''Seeing Hands'' is a 1943 American short film. It tells the story of Benjamin Charles Helwig, who was blinded in his late teens but became a valued employee at an American World War II manufacturing plant, machining and inspecting precision parts. Directed by

Gunther von Fritsch Gunther von Fritsch (15 July 1906 – 27 August 1988) was an American film director who was born in Pula, Austro-Hungarian Empire and died in Pasadena. Biography Gunther von Fritsch was born 15 July 1906 in Pula. He studied in Paris, and in 193 ...

, the film was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

at the

16th Academy Awards The 16th Academy Awards were held on March 2, 1944, to honor the films of 1943. This was the first Oscar ceremony held at a large public venue, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and the first ceremony without a banquet as part of the festivities. Th ...

for Best Short Subject (One-Reel).

Cast

* Barbara Bedford as Ben's Mother (uncredited) * William Bishop as Man Pulling Lamp Cord (uncredited) *

Robert Frazer Robert Frazer (born Robert William Browne, June 29, 1891 – August 17, 1944) was an American actor who appeared in some 224 shorts and films from the 1910s until his death. He began in films with the Eclair company which released through Unive ...

as John Downin (uncredited) *

Russell Gleason Russell Gleason (February 6, 1908 – December 25, 1945) was an American actor who began his career at the very beginning of the talking film era. He was born into an acting family, the son of actors Lucille Gleason, Lucille and James Gleason. He ...

as adult Ben Helwig (uncredited) *

George 'Spanky' McFarland George Robert Philips McFarland (October 2, 1928 – June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for starring as a child as Spanky in Hal Roach's ''Our Gang'' series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The ''Our Gang'' short ...

as "Fatty” leading initiation (uncredited) * Pete Smith, narrator of short (uncredited)

References

External links

* 1943 films 1943 drama films 1943 short films American drama short films American black-and-white films Films directed by Gunther von Fritsch 1940s English-language films 1940s American films English-language drama short films {{short-drama-film-stub