Love With the Proper Stranger

Play trailer

Love With the Proper Stranger

1963

1h 42m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Angie Rossini (Natalie Wood), 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 (Steve McQueen). When Angie becomes pregnant, she tracks down Rocky hoping he'll pay for her abortion. Rocky agrees to help, but after seeing the unsanitary abortion facility, he refuses to let Angie go through with the procedure and attempts to make her an honest woman.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Fortunately the film survives these shortcomings through its sheer breezy good nature and the animal magnetism of its two stars.

Go to Full Review

Tom Milne

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Familiar in theme, but given a delightfully fresh flavour by Mulligan's atmospherically low-key direction, excellent performances from Wood and McQueen, and vivid location shooting in New York's Little Italy.

Go to Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

May 9, 2005

The picture itself is diverting, but weak on that main romantic point.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 6, 2021

3/4

A bracingly mature film that tackles weighty issues in an intelligent and sober manner -- at least until the home stretch.

Go to Full Review

Joan Didion

Vogue

Mar 16, 2020

[Love with the Proper Stranger] seemed to me so curious a mixture of old-fashioned schmaltz and up-to-the-minute grubbiness that I could conclude only that I was the slightest bit over the hill.

Go to Full Review

TV Guide

Nov 21, 2016

4/5

Not perfect, but touching and adult; with fine work from the two leads, this is one of Mulligan's better films.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

2000's Barbie T

@Thedoll Aug 3, 2026

I was so scared when they went into that building, and when she went into the room and began to undress… I’m telling you she made it so believable that I felt as if I was in Angie’s own shoes.

See more

Mary S

@RT31692299 Jun 20, 2026

tedious, predictable

See more

C L.

@charleylang Jun 12, 2026

Loved the first half with beautiful acting and an engaging, dramatic tone, reminiscent of A Taste of Honey. Unfortunately, the shift to a Barefoot in the Park kind of energy in the second half felt a bit like whiplash, and ultimately made the film less, far less engaging.

See more

Blobbo X

@Blobbo Oct 26, 2025

A mixed bag, best when not take self too seriously. Good acting by lovely Natalie Wood and good interplay between her and McQueen. Nice shots, flavor early '60's NYC. Second half better than first; happy ending.

See more

delysid d

@RT67044741 Mar 6, 2022

i'm a fan of steve mcqueen and peckinah films so i wanted to see this one. i actually didn't enjoy it, it's all about steve being a jerk to his girlfriend

See more

Jul 10, 2021

Natalie Wood's 3rd and final Oscar-nominated role. Her hairdo is always falling down into her eyes, which is very annoying, as is her Jewish Bronx accent.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Robert Mulligan

Director

Natalie Wood

Angie Rossini

Steve McQueen

Rocky Papasano

Edie Adams

Barbie

Herschel Bernardi

Dominick Rossini

Tom Bosley

Anthony Columbo

Period of Adjustment

71%

49%

Period of Adjustment

Watchlist

Lolita

89%

84%

Lolita

Watchlist

Lilies of the Field

92%

86%

Lilies of the Field

Watchlist

Spencer's Mountain

80%

65%

Spencer's Mountain

Watchlist

Pocketful of Miracles

50%

73%

Pocketful of Miracles

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Angie Rossini (Natalie Wood), 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 (Steve McQueen). When Angie becomes pregnant, she tracks down Rocky hoping he'll pay for her abortion. Rocky agrees to help, but after seeing the unsanitary abortion facility, he refuses to let Angie go through with the procedure and attempts to make her an honest woman.

Director: Robert Mulligan
Producer: Alan J. Pakula
Screenwriter: Arnold Schulman
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Pakula-Mulligan
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1963, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 42m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings