Something the Lord Made

In 1930, the skilled carpenter Vivien Thomas (Yasiin Bey) loses his job and is hired by the arrogant Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) as a janitor in Vanderbilt. But soon Vivien is promoted to lab technician due to his skills. Vivien expects to join the medical school but his savings are lost in the Great Depression. Dr. Blalock moves to the Johns Hopkins University and brings Vivien with him. Along the years, they develop the bypass surgery using dogs as guinea pigs. When they save the first blue baby, their surgery technique becomes a worldwide success. But Vivien has no credit for his accomplishment. Will time correct this omission?

"Something the Lord Made" is a wonderful film that discloses the story of the first bypass surgery. The situation of Vivien Thomas is heartbreaking, in a period of great racism in the United States of America. The conclusion of this true story is gratifying and moving. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Quase Deuses" ("Near Gods")

I have seen this movie at least 8 times since it first appeared last summer and never tire of it. I must add that my entire adult working life has been in the field of medicine so maybe I have more interest than some. The names of the residents in this film are names I have heard throughout my career. I am amazed by the genius of Vivien Thomas (or anyone without medical training who could understand as he did) and at the fact that Doctor Blalock accepted him as an individual (most of the time), without regard to his race or lack of medical education. I cannot think of actors who would have done a better job than Alan Rickman or Mos Def and I applaud them, and the rest of the cast, as well as the producers, for bringing this wonderful story to life. I can only hope it will be available on DVD soon, if not yet. I have told at least 100 people about this movie, without giving away too much detail. If you are interested in medicine, and the development of new procedures that change lives, especially of the very, very young, then this is a movie for you. Even if you do not have a medical background, it is worth seeing for the genius and compassion of those two men who did not allow the racial climate of the times to overpower their desire to make a difference. To all the residents who learned at Hopkins from these two gifted men, be forever grateful that their lives touched yours, albeit briefly. We lost two very gifted men who did an exceptional job of training others to follow in their footsteps. Jeers to the staff members who were ruled by race and education and a firm salute to those who were not. I give it a 10!

The performances of both Alan Rickman & rapper Mos Def shine brightly in this film of racism, perseverance, & the pursuit of advancements in medical science/surgery. Rickman's self-righteous & pompous Dr. Alfred Blaylock compliments greatly Mos Def's quiet, determined, & passive-aggressive role as lab assistant/technician Vivien Thomas.

The two men met at a time when medical science was headed for major discoveries & taking chances was not the order of the day. During the 30's & 40's, America was a different place for people of color in the negative sense & the medical community offered little or no opportunities for non-whites as well. Most people of color worked menial labor jobs liked servants or skilled craftsmen & lived with no luxuries & not much hope for more. Vivien Thomas, a carpenter by trade, stumbles upon a job assisting prominent surgeon & professor Dr. Alfred Blaylock. The snobbish Blaylock working on experiments to cure patients of shock to no avail. Soon, Dr. Blaylock discovers that Vivien is more than just a lowly assistant but a very intelligent young man yearning for a chance to prove himself to the powers that be. Vivien develops new techniques & surgical devices to create a "blue dog" & a way to reverse the condition. Realizing the potential to turn the medical community on its ear, Dr. Blaylock takes Thomas on a long & arduous journey with him through bigotry, scientific discovery, tension between the two men themselves, & successful "blue baby" surgeries. Although Thomas did not receive the notoriety & accolades that usually come with advances in medicine, he carried on for many years working with & teaching doctors his techniques Johns Hopkins. Thomas was elevated to Director of Surgical Services but still had not reached his ultimate goal. Finally after the death of longtime partner & friend Dr. Blaylock, Thomas was awarded an honorary doctorate of medicine by his colleagues & the prestigious Johns Hopkins. After a lifetime of self-sacrifice, determination, & love of medicine, Thomas had arrived & felt the satisfaction he always wanted; Vivien Thomas was now a face in the medical community that had shunned him for so long.

"Something the Lord Made" is a feast for the heart & the mind. All those who view this movie will walk away with better appreciation for those individuals who made the ultimate sacrifices in their own lives to change our existence for the positive. Rickman & Mos Def play off each other brilliantly & make you believe. Rickman always gives you everything called for in a role & does not disappoint in this film. I was most impressed with Mos Def's performance & gained a newfound respect for this young actor.

If you are not "moved" by this film, you'd better check your pulse. Your heart may need some fixin'!!!

I actually avoided this movie for awhile..my mistake..It was so exhilarating...the characters were so real....and it reveals the true state of racial bias in the thirties/forties without harping...the real story is about the relationship between two very diverse people who shared a common dream....excellent performances by Richman and Def! What an understated overwhelming story...told in a poignant fashion over the background of the Depression, WW II, and the history of modern surgery!!

I got so very interested in the procedures, I had to scour the internet to research the story... This is the first I recall seeing Mos Def. He was so believable...

This movie was heartwarming, inspiring, touching. Mos Def did a brilliant job as did Alan Rickman. I'm not quite sure why it was only made for TV, i guess because it's not garbage like most of what is out there at 9 dollars a ticket! Anyway a must see for those that can catch it on cable, I suggest you tivo it!

There is much to be said about character and Vivian is a man of character that stuck through it all, with no recognition no lights no awards, nothing. Yet through all the hardship and obvious racism he made his mark in history!

I applaud him... Kudos!

And he did it with such grace!