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. In one of the films, The Alphabet Conspiracy, Baxter played essentially the same character, but with his name changed to Dr. Linguistics. The host for the last film in the series was Walt Disney.
Each movie intertwined animation and live action to better explain the complexity of a particular subject. The series is sometimes confused with The Bell Telephone Hour, but the two were completely different; The Bell Telephone Hour showcased music, both classical and Broadway.
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Our Mr. Sun examines the Sun and how it works, as well as the Sun's profound influence on life on earth. It was written and directed by Frank Capra. It introduced Frank C. Baxter as Dr. Research; Baxter played this role in the next seven films in the series. Eddie Albert played "the writer" in this film only; Richard Carlson played this role in the subsequent films. Sterling Holloway was Chloro Phyll, Lionel Barrymore was Father Time, and Marvin Miller was The Sun. The film's editor, Frank P. Keller, won an Emmy Award (Best Editing Of A Film For Television) for the film.[1] It featured Barrymore's last screen role, and was shown posthumously, two years after the actor's death.
Hemo the Magnificent is an examination of what the circulatory system is and how it works. It was written and directed by Frank Capra, and starred Frank C. Baxter as Dr. Research, Richard Carlson as the Fiction Writer, Mel Blanc as the squirrel, and Marvin Miller as Hemo.
The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays is an examination of what cosmic rays are and how they work. It was written and directed by Frank Capra, and starred Frank C. Baxter as himself and again, Richard Carlson as the Fiction Writer.
The Unchained Goddess examines what weather is and how it works. It was the fourth and last film in the series produced by Frank Capra; unlike the first three of the films, this film was directed by Richard Carlson, who also appears in the film. Frank C. Baxter again appeared as Dr. Research.[2]
Gateways to the Mind is about the five senses are and how they work. It was produced and directed by Owen Crump. It starred Frank C. Baxter as himself, Wilder Penfield, and Hadley Cantrell, with actor Karl Swenson as a cameraman.
The Alphabet Conspiracy examines language and its history. It uses characters from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. It was directed by Robert B. Sinclair, and starred Frank C. Baxter as Dr. Linguistics, Hans Conried as the Mad Hatter, and Daws Butler as the voice of several characters. The animated sequences were directed by Friz Freleng.
Thread of Life is about DNA is and how it works. It was produced and directed by Owen Crump. It starred Frank C. Baxter, as himself, and Mel Blanc.
About Time examines time. It was produced and directed by Owen Crump. It starred Frank C. Baxter, as himself, and Richard Deacon.
The Restless Sea examines the oceans. It starred Walt Disney, as himself, and Sterling Holloway.