Modern Design
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Two men (amateur filmmakers Robert Davis and Harry Hilfinger) lip sync to the song Modern Design by Johnny Messner And His Orchestra.
Credits
Robert C. Davis (filmmaker); Harry Hilfinger (filmmaker); Johnny Messner And His Orchestra (composer); Robert C. Davis (actor); Harry Hilfinger (actor)
Complete catalog record
Date: circa 1941
Cfa collection: Robert and Theresa Davis Collection
Notes: Two men dressed in suits face the camera against a white wall and lip sync to the song Modern Design. They mimic playing instruments and playfully listen to their audience. Hilfinger has a solo as a disheveled orchestra conductor, while Davis fervently speaks to camera in another take. They often speak and sing in unison. They bow with a smile when their performance is complete.
Subjects: Singers; Performances
Places: North America > United States > Missouri > Kansas City
Language: English
Cfa elements: Print; 100 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/16396; https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/13778
Cfa collection: Robert and Theresa Davis Collection
Notes: Two men dressed in suits face the camera against a white wall and lip sync to the song Modern Design. They mimic playing instruments and playfully listen to their audience. Hilfinger has a solo as a disheveled orchestra conductor, while Davis fervently speaks to camera in another take. They often speak and sing in unison. They bow with a smile when their performance is complete.
Subjects: Singers; Performances
Places: North America > United States > Missouri > Kansas City
Language: English
Cfa elements: Print; 100 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/16396; https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/13778
Sources
- Chicago Film Archives · record ↗ — title, year, creator, length, format, color, sound, genre, description, credits, catalog record, video
Record added 2026-11-08 21:24:57