Something the Lord Made (2004)

A dramatization of the relationship between heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas.

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writers:

Peter Silverman, Robert Caswell

Stars:

Alan Rickman, Yasiin Bey, Kyra Sedgwick

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 17 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Rickman	...	Dr. Alfred Blalock
Yasiin Bey	...	Vivien Thomas (as Mos Def)
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Mary Blalock
Gabrielle Union	...	Clara Thomas
Merritt Wever	...	Mrs. Saxon
Clayton LeBouef	...	Harold Thomas
Charles S. Dutton	...	William Thomas (as Charles Dutton)
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Dr. Helen Taussig
Cliff McMullen	...	Lodel Williams
Luray Cooper	...	Charles Manlove
Irene Ziegler	...	Frances Grebel
John Emmanuel	...	Man at park
Harold J. Abell Sr.	...	Man #1
Michael E. Russell	...	Bank Officer
Henri Edmonds	...	Mary Thomas

Storyline

Alfred Blalock (1899-1964), a cardiologist (therefore, self-confident to the point of arrogance), leaves Vanderbilt for Johns Hopkins taking with him his lab technician, Vivien Thomas (1910-1985). Thomas, an African-American without a college degree, is a gifted mechanic and tool-maker with hands splendidly adept at surgery. In 1941, Blalock and Thomas take on the challenge of blue babies and invent bypass surgery. After trials on dogs, their first patient is baby Eileen, sure to die without the surgery. In defiance of custom and Jim Crow, Blalock brings Thomas into the surgery to advise him, but when Life Magazine and kudos come, Thomas is excluded. Will he receive his due?

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Plot Keywords:

heart surgery | blue baby syndrome | surgery | baby | heart | 

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Taglines:

A breakthrough that changed the face of medicine. A unique partnership that broke the rules.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

HBO [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

La création de Dieu

Filming Locations:

Johns Hopkins 'Homewood' Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films,Nina Saxon Film Design

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dr. Irving Sorkin, a retired dentist, was instrumental in getting Katie McCabe's article made into a feature film. Dr. Sorkin died of lymphoma on October 18, 2007, at the age of 88.

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Goofs

When Blalock and Thomas operate on Eileen Saxon, the baby is supine (lying on her back). The proper position is left lateral (on her right side with left side up), elevated 4-6 intercostal spaces.

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Quotes

[Vivien is abruptly leaving the laboratory]
Alfred Blalock: We have work to do.
Vivien Thomas: Do I have your permission, to do some work for my landlord, so I can pay my rent?

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Connections

Featured in The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2005)

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Soundtracks

Subterranean Homesick Blues
Written by Bob Dylan
Performed by Bob Dylan
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

What a beautiful film

I have had this movie TIVOed for several months now and just got around to seeing it. What a beautiful film! There are so many layers in this film and the relationship between the two main characters was wonderful.

Mos Def completely blew me away. His portrayal of this dignified & brilliant man was inspiring. I hope that young people today see this film because it shows us that there is a way to handle yourself. You can achieve success and happiness without being a hothead, arrogant or rude. We have lost so much in the way of manners.

I guess having a parent who has had 3 heart operations, this film touched a special cord. Cried my eyes out.

A must see.