Back in the late '50s, Frank Capra's BELL SCIENCE films (a combination of live-action and animation) were a regular favorite on CBS. Two volumes of these WONDERS OF LIFE are available Sept. 30, 2003 on DVD (Image Entertainment, $14.99) featuring animation from Shamus Culhane, the only animator to work on the first four Disney animated features, and other artists from Disney and the UPA Studio. The first volume contains HEMO THE MAGNIFICENT and UNCHAINED GODDESS, and the second contains the Emmy Award winner OUR MR. SUN (best editing, Frank Keller) and STRANGE CASE OF COSMIC RAYS.
HEMO takes a look at the respiratory system with great photography of the capillary system; and GODDESS explains the nature of weather with truly memorable tornado footage; MR. SUN explores how the sun affects the earth; and RAYS unveils the secrets of atoms, gamma and ultraviolet rays. Mel Blanc and June Foray offer uncredited voice work. Directed by Capra and William T. Hurtz.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
