“Hemo the Magnificent” is part of the Bell Science Series and one of nine films created in the late 1950s to mid-1960’s. Created for Bell Telephone / AT&T, this film was shot in Technicolor and aired on CBS. It was written and produced by Frank Capra. As a series, the Bell Science films combined entertaining animation, mystical beliefs on scientific topics as well as actual scientific theory. “Hemo The Magnificent” centers around a science researcher, a fiction writer and Hemo; a character introduced in order to educate viewers on the circulatory system. This part of the film focuses on blood and its connection to nature and human life. It covers the connection between seawater and human blood, human origins and the evolution of organisms themselves. It digs deep into the circulatory system, highlighting the roles of capillaries and gate keeper muscles which regulate blood flow. It also relays the challenges scientists face in their continued effort to understand mechanisms behind blood flow regulation at microscopic levels.

00:00 title screen. The character used to personify blood; Hemo (:40) prods the writer and scientist for a phrase summing up the mysticism and poetry on blood. An animation explaining the amount of water and salt in the human body (1:37). Salt content of human body fluids are directly compared to those of sea animals (1:53). Origins of organisms begin with the amoeba (2:41). The path of single celled organisms to multicell organisms is traced (4:09) including the Hydra. Analogy compares human growth to growth of society (4:46). Evolution and formation of fish (5:14). Inner organs of the fish are explained (5:24). Amphibious creatures climb from sea to land (5:53). A lung fish is pictured (6:04). The circulatory system of a frog (6:12) is compared to that of a dog (6:31). A brown bear wanders by shallow waters (6:51), a baboon plucks at grass (6:54) and a baby zebra feeds from its mother (7:05). Dr. Research makes the point all life is made up of cells (7:47). Female Ethiopians cart food baskets atop their heads (7:50). A Davidson’s Furniture advertisement hangs by the main drag in Kansas City (7:54). Capillaries explored (8:53) in relation to arteries (9:26) and veins. Gatekeeper muscle functions (10:23) and their connection to the brain are explained (11:04). Microscopic images of blood flow within animals such as bats and frogs (11:51) captured by George P. Fulton, Dr. Brenton R. Lutz and Richard L. Webb follow. Blood zooms through a highly magnified artery (12:12). It slows as it hits the capillaries (12:23). Individual red cells pump through fine arteries (12:40). Muscle cells encircle capillaries (13:03). Small veins connect with large veins (13:15) on the bloods route back to the heart. Capillaries (13:37) and the donut shaped sphincter muscle are zoomed in on (13:59) as they open and close. Functions of gatekeeper capillaries (14:55) are explored by scientists for further understanding. Images follow from open heart surgery (15:45). Quotes by Henry David Thoreau are used to show science is an art (16:20). How blood influences various functions of the body including thought, movement and digestion is explained through diagram (16:49). Brain valves remain open during day dreams and deep thought (18:11). Alternating muscle and digestive valves are explained (18:42). Animations depict what happens to boxer while in a match (20:32). Firefighters cart burn victims into an ambulance (22:07). Death from shock has been reduced due to scientific understanding on the circulatory system (22:40). Blood transfusion patients (22:48) are tended to as Dr. Research explains the process of a blood transfusion. The final segment of the film looks at what science has yet to uncover in the human circulatory system (23:38). Automobiles are compared to the human muscle (24:00) and the possibility of extended life is posed. The close of the feature ties science to religious faith with quotes by by Max Planck (25:16) and the apostle Paul (25:25). Credits (26:21)

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