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*Something the Lord Made*
Something the Lord Made
Written by	Peter Silverman; Robert Caswell
Directed by	Joseph Sargent
Starring	Mos Def; Alan Rickman; Kyra Sedgwick; Gabrielle Union; Mary Stuart Masterson
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Robert W. Cort; David Madden; Eric Hetzel; Julian Krainin; Mike Drake
Cinematography	Donald M. Morgan
Editor	Michael Brown
Running time	110 mins
Production companies	HBO Films; Nina Saxon Film Design
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	May 30, 2004

Something the Lord Made is a 2004 American made-for-television biographical drama film about the black cardiac pioneer Vivien Thomas (1910–1985) and his complex and volatile partnership with white surgeon Alfred Blalock (1899–1964), the "Blue Baby doctor" who pioneered modern heart surgery. Based on the National Magazine Award-winning Washingtonian magazine article "Like Something the Lord Made" by Katie McCabe,^[1]^[2] the film was directed by Joseph Sargent and written by Peter Silverman and Robert Caswell.

Plot

Something the Lord Made tells the story of the 34-year partnership that begins in Depression Era Nashville in 1930 when Blalock (Alan Rickman) hires Thomas (Mos Def) as an assistant at his Vanderbilt University lab, expecting him to perform janitorial work. But Thomas' remarkable manual dexterity and intellectual acumen confound Blalock's expectations, and Thomas rapidly becomes indispensable as a research partner to Blalock in his forays into heart surgery.

The film traces the two men's work when they move in 1943 from Vanderbilt to Johns Hopkins, an institution where the only black employees are janitors and where Thomas must enter by the back door. Together, they attack the congenital heart defect of Tetralogy of Fallot, also known as Blue Baby Syndrome, and in so doing they launch the field of heart surgery.

Helen Taussig (Mary Stuart Masterson), the pediatrician/cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, challenges Blalock to come up with a surgical solution for her Blue Babies. She needs a new ductus for them to oxygenate their blood.

The duo is seen experimenting on stray dogs they got from the local dog pound, deliberately giving the dogs the heart defect and then trying to solve it. The outcome looks good and they are excited to operate on a baby with the defect, but in a dream, Thomas sees the baby grown up and crying because she's dying. Thomas asks why she is dying in the dream and she says it is because she has a baby heart. Blalock interprets his dream as implying that their sewing technique did not work because the sutures failed to grow with the heart, and developed a new version with that feature.

The film dramatizes Blalock's and Thomas's fight to save the dying Blue Babies. Blalock praises Thomas's surgical skill as being "like something the Lord made", and insists that Thomas coach him through the first Blue Baby surgery over the protests of Johns Hopkins administrators. Despite their close partnership in the lab, outside they are separated by the prevailing racism of the time. At one point, Blalock makes a mistake by accidentally cutting an artery at the wrong place, but with Thomas's assistance, is able to successfully complete the surgery. As word quickly spreads of their successes, parents from all over the country flock to the hospital with their sick children, hoping that the surgery can cure them too. Doctors from around the world also come to learn from Thomas how to do the surgery themselves so they can treat their own Blue Baby Syndrome patients.

Thomas attends Blalock's parties as a bartender, moonlighting for extra income, and when Blalock is honored for the Blue Baby work at the segregated Belvedere Hotel, Thomas is not among the invited guests. Instead, he watches from behind a potted palm at the rear of the ballroom. From there, he listens to Blalock give credit to the other doctors who assisted in the work yet makes no mention of Thomas or his contributions. The next day, Thomas reveals that he saw the ceremony, and quits Blalock's lab. However, Thomas's heart is with the lifesaving work he left behind and he finds himself unhappy in other endeavors. He therefore decides to overlook Blalock's failure to properly acknowledge his contributions and returns to his lab.

In 1964, one day before Blalock's death, he sees Thomas, now a professional instructor of surgeons in the open heart surgery wing. After Blalock's death, Thomas continued his work at Johns Hopkins training surgeons. In a formal ceremony in 1976, Johns Hopkins belatedly recognized the importance of Thomas's work and awarded him an honorary doctorate. A portrait of Thomas was placed on a wall at Johns Hopkins next to Blalock's portrait, which had been placed there years earlier. Later, after looking at the portraits, Thomas walks away when the hospital intercom pages "Dr. Vivien Thomas".

