A tough and tender love story about a foot-loose musician and the Macy's salesgirl who is carrying his child. Academy Award Nominations: 4, including Best Actress--Natalie Wood, Best (Original) Story and Screenplay.

Natalie Wood is Angie Rossini, the Macy's salesgirl who gets pregnant by hapless trumpet player Rocky Pampasano, played by Steve McQueen. When she looks him up to tell him about her problem, he doesn't even remember her but does find a doctor to perform an abortion. Seeing her in that seedy, back alley situation does something to this basically-nice guy and he rescues her before she has the abortion. 

Seeing these two characters bond is a romantic adventure. From their desperate struggle to raise the money for the abortion to their dinner date where he tries once again to seduce her, 

I fell in love with watching them fall in love. Add a hefty heaping of comedy Italian-style to this. Tom Bosley is classic in his first film as the man hand-picked by Angie's brothers to win her heart.

 Her mother has an Oscar-deserving scene when she takes to her bed on hearing of her daughter's out-of-wedlock pregnancy and rants in Italian as she tries to keep this news from the priest. The priest, too, is classic as the confused man who can't believe Rocky is willing to marry her but the pregnant Angie is refusing. How could this be?

 Because she wants to feel love, to hear bells and banjoes she explains. And in one of the best scenes in any movie, there is Rocky on the corner by Macy's strumming his banjo, ringing his bells and trying to win Angie's heart. 

The course of true love is never smooth, and from their unfortunate beginning to their romantic ending, you'll love watching a most unusual relationship grow. Watch also for Edie Adams (Rocky's girlfriend) and Herschel Bernardi (Angie's brother) in great supporting roles.