A dramatization of the relationship between heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas.A dramatization of the relationship between heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas.A dramatization of the relationship between heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas.
- Won 3 Primetime Emmys
- 17 wins & 32 nominations total
Yasiin Bey
- Vivien Thomas
- (as Mos Def)
Charles S. Dutton
- William Thomas
- (as Charles Dutton)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to a Johns Hopkins Medical Archives website about Blalock, Thomas, Taussig, and the Blue Baby surgeries, Eileen Saxon, the infant depicted in the movie as the first to undergo the procedure, became cyanotic again several months later. She died after another attempt at the surgery. Her experience helped the surgical team determine that the procedure worked best on patients who were over 3 years old.
- GoofsWhen Reader's Digest publishes a photograph of the first operation, one participant is identified as Dr. Michael DeBakey. Although he was a professor at Tulane, he was on leave as a consultant to the Surgeon General in Washington.
- Quotes
Alfred Blalock: Where you see risks, I see opportunity.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2004)
- SoundtracksBoogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Written by Hugh Prince (as Hughie Prince) and Don Raye
Performed by The Andrews Sisters
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises
Featured review
I'm a physician who has been involved with children with congenital heart disease, including "blue babies." This movie will move you, regardless of who you are. Drs. Blalock & Taussig, whose ingenious procedure is used to convey the aspects of this film (Blalock-Taussig Shunt), were two of my 'heros.' The amazing genius and operative dexterity of surgical research phenomenon Vivian Thomas, and his focus on, love for, and persistence with his work against seemingly unscale-able obstacles, in superbly portrayed by Mos Def. His achievements, out of his background and lack of opportunities, made me feel that I should have been able to do much more than I have, given how much more was just handed to me. We should all feel we can accomplish greatly, and without resorting to destructive acts or words, when seeing the manner with which this class-act man performed. The depiction of the incredible bravery of Blalock, Taussig, and Thomas, who were embarking on not just uncharted, but forbidden surgical waters, warned that if such an "adventure" went awry, they'd be "on their own", made me feel timid and lacking in fortitude, by comparison. SEE (actually FEEL) THIS MOVIE!!
Details
- Runtime1 hour 50 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Something the Lord Made (2004) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer