One of Steve McQueen's and Natalie Wood's best! Rocky, type "A" jazz musician, meets cynical Angie, type "B" Macy's salesperson. So begins "Love with a Proper Stranger." Angie is the epitome of an early feminist ("That's what love is...bells and whistles!"). Rocky is Not willing to commit. ("You know what a married man is...The Prisoner of Zenda!")

She finds herself pregnant after a one night stand and both must decide their fate within the 2 hour cinematic time frame that ensues. As the movie unfolds you find it is not so much a comment on "right to life" as it is a journey with two individuals who have almost nothing in common.

There is also some great character acting here: from Tom Bosley's ("Happy Days' Mr. "C") wimpish restaurant owner to Edie Adams' (wife of Ernie Kovacs) rather cheap floozy type. She has been in a relationship with Rocky for quite some time when she comments, "I love to be in love." His offhanded response? "Yeah, you with yourself and me with myself."

This movie oozes "Italian New York" as it captures the flavor of that part of the city. Angie and her family are incredibly reminiscent of people that I have been fortunate enough in my life to meet and socialize with. At one point she comment to hers: "You love me too much! I can't breathe!"

Director Robert Mulligan ("Same Time, Next Year") made a wise move filming this in black and white. Sometimes color is almost a distraction in movies that concern themselves more with relationships than action. And it's always apparent with anything filmed in New York that this city makes a difference in the mood of that piece.

I hadn't seen "LWTPS" in several years and although I found it to be somewhat outdated and a bit stereotyped, I still enjoyed the interaction between Wood and McQueen. If you watch carefully you will be able to see a relationship unfold in Arnold Schulman's gentle yet sometimes charismatic writing.

I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoyed "Moonlighting" or "When Harry Met Sally". If you liked this and have never seen "Sunday in New York" with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda (Which way are we sleeping tonight?" "Left to right."), make that your next in line.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older