Review of Love with the Proper Stranger

This is what was known as a "Little Film". In 1963, there were still B&W films being released. Paramount had pioneered the best of the wide screen processes with Vista Vision, but it had been discontinued as too costly after 1961 and replaced it with a less expensive technicolor . However, "Love With The Proper Stranger" is much more appropriate as a small-screen B&W film. What makes this film stand out from the usual Romance story is the character development and fine ensemble performances. Natalie Wood had many Big Pictures roles in her career, but this was arguably her best performance in any of her films., and she made her character very appealing and believable. This was Steve McQueen's third film in 1963. "The Great Escape" had been one of the biggest hits of that year, but McQueen played Virgil Hilts, a character very much like his own personality. In "Soldier In The Rain", his performance as Eustis Clay was unconvincing, and the film didn't quite "come off". His character in this film, Rocky Papassano, was different from either Hilts or Clay, and the more the film progressed, the more Rocky became "real". The smaller roles were equally important for the film's success, and Rocky's parents, Mama Rossini, and Mrs. Colombo are the most memorable.