Hemo the Magnificent
Encyclopedia
Hemo the Magnificent is a one-hour Technicolor
made-for-television educational film
, released in 1957 by Bell Laboratories and directed by Frank Capra
, and first telecast by CBS
. It details the workings of the circulatory system
. Although Time Magazine gave it an extremely negative review http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,867579,00.html, calling it "condescending" and citing it as an example of how the scientific information was presumably "dumbed down" by including cute cartoon animals, it quickly became a classic of the genre, featuring incredibly detailed television animations for its time. It is one in a series of nine Bell Telephone science specials telecast in prime time on commercial network television, from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s. All but one of these specials starred Frank C. Baxter
; the last of them starred Walt Disney
.
Baxter played his usual role as "Dr. Research", the resident scientist in the film series. Richard Carlson played the other recurring character in The Bell Laboratory Science Series
, a writer for television. Several well-known voice artists were employed for the animated sequences, including Marvin Miller
as the title character, Hemo. Also appearing were Mel Blanc
and June Foray
, as a squirrel and a deer respectively. Sterling Holloway
appeared in an uncredited role as a lab assistant.
The film is currently packaged on DVD with another film featuring Dr. Baxter, The Unchained Goddess (1958). Hemo the Magnificent and another Bell Laboratories film, Our Mr. Sun
, were favorites for showing in school science classrooms.
and also in Disney's Bill Nye The Science Guy
. One of the evil gremlins sneaks into a classroom while the science teacher (Glynn Turman
) is showing Hemo to the class.
The film is mentioned in the Freaks and Geeks
episode "Discos and Dragons" by the A/V supervisor.
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
made-for-television educational film
Educational film
An educational film is a film or movie whose primary purpose is to educate. Educational films have been used in classrooms as an alternative to other teaching methods.-Cultural significance:...
, released in 1957 by Bell Laboratories and directed by Frank Capra
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was six, and eventually became a creative force behind major award-winning films during the 1930s and 1940s...
, and first telecast by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. It details the workings of the circulatory system
Circulatory system
The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients , gases, hormones, blood cells, etc...
. Although Time Magazine gave it an extremely negative review http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,867579,00.html, calling it "condescending" and citing it as an example of how the scientific information was presumably "dumbed down" by including cute cartoon animals, it quickly became a classic of the genre, featuring incredibly detailed television animations for its time. It is one in a series of nine Bell Telephone science specials telecast in prime time on commercial network television, from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s. All but one of these specials starred Frank C. Baxter
Frank C. Baxter
Francis Condie Baxter was an American TV personality and educator. He was a professor of English at the University of Southern California. Baxter hosted Telephone Time in 1957 and 1958 when ABC picked up the program and ended the tenure of John Nesbitt...
; the last of them starred Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
.
Baxter played his usual role as "Dr. Research", the resident scientist in the film series. Richard Carlson played the other recurring character in The Bell Laboratory Science Series
The Bell Laboratory Science Series
The Bell Laboratory Science Series was a series of educational television specials made for Bell Labs by Frank Capra, Walt Disney, and others. Each special explored a single subject in detail. The host of seven of the eight films was Dr. Research, played by Frank C. Baxter...
, a writer for television. Several well-known voice artists were employed for the animated sequences, including Marvin Miller
Marvin Miller (actor)
Marvin Elliott Miller was an American film and voice-over actor. Possessing a deep, baritone voice, he began his career in radio in St. Louis, Missouri before becoming a Hollywood actor...
as the title character, Hemo. Also appearing were Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc
Melvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc was an American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros...
and June Foray
June Foray
June Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters...
, as a squirrel and a deer respectively. Sterling Holloway
Sterling Holloway
Sterling Price Holloway, Jr. was an American character actor who appeared in 150 films and television programs. He was also a voice actor for The Walt Disney Company...
appeared in an uncredited role as a lab assistant.
The film is currently packaged on DVD with another film featuring Dr. Baxter, The Unchained Goddess (1958). Hemo the Magnificent and another Bell Laboratories film, Our Mr. Sun
Our Mr. Sun
Our Mr. Sun is a one-hour American 1956 television film in Technicolor written, produced, and directed by Frank Capra. It is a documentary that explains how the Sun works and how it also plays a huge part in human life. It was first televised by CBS in 1956.The film starred Frank Baxter as "Dr...
, were favorites for showing in school science classrooms.
In popular culture
A brief sequence from Hemo the Magnificent is seen in the film GremlinsGremlins
Gremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature—called a Mogwai—as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. It was followed by a sequel,...
and also in Disney's Bill Nye The Science Guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy is an educational television program that originally aired from September 10, 1993 to June 20, 1998, hosted by Bill Nye and produced by Buena Vista Television. The show aired on PBS Kids and was also syndicated to local stations, making it the second first-run television...
. One of the evil gremlins sneaks into a classroom while the science teacher (Glynn Turman
Glynn Turman
Glynn Russell Turman is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford...
) is showing Hemo to the class.
The film is mentioned in the Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks is an American teen comedy-drama television series, created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow, that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 television season...
episode "Discos and Dragons" by the A/V supervisor.