Classic Movie Tuesday: Love With The Proper Stranger

You’ve probably already guessed that just like Cate in the ‘Cate & Kian series‘, I’m a Natalie Wood Super Fan. I’d been trying for years to get a copy of Love with the Proper Stranger) (1963) but couldn’t find it anywhere on DVD so I was really excited when I found out that it was available to stream.

I’m one of those annoying people who, as soon as the end credits start rolling on a movie, I immediately want to find out more about the cast and crew (particularly if it’s a classic like ‘Love with a Proper Stranger’) and if there’s any backstage gossip so for today’s Classic Movie Tuesday blog post, here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about ‘Love with the Proper Stranger.’

PLOT:

‘Love with the Proper Stranger’ opens with Rocky Papasano (STEVE McQUEEN) at a mass audition at Carnegie Hall. Whilst there, he’s approached by Angie Rossini (NATALIE WOOD) who tells him that she’s pregnant with his child (he doesn’t remember her) and all she wants is the name of a doctor who’ll perform an abortion.

Angie is first-generation Italian-American and a salesclerk in the Pet Department at Macy’s (which is ironic given that one of Natalie’s most famous movies as a child actress was Miracle on 34th Street (1947) which was also set at Macy’s) and lives at home with her emotional mother (PENNY SANTON) and three overprotective brothers (HERSCHEL BERNARDI, HARVEY LEMBECK  and NICK ALEXANDER). Angie’s family want her to marry Columbo (TOM BOSLEY).

Rocky and Angie scrap together the $400 (plus $50 finder’s fee) for the abortion but they’ve been followed by her brothers who chase them through the neighbourhood until they’re able to hide in an empty warehouse. The so-called doctor turns out to be a back-room abortionist. Rocky breaks through the door and saves Angie from the potentially deadly procedure.

While Angie rests at Rocky’s old girlfriend’s apartment, Rocky meets with her brothers to tell them that she’s pregnant; he gets a black eye and agrees to marry Angie. When he tells Angie, she’s insulted that he’s only asking her to marry him because she’s pregnant and turns down his proposal. She moves out of the family home and starts dating Columbo, who offers to marry her and claim the baby as his own.

When Rocky goes to Macy’s, Angie invites him over for dinner at her new apartment. Unfortunately they end up quarrelling, Angie is upset because she likes Rocky but she’s determined that she wants ‘bells and banjos’ in her next relationship instead of just obligation. She throws Rocky out of the apartment and whilst sobbing, she slams the door on him.

The movie ends with Rocky waiting for Angie outside Macy’s with a placard reading ‘Better Wed than Dead,’ bells and a banjo before they kiss.

Side Note: When ‘Love with the Proper Stranger’ was released in 1963, it was still another 7 years before abortion was legalised up to the 24th week of pregnancy in New York (1970) and 10 years before abortion was decriminalised in the U.S. with Roe vs Wade (1973).

Further Reading: The Film That Changed My Mind on Abortion Rights: ‘Love with the Proper Stranger’ (1963) by Dwain Leland and Classic Film Through a Feminist Lens: Love with the Proper Stranger by Kimberly Pierce.

CAST

STEVE McQUEEN (1930-80) played Rocky Papasano.

Steve was known as the ‘King of Cool’ starring in such classics as The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Bullitt (1968), Le Mans (1971), The Getaway (1972), Papillon (1973) and The Towering Inferno (1974).

He was married to NEILE ADAMS from 1956-72.

Photo Credit: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

NATALIE WOOD (1938-81) played Angie Rossini. In 1964, Natalie received her 3rd Academy Award nomination (Best Actress in a Leading Role) for ‘Love with the Proper Stranger (1963) but lost out to PATRICIA NEAL (1926-2010) as Alma Brown in Hud (1963).

On 28 November 1981, Natalie was on a weekend boat trip to Santa Catalina Island on board the yacht, Splendour with her husband, ROBERT WAGNER, her co-star in Brainstorm (1983), CHRISTOPHER WALKEN and the yacht’s captain, DENNIS DAVERN. At 8am on 29 November, Natalie’s body was recovered a mile away from the Splendour with a small dinghy beached nearby. The cause of death was initially given as accidental drowning and hypothermia. There’s been plenty of speculation as to how Natalie ended up in the water given that she had a much-publicised fear of open water. For more info, check out Natalie Wood: A Life in Books.

