocky macqueen have better chemistry than signing in the rain, yet the direction and acting was not that good. HOWEVER it’s refreshing seeing actors act in a way that is taboo nowadays, it’s old, dramatic, explosive and in a way erotic. I think that is a very good way to put this movie. 
like I would’ve acted just like my girl here if my bd was Steve McQueen, this movie is so hot.
Somehow the poor Natalie wood and the cocky macqueen have better chemistry than signing in the rain, yet the direction and acting was not that good. HOWEVER it’s refreshing seeing actors act in a way that is taboo nowadays, it’s old, dramatic, explosive and in a way erotic. I think that is a very good way to put this movie. 
like I would’ve acted just like my girl here if my bd was Steve McQueen, this movie is so hot.
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Lucas Ernstberger
Lucas Ernstberger
Love with the Proper Stranger
Despite the rushed ending, I quite liked this one. This had solid lead performances and some very good B&W cinematography. Also, despite what Amazon prime tells you, this is not a comedy.
Despite the rushed ending, I quite liked this one. This had solid lead performances and some very good B&W cinematography. Also, despite what Amazon prime tells you, this is not a comedy.
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Addie Pray
Addie Pray
Love with the Proper Stranger
At some point during the film, Steve McQueen goes “how you doin’?” in a strong New Yorker accent and I was like “was that who Joey from Friends was trying to embody (to an annoying extent) for ten whole seasons?”

What a sweet little film. This is going on the Obsessive Rewatch list I need to actually make soon.
At some point during the film, Steve McQueen goes “how you doin’?” in a strong New Yorker accent and I was like “was that who Joey from Friends was trying to embody (to an annoying extent) for ten whole seasons?”

What a sweet little film. This is going on the Obsessive Rewatch list I need to actually make soon.
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hQ0105
hQ0105
Love with the Proper Stranger
There’s something about it that just screams fall to me, so it’s my official fall season opener this year.

For some reason, I expected it to be more of a social drama (despite its title — so that’s on me), but it actually feels more like a pretty good, witty romcom.

Love with a Proper Stranger started off really progressive in the beginning and even into the middle, but by the end, it felt like love was with an extremely improper stranger. I really enjoyed about two-thirds of the film — Natalie Wood absolutely carried it, the black-and-white New York looks amazing through Robert Mulligan's lens, so I’m just choosing to treat it as a cautionary tale.
There’s something about it that just screams fall to me, so it’s my official fall season opener this year.

For some reason, I expected it to be more of a social drama (despite its title — so that’s on me), but it actually feels more like a pretty good, witty romcom.

Love with a Proper Stranger started off really progressive in the beginning and even into the middle, but by the end, it felt like love was with an extremely improper stranger. I really enjoyed about two-thirds of the film — Natalie Wood absolutely carried it, the black-and-white New York looks amazing through Robert Mulligan's lens, so I’m just choosing to treat it as a cautionary tale.
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