Weddings and Babies

Morris Engel’s study of an unmarried couple’s relationship. Filmed on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Viveca Lindfors, John Myhers. Mama: Chiarina Barile. Ken: Leonard Elliott. Josie: Joanna Merlin. Tony: Kristoffer Tabori. Carl: Gabriel Kohn., Weddings and Babies is an independent, location-filmed romance set amongst the denizens of the Manhattan “glamour” industry. Viveca Lindfors stars as a model who yearns for more in life than just an hour’s shoot. John Myhers costars as a photographer who likewise feels unfulfilled (Sidebar: director Morris Engel had once been a still photographer). It’s nice to hear New Yorkers talking and acting like real people instead of characters in a woman’s magazine; this sentiment was shared at the Cannes Film Festival, where the film was honored with the Critics Prize. Incidentally, the “baby” in Weddings and Babies is future actor Kristoffer Tabori, the real-life son of Viveca Lindfors.