A shot of the portraits made for this film—based on the actors who played Blalock and Thomas—dissolves to a shot of the actual portraits at Johns Hopkins. The film concludes with a title card revealing that Blalock and Thomas's work launched the field of cardiac surgery, and that doctors in the United States now perform over 1.75 million heart operations per year.

Cast

Alan Rickman as Alfred Blalock
Mos Def as Vivien Thomas
Kyra Sedgwick as Mary Blalock
Gabrielle Union as Clara Thomas
Merritt Wever as Mrs. Saxon
Clayton LeBouef as Harold Thomas
Charles S. Dutton as William Thomas
Mary Stuart Masterson as Helen B. Taussig

Film background

A man who in life avoided the limelight, Thomas remained virtually unknown outside the circle of Hopkins surgeons he trained. Thomas' story was first brought to public attention by Washington writer Katie McCabe, who learned of his work with Blalock on the day of his death in a 1985 interview with a prominent Washington, D.C. surgeon who described Thomas as "an absolute legend." McCabe's 1989 Washingtonian magazine article on Thomas, "Like Something the Lord Made",^[1] generated widespread interest in the story and inspired the making of a 2003 public television documentary on Thomas and Blalock, "Partners of the Heart."^[3] A Washington, D.C. dentist, Irving Sorkin, discovered McCabe's article and brought it to Hollywood, where it was developed into the film.^[4]^[5]

The film was shot in part in the historic Warfield Complex, Hubner, and T Buildings of the Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, Maryland.^[6] It was also partially shot on location on the East Homewood and Homewood campuses of Johns Hopkins.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
2004	Artios Awards	Best Casting – TV Movie of the Week	Lynn Kressel and Pat Moran	Won	^[7]
	Online Film & Television Association Awards	Best Motion Picture Made for Television		Nominated	^[8]
		Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries	Mos Def	Nominated
		Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries	Alan Rickman	Nominated
		Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Nominated
		Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Nominated
		Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Nominated
		Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Won
		Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries		Nominated
	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Made for Television Movie	Robert W. Cort, David Madden, Eric Hetzel, Michael Drake, and Julian Krainin	Won	^[9]
		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie	Mos Def	Nominated
		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie	Alan Rickman	Nominated
		Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special	Joseph Sargent	Nominated
		Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special	Peter Silverman and Robert Caswell	Nominated
		Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special	Lynn Kressel and Pat Moran	Nominated
		Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie	Donald M. Morgan	Won
		Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special	Michael Brown	Won
		Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie	Rick Ash, Adam Jenkins, and Bruce Litecky	Nominated
2005	American Cinema Editors Awards	Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television	Michael Brown	Won	^[10]
	American Film Institute Awards	Top 10 Television Programs		Won	^[11]
	BET Awards	Best Actress	Gabrielle Union	Nominated	^[12]
	Black Reel Awards	Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series	Robert W. Cort and Eric Hetzel	Won	^[13]
		Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series	Joseph Sargent	Nominated
		Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series	Mos Def	Nominated
		Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series	Clayton LeBouef	Won
		Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series	Gabrielle Union	Nominated
	Cinema Audio Society Awards	Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movies and Mini-Series	Bruce Litecky, Rick Ash, and Adam Jenkins	Nominated	^[14]
	Critics' Choice Awards	Best Picture Made for Television		Nominated	^[15]
	Directors Guild of America Awards	Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries	Joseph Sargent	Won	^[16]
	Golden Globe Awards	Best Miniseries or Television Film		Nominated	^[17]
	Golden Globe Awards	Best Actor – Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television	Mos Def	Nominated	^[17]
	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special		Won	^[18]
		Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special	Mos Def	Nominated
		Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special	Gabrielle Union	Nominated
	NAMIC Vision Awards	Best Drama		Nominated
	NAMIC Vision Awards	Best Dramatic Performance	Mos Def	Nominated
	Peabody Awards		Cort/Madden Productions in association with HBO Films	Won	^[19]
	Producers Guild of America Awards	David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television	Robert W. Cort, David Madden, Mike Drake, and Eric Hetzel	Nominated	^[20]
	Satellite Awards	Best Motion Picture Made for Television		Nominated	^[21]
		Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television	Mos Def	Nominated
			Alan Rickman	Nominated
		Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television	Mary Stuart Masterson	Nominated
	Television Critics Association Awards	Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials		Nominated	^[22]
	Writers Guild of America Awards	Long Form – Original	Peter Silverman and Robert Caswell	Won	^[23]