In 2012, the L.A. County Chief Coroner amended her death certificate, replacing accidental drowning as the cause of death to “drowning and other undetermined factors.” In February 2018, Natalie’s husband, Robert (who denies any wrongdoing) was named as a person of interest in the police investigation into Natalie’s death.

According to Steve McQueen: A Biography by MARC ELIOT, Natalie persistently tried to seduce Steve during the filming of ‘Love with the Proper Stranger’ but it wasn’t his marriage to Neile that stopped him from having an affair with Natalie, it was actually his friendship with both ROBERT WAGNER (Natalie’s husband 1957-62 and 1972-81 and Steve’s Co-Star in The War Lover (1962)) and WARREN BEATTY (Natalie’s then-boyfriend) (Village Voice). Steve and Natalie would go on to have a brief affair in 1972.

EDIE ADAMS (1927-2008) played burlesque performer and Rocky’s old girlfriend, Barbara.

Photo Credit: Elmer Holloway, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Edie met her first husband, ERNIE KOVACS (1919-62) after she was approached by the producers of his TV show, Three to Get Ready (1950-52). Edie & Ernie married on 12 September 1954. On 13 January 1962, Ernie was tragically killed after losing control of his Chevrolet Corvair and crashing into a pole in Beverly Hills. Edie & Ernie had a daughter, MIA KOVACS (1959-82) who, just like her father, was killed in an automobile accident. When Ernie passed away, he owed taxes to the IRS. Refusing to accept charity, Edie worked for years to pay off her late husband’s debts and she was so successful with her commercials for Muriel Cigars and her business ventures, Edie Adams Cosmetics and Cut ‘n’ Curl beauty salons that she went from debt-ridden in 1962 to a millionaire in 1989.

HERSCHEL BERNARDI (1923-86) played Angie’s bossy older brother, Dominic Rossini. Best known for playing Lieutenant Jacoby in Peter Gunn (1958-61) and Arnie Nuvo in Arnie (1970-72).

HARVEY LEMBECK (1923-82) played Angie’s second brother, Julio Rossini. Best known for playing Corporal Rocco Barbella on The Phil Silvers Show (1955-59).

NICK ALEXANDER played Angie’s third brother, Guido Rossini. In 1980, Nick wrote 1 x episode of Hart to Hart (1979-84) which co-starred Natalie’s then-husband, ROBERT WAGNER.

‘Love with the Proper Stranger’ was also the first movie role for TOM BOSLEY (1927-2010). Best known for playing Howard Cunningham in Happy Days (1974-84).

Director, ROBERT MILLIGAN’s younger brother, RICHARD MILLIGAN (1932-2000) played Louie in ‘Love with the Proper Stranger.’

CREW

Directed by ROBERT MULLIGAN (1925-2008), who’d been nominated for the 1963 Academy Award (Best Director) for To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) but lost out to DAVID LEAN (1908-91) for Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

Robert also directed Natalie in Inside Daisy Clover (1965).

Written by ARNOLD SCHULMAN. Arnold was nominated for the 1964 Academy Award (Best Writing, Story & Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen) for ‘Love with the Proper Stranger’ but lost to JAMES R. WEBB (1910-74) for How the West Was Won (1962).

Produced by ALAN J. PAKULA (1928-98). Alan frequently collaborated in the 1950s and 1960s with ROBERT MULLIGAN. Alan produced Inside Daisy Clover (1965) which was directed by Robert and starred Natalie. He was killed in a freak accident on 19 November 1998 on the Long Island Expressway in New York when a metal pipe smashed through the windshield of his Volvo and hit him in the head (New York Times).

The costumes for ‘Love with the Proper Stranger’ were designed by one of the most influential costume designers in cinematic history, EDITH HEAD (1897-1981). During her illustrious career, Edith was nominated for 35 and won 8 x Academy Awards (Best Costume Design).

Photo Credit: Marianna Diamos, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Edith worked with Natalie on 7 x movies: ‘Love with the Proper Stranger’, Sex and the Single Girl (1964), Inside Daisy Clover (1965), The Great Race (1965), Penelope (1966), This Property is Condemned (1966) and The Last Married Couple in America (1980)

FILMING LOCATIONS: In addition to Macy’s, check out this post from On The Set of New York.

All the best, Louise x