One of Joe’s favorite Steve McQueen films is the underrated and almost forgotten film, Love With the Proper Stranger.
The 1963 release starred McQueen with Natalie Wood (she got top billing) when both were at the height of their popularity.
One reason the film is not remembered fondly is that at the time is was considered a box office flop. The Pakula /Mulligan production for Paramount had high hopes and a big budget for its time…. over $8.5 million. It only grossed about half that.
But it was a critical success. Wood was nominated for an Oscar. Both were nominated for Golden Globes. The film itself received four other Oscar nominations.
The romantic/comedy/drama has a serious side. Long before Roe vs. Wade this film dealt with back room abortions which were the only choice of young people who found themselves in trouble.
If you haven’t seen this film, do so. It gives both McQueen and Wood the chance to play serious drama and light comedy in the same parts.
In closing, we pass along a comment received earlier this week from reader Brittaney.
I’ve been working my way through McQueen’s filmography this past year. I really fell in love with ‘Soldier in the Rain.’ He really was a star!
Soldier in the Rain is another one of McQueen’s less trumpeted titles, although it shouldn’t be.
It was released the same year as Love With A Proper Stranger in the U.S. by the now defunct Allied Artists, and it is not easy to track down on DVD. But try anyway.
McQueen’s costars here are Jackie Gleason — with whom he was pals offscreen — and a young Tuesday Weld. The movie based on a William Goldman novel with a script co-written by Blake Edwards. McQueen and Gleason play off each other well, and Steve shows off an underappreciated way with screwball romantic comedy. Another testament to her versatility.
Winding up our Steve McQueen week, we can agree –yes indeed, Brittaney, McQueen really was a Star.
Hey, thanks for the shout out. I was also going to mention how much I love Love With the Proper Stranger. It’s a great film that I hope more people get the opportunity to see. I actually did a review of it on my website http://www.storyenthusiast.com back in January and also did a post of mini-reviews on a couple of McQueen’s other films that I’ve seen recently.
When it comes to commenting on Remembering Steve McQueen… I seem to be the only one interested.
You do a great job guys keeping the old HOLLYWOOD flag flying, and you paid a fine tribute to Steve. But somehow, the vast majority of your audience doesn’t seem to want to take the time and salute anything you write.
“What we got here is… failure to communicate.”
And it’s certainly not the fault of Joe and Frank.
Fan based voluntary sites like theirs need support and encouragement. I’m a late-comer, but I know there must be many more than just a very few of you, who care enough to add a line or two.