How to Waste Film and Not Influence People
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Amateur filmmakers Robert Davis and Harry Hilfinger fool around for the camera, set to a soundtrack of bouncy organ music.
Credits
Robert C. Davis (filmmaker); Harry Hilfinger (filmmaker); Robert C. Davis (participant); Harry Hilfinger (participant)
Complete catalog record
Cfa collection: Robert and Theresa Davis Collection
Notes: After a homemade title card reading “HOW TO WASTE FILM AND NOT INFLUENCE PEOPLE, Featuring ‘Adolf’ Davis and ‘Benito’ Hilfinger,” Robert Davis displays an 8mm camera from an armchair. Harry Hilfinger then takes off his shoes and puts a clothespin on his nose. Davis plays a piano and makes funny faces for the camera. Hilfinger impersonates Benito Mussolini, then Davis does a comical impression of Adolf Hitler while struggling to keep a fake mustache over his lip. The film was shot shortly after the onset of World War II.
Subjects: Motion picture production & direction; Politicians; Musical instruments
Places: North America > United States > Missouri > St. Louis
Cfa elements: Print, 100 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/13770
Notes: After a homemade title card reading “HOW TO WASTE FILM AND NOT INFLUENCE PEOPLE, Featuring ‘Adolf’ Davis and ‘Benito’ Hilfinger,” Robert Davis displays an 8mm camera from an armchair. Harry Hilfinger then takes off his shoes and puts a clothespin on his nose. Davis plays a piano and makes funny faces for the camera. Hilfinger impersonates Benito Mussolini, then Davis does a comical impression of Adolf Hitler while struggling to keep a fake mustache over his lip. The film was shot shortly after the onset of World War II.
Subjects: Motion picture production & direction; Politicians; Musical instruments
Places: North America > United States > Missouri > St. Louis
Cfa elements: Print, 100 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/13770
Sources
- Chicago Film Archives · record ↗ — title, year, creator, format, color, sound, genre, description, credits, catalog record, video
Record added 2026-11-08 21:24:58