Having Babies 2

"Having Babies 2" is a heartwarming and insightful television film that was aired in the year 1977. Directed by Richard T. Heffron, the movie features an exceptional ensemble of actors, with Tony Bill, Cliff Gorman, and Carol Lynley at the center stage. This drama, filled with emotional depth, explores the trials, tribulations, fears, and joys of starting a family and actualising the primal human instinct – having babies.

The film takes a realistic and relatively seldom-discussed viewpoint, portraying the roller coaster of emotions that couples go through while making their decisions about parenthood. The film zeroes in on two main characters, Michael and Richie, played by Tony Bill and Cliff Gorman respectively, toggling between their personal journeys as fathers-to-be and dealing with their spouses' pregnancies.

Tony Bill puts up a compelling performance as Michael, an intelligent and focused lawyer who is deeply in love with his wife, Kathy, portrayed by Donna Mills. Their life seems to have taken an unexpected direction when Kathy gets pregnant. The storyline moves from their shared excitement of becoming parents for the first time to apprehensions that come with it. Michael's professional life is also contrasted with his personal life, detailing how he juggles between office pressures and hospital visits, trying to become a good father while being good at his job.

In a parallel, we have Richie, a factory worker performed by Cliff Gorman, whose wife Gloria (Carol Lynley) is pregnant, too. Richie embodies the everyday man, filled with his ordinary dreams and extraordinary fears. His story brings issues of economic stability and the fear of sustaining a baby into focus, revealing the brutal reality of working-class families. His journey, as he navigates through his doubts and fears, while preparing for the arrival of their baby, triggers a myriad of emotions.

While the movie is tilted towards the perspectives of the fathers-to-be, it doesn't fail to encapsulate the anxieties and joys of mothers-to-be as well. Both Donna Mills, as Kathy, and Carol Lynley, as Gloria, bring the delicate strength of a woman anticipating the arrival of her baby with an elegant blend of fear and excitement. Their performances echo the resilient yet vulnerable sides of womanhood, intensifying the emotional scope of the movie.

The narrative of "Having Babies 2" is not just about childbirth but also about relationships. The script skilfully addresses the alteration in dynamics between couples as they step into the phase of parenthood. The film also addresses the shift in relationships among friends, colleagues and within families influenced by the impending maternity.

"Having Babies 2" is driven by the inherent drama of real-life situations and carries a balance between humor and sensitivity. Director Richard T. Heffron has done justice to this subject by interweaving multiple story elements, depicting a wide variety of emotions associated with starting a family. Additionally, the hospital and home settings, along with perfectly timed dialogues, add to the naturalistic, truthful portrayal of life's significant moments.

In short, "Having Babies 2" is a profoundly moving and entirely engaging drama, seasoned with moments of joy and panic that come with parenthood. The greatness of the movie lies not in the extraordinary, but in painting the ordinary in exceptional light. With a power-packed cast and a thought-provoking plot, "Having Babies 2" gives you something more than entertainment - an understanding of what turning into parents can mean for different people. A must-watch for viewers who love rich, realistic character plots and relational dramas.