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47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible educational offerings from a different era..., September 27, 2003
This is a great disc. Here we have two of Frank Capra's Bell Science films, "Hemo the Magnificent" (1957) and "The Unchained Goddess" (1958)."Hemo" is a fascinating look at the respiratory system, and "Goddess" is the story of weather. "Hemo" takes us inside the circulatory system, with some incredible photography of the capillaries in action. "Goddess" contains some of the best tornado footage ever, as well as explaining how scientists and meteorologists study weather. Animation is courtesy of Shamus Culhane, who was the only animator to work on all of the first four animated feature-length Disney cartoons. He worked for various animation studios, and these two films were produced by his own. The two humans in the cast are Dr. Frank Baxter (Mr. Scientist), and Richard Carlson (Mr. Fiction Writer). Carlson starred in "Creature From the Black Lagoon", "Valley of Gwangi", and "It Came From Outer Space". He was sort of a strange cross between William Holden and Hugh Marlowe, all three actors being similar in appearance and voice. He actually directed "Goddess" under the watchful eye of Capra. Carlson plays a writer who has somehow created a special "Imagination Screen" (this is not explained in the two films), on which the cartoon characters appear and interact with the humans. The idea is that Mr. Scientist and Mr. Fiction Writer are rehearsing for a broadcast of some sort, and are sidetracked by the cartoons and their claims of superiority. As they disprove the boasts of the cartoons, the humans teach the audience about science. Baxter (an English professor), brilliantly explains the mysteries of science in an accessible and friendly manner, while Carlson supplements Baxter's excited dissertations as a knowledgeable "everyman". As for the balance of the cast, they go more or less uncredited. Sterling Holloway appears in "Hemo" as Jim, the film operator. Jim is mentioned again in "Goddess", but never actually appears in that installment. Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny, et al) goes uncredited in both films, with the bulk of his voice work in "Hemo". Also uncredited is June Foray, who voices a deer (Foray is forever famous as Rocky Squirrel). One of the actors who voiced Goofy is also apparently present as a turtle, but of that I cannot be certain (it is an extremely Goofy-like voice, right down to the "Gawshk!"). Marvin Miller is the voice of "Hemo", and should be familiar as a voice artist from that era. He also played Arjenian in "Red Planet Mars", among other things. If you think the films are outdated simply because they were put together in the 1950's, think again. Here's a quote from "The Unchained Goddess": "Even now, man may be unwittingly changing the world's climate through the waste products of his civilization. Due to our release through factories and automobiles every year of more than six billion tons of carbon dioxide (which helps air absorb heat from the sun), our atmosphere seems to be getting warmer!" Remember, this was 1958. On the other hand, here's another quote from the same film, from Meteora the Goddess: "Mr. Scientist, would you... (a woman could never ask this, but certainly a goddess can!)... would you marry me?" The films, being from the 1950's, reflect the morals and beliefs of the era, so religion pops in from time to time. Remember, this was being broadcast to a national audience of the day, so it was calculated not to offend. Most present in "Hemo" (which should be no surprise considering the subject matter is life itself), there are a smattering of vaguely religious comments/images. However, when religion does appear, it's in a strange and even complimentary way to the science being presented. Mostly, religion takes the shape of Mr. Scientist saying that a given mystery is "a secret known only to the Almighty," or quotes from a few religious figures such as Saint Paul. The religious comments are never intrusive, and are so sparse as to be acceptable even to the hardest of present-day hearts. "Hemo" is very informative, although the film of internal organs and the living heart should not be viewed while eating. Some of the mysteries that Baxter lists towards the end (things we "still do not understand" about Hemo), have actually been explained by science in the years following 1957. "Goddess" is perhaps the better of the two, with much of the information still being surprisingly relevant, although a lot of the work depicted is now done by computers and satellites. No extras on the disc other than the shows themselves, which is a bit annoying when you consider just how little we know today about the cast and the motivation behind the series. Some production notes and biographies would not have gone amiss here The series is brilliant, and even the outdated elements are entertaining. The films create a snapshot of state-of-the-art science, as it was in 1957-58. The disc (and it's companion, which contains "Our Mr. Sun" and "Mystery of the Cosmic Rays"), would be a most excellent gift for a friend who loves science, animation, 50's documentaries, etc. Also a great gift for yourself.
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