Something the Lord Made | 
| Director: Joseph Sargent
Actors: Alan Rickman, Mos Def, Kyra Sedgwick, Gabrielle Union, Merritt Wever
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.12
You Save: $7.86 (52%)
New (46) Used (18) from $4.77
Rating:  152 reviews
Sales Rank: 2294
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: HBOD92461D
ISBN: 078312404X
UPC: 026359246128
EAN: 9780783124049
ASIN: B00067BCBI
Theatrical Release Date: May 30, 2004
Release Date: January 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product 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.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 026359246128
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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 147 more reviews...
 Amazing !! June 2, 2009
N. Brown (Illinois)
Something the Lord Made
This is a fabulous movie from a true story. The influence of one brilliant man who was given the chance to share his gifts and change the world.
My favorite movie May 25, 2009
Susan Field
I purchased this DVD because it inspired my daughter so much that she wrote a poem based on the plot that won her recognition and publication. It's a great story we should all enjoy and learn while we do it. I especially enjoyed it since I've spent my life as a pediatrician and loved seeing an important phase of medical history presented in such an entertaining fashion.
True Inspiration May 10, 2009
C. Durgin (Bon Aqua, Tennessee United States)
Excellent movie about a true medical break through. Realistic portrayals of human bias and overcoming obstacles to achieve great things make this a very positive movie. I highly recommend this movie for those interested in medical history, black history, human achievement and overcoming racial and educational prejudices. Acting was excellent. Others who have borrowed this DVD also had very positive things to say about this movie.
A Heartening Story May 4, 2009
!Edwin C. Pauzer (New York City)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In 1930, Vivien Thomas is an unemployed carpenter when a friend gets a position for him at Vanderbilt University Hospital. He must clean the dog kennels for Alfred Blaylock, M.D. surgeon, overbearing, supremely confident descendent of Jefferson Davis and racist by today's standards.
It isn't long before he notices that Thomas is reading his medical books and he begins pushing him to operate on research anmimals, which he does with singular skill. In twelve years, Doctor Blaylock's research in shock and trauma earns him a position as head of surgery at Johns Hopkins in MD. He turns down a position in Michigan because they will not accept his lab assistant, and Blayock will go nowhere without Vivien Thomas.
Enter Doctor Taussig a medical doctor who meets Blaylock in his home where Vivien Thomas is serving drinks to his guests. She asks the good doctor to pioneer a surgical procedure for "blue babies," so called because they do not have enough blood flow to the extremities. While Mr. Thomas is serving drinks and listening to the conversation, he is adding his two medical cents to his mentor. With more curiosity and respect than pique, she demands, "Who are you?" Dr. Taussig and other guests like Drs. Denton Cooley and William P. Longmire will soon learn of Thomas's knowledge and skill.
As in real life, Thomas helps Blaylock overcome the dictum, "do not touch the heart." He creates special clamps, stitches, and procedure for blue baby operations. Thomas has the magical ability to operate with his eyes closed. He will assist the ground-breaking operation of open-heart surgery, but will not get any of the credit.
Thomas tries to pursue college and a new career without success. He humbles himself returning to Doctor Blaylock where he teaches residents surgery. He finally receives an honorary degree that doesn't quite match the level of respect and admiration that hospital staff have for his achievement and skill.
There's nothing like a good book, but there is also nothing like a good movie. Alan Rickman plays Dr. Blaylock superbly. Very progressive by World War II standards, he is woefully bigoted by today's, and is perplexed at Thomas' disappointment in him. Mos Def too, plays the respectful and self-respecting Vivien Thomas to perfection. He will not tolerate Dr. Blaylock's temper tantrum and returns money to another doctor who insists he get coffee and a donut for him. Both play from a superb script. The single piano as background was the perfect accompaniment to the triumphs, disappointments, frustration, and sadness of the show. I found several parts in this feature I wanted to play again and again, and there are too many favorite parts to catalogue them here. HBO has made another movie that nourishes the soul and, of course, the heart.
It will do you good perhaps, on some rainy night to turn off the ringer on your phone and see this film.
It is truly a heartening story.
To the memory of Doctors Alfred Blaylock and Vivien Thomas.
Something the Lord Made March 3, 2009
open heart
Movies this fine and well written and with performances that are authentic to the characters are not everyday occurrences. And when such a movie is made, it often doesn't receive the recognition it richly deserves. Vivian Thomas' accomplishments within the society in which he lived are remarkable and awesome. It took decades for him to be recognized for his incredible accomplishments that enabled surgeons to accomplish what they did in open heart surgery. We all are indebted to Vivian Thomas for paving the way through his innate skills and self-taught skills which manifested themselves in revolutionary medical equipment and new cardiac surgery techniques. This movie deserves all the praise and honors it receives for depicting this in an authentic manner. This movie is about Vivian Thomas--his life and his accomplishments--set in the time of pioneering thoracic-cardiovascular surgical techniques. Much is made of the works of Dr. Helen Taussig and Dr. Arthur Blalock. But their successes were totally dependent on the inventions and techniques pioneered by Vivian Thomas. I marvel at Vivian Thomas each time I watch it.
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