References

^ ^a ^b McCabe, Katie (August 1989). "Like Something the Lord Made". The Washingtonian. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
^ "Like Something the Lord Made". 2014-11-10. Archived from the original on 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
^ Mary Ann Ayd (February 2003). "Almost A Miracle". Dome. Vol. 54, no. 1. The Johns Hopkins University. Archived from the original on 2012-03-02.
^ Matt Schudel (November 11, 2007). "Dentist Had Hankering for Show Business". The Washington Post.
^ Dennis McLellan (October 25, 2007). "Irving Sorkin, 88; dentist saw Hollywood dream come true as award-winning producer". Los Angeles Times.
^ "HBO chooses Springfield, downtown as sets for film". The Baltimore Sun. November 30, 2003.
^ "2004 Artios Awards". www.castingsociety.com. Retrieved October 12, 2004.
^ "8th Annual TV Awards (2004)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
^ "Something the Lord Made". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
^ "American Cinema Editors (ACE) Announces Nominees for 55th Annual ACE Eddie Awards". PRWeb. January 14, 2005. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
^ "AFI Awards 2004". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^ "2005 BET Awards Nominees". Billboard. May 16, 2005. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017.
^ "Black Reel Awards – Past Winners". Black Reel Awards. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
^ "Nominees/Winners". IMDb. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
^ "The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards :: 2004". Broadcast Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
^ "57th DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
^ "Something the Lord Made – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
^ "Vivica A. FOX , Omar Epps, Hill Harper, Essence Atkins and Ananda Lewis Join Naacp Executives to Announce the '36th Naacp Image Awards' Nominations". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 19, 2005.
^ "Something the Lord Made". Peabody Awards. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
^ King, Susan (January 6, 2005). "Producers' '04 nominees". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2005 (9th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". International Press Academy. Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
^ "Alphabet tops TCA nominations". Variety. June 2, 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
^ "Writers Guild Awards Winners: 2005-1996". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2012.

External links

[McCabe-1] McCabe, Katie (August 1989). "Like Something the Lord Made". The Washingtonian. Retrieved 8 November 2014.

[2] "Like Something the Lord Made". 2014-11-10. Archived from the original on 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2022-10-13.

[3] Mary Ann Ayd (February 2003). "Almost A Miracle". Dome. Vol. 54, no. 1. The Johns Hopkins University. Archived from the original on 2012-03-02.

[4] Matt Schudel (November 11, 2007). "Dentist Had Hankering for Show Business". The Washington Post.

[5] Dennis McLellan (October 25, 2007). "Irving Sorkin, 88; dentist saw Hollywood dream come true as award-winning producer". Los Angeles Times.

[6] "HBO chooses Springfield, downtown as sets for film". The Baltimore Sun. November 30, 2003.

[7] "2004 Artios Awards". www.castingsociety.com. Retrieved October 12, 2004.

[8] "8th Annual TV Awards (2004)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved May 15, 2021.

[9] "Something the Lord Made". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017.

[10] "American Cinema Editors (ACE) Announces Nominees for 55th Annual ACE Eddie Awards". PRWeb. January 14, 2005. Retrieved April 17, 2017.

[11] "AFI Awards 2004". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

[12] "2005 BET Awards Nominees". Billboard. May 16, 2005. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017.

[13] "Black Reel Awards – Past Winners". Black Reel Awards. Retrieved December 18, 2021.

[14] "Nominees/Winners". IMDb. Retrieved May 8, 2019.

[15] "The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards :: 2004". Broadcast Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2011.

[16] "57th DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved July 5, 2021.

[17] "Something the Lord Made – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved July 5, 2021.

[18] "Vivica A. FOX , Omar Epps, Hill Harper, Essence Atkins and Ananda Lewis Join Naacp Executives to Announce the '36th Naacp Image Awards' Nominations". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 19, 2005.

[19] "Something the Lord Made". Peabody Awards. Retrieved May 15, 2021.

[20] King, Susan (January 6, 2005). "Producers' '04 nominees". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2017.

[21] "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2005 (9th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". International Press Academy. Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2019.

[22] "Alphabet tops TCA nominations". Variety. June 2, 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2013.

[23] "Writers Guild Awards Winners: 2005-1996". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2012.

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PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Something the Lord Made

Plot

Cast

Film background

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links

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