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Something the Lord Made


by David Madden, Eric Hetzel, Irving Sorkin, Julian Krainin, Mike Drake, Peter Silverman, Robert Caswell
Directed by Joseph Sargent
Starring Alan Rickman, Mos Def, Kyra Sedgwick, Gabrielle Union, Merritt Wever
Hbo Home Video

List Price: $14.98
Price: $8.99
You Save: $5.99 (40%)
Available: Usually ships in 24 hours
Sales Rank: 1993
Release Date: January 25, 2005
Rated: 
Running Time: 110 minutes
Theatrical Release: May 30, 2004
Studio: Hbo Home Video


FORMATS

  • Closed-captioned
  • Color
  • DVD-Video
  • NTSC


EDITORIAL REVIEWS

Description
(Drama) Something the Lord Made tells the emotional true story of two men who defied the rules of their time to launch a medical revolution, set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow south. Working in 1940s Baltimore on an unprecedented technique for performing heart surgery on "blue babies," Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and lab technician Vivien Thomas (Mos Def) form an impressive team. As Blalock and Thomas invent a new field of medicine, saving thousands of lives in the process, social pressures threaten to undermine their collaboration and tear their friendship apart.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Audio commentary with director Joseph Sargent, writer Peter Silverman, executive directors Eric Hetzel and Joseph W. Cort Featurette Making History Slide Show
Featurette
Other:Making History Slide Show


Amazon.com
Something the Lord Made recounts the relationship between Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and Vivian Thomas (Mos Def). It begins in 1930s Nashville when imperious cardiac surgeon Blalock hires Thomas, an African American carpenter, as his janitor. When the latter reveals a passion for medicine and facility with surgical instruments, Blalock promotes him to lab tech. Thomas isn't given a raise, works side jobs to make ends meet, and is expected to be grateful. Along the way, he follows Blalock from Vanderbilt to Johns Hopkins, where they save thousands of lives through their pioneering work, but will Thomas ever get any credit? The film provides a satisfying answer to that question. Joseph Sargent (A Lesson Before Dying) directs with subtlety and intelligence, while Rickman and Mos Def are in top form, often underplaying where most actors would do otherwise. Something the Lord Made won the 2004 Emmy for outstanding made-for-TV movie. --Kathleen C. Fennessy


CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 141 reviews)

Accurate portrayal of genius recognized late  
My interpretation of the title, Something the Lord Made, refers not just to the genuis of the black assistant's (Vivien Thomas played by Mos Def) "feel" for surgery but also to his incredible restraint at the lack of recognition shown by lead surgeon, Dr. Blalock (Alan Rickman). Clearly, the latter's surgical achievements would have been delayed at best if not for the former's unique abilities.

Of particular interest is the response of Blalock to Thomas within the racial/social context of the time (1944). In the film, Blalock excludes Thomas from any social recognition. This occurs most notably following the successful "blue baby" reversal procedure. During the subsequent press conference, Thomas isn't included. Could this have been an innocent omission by Blalock or was Thomas intentionally excluded? The film doesn't provide a definite answer to this important question delving into the character of Dr. Blalock. My opinion: Blalock deliberately excludes Thomas from recognition because he was frightened of having to share his success with a second-class citizen of the time. To admit that a black man orchestrated the preliminary canine-research leading to open-heart surgery was too much for Blalock and the majority of whites in 1944 to swallow. Fortunately, Thomas receives his long-overdue honorary doctorate at the end of the film.





January 03, 2009

Something the Lord Made  
Es una pelicula mas que excelente, te acoge en su drama y no dejaras de verla hasta el final y te quedaras con ganas de volverla a ver. Cautivara tu corazon, te hara llorar de rabia y de felicidad. Es una pelicula que todos deben de ver, especialmente aquellos que quieran estudiar medicina o a los que son medicos, para que creen la conciencia de la humildad y el servicio humano a los pacientes.
December 23, 2008

Excellent historical depiction of Hopkins' rise to prominence in heart surgery  
This movie will most likely make you cry. But rest assured, you will have tears of joy
December 22, 2008

A must see!  
A wonderful true story about surgical pioneers who put aside racial differences to change the face of medicine. It's wonderfully acted and directed as well.
December 20, 2008

Great movie...  
In a day we some of us take racial equality more for granted, this wonderfully created movie shows how not too long ago, bigotry was quite the norm. Based on a true store of Dr. Blalock's first open heart surgery, this movie will bring appreciation and inspiration to all ages.
December 20, 2008


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Partners of the Heart: Vivien Thomas and His Work with Alfred Blalock: An Autobiography
by Vivien T. Thomas
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