In this short film , DeVito plays a photographer who is determined to capture visual magic and fame . He concocts an intricate plot to explode the Statue of Liberty and sets his camera to record the Statue of Liberty 's explosion as it was broken into pieces . It was filmed in New York City in black and white on 16 mm film . In 1980 , '' Saturday Night Live '' used clips from the film with guest host Jamie Lee Curtis introducing a three-minute segment from the film . Rhea Perlman played the woman on a ferry , while Martin Brest played the man on a ferry . The scene of the Statue of Liberty 's head exploding was incorporated during the final scene . Brest and Randolph Herr are credited with doing the special effects . This short film was inspired by the Hindenburg disaster on May 6 , 1937
Hindenburg disaster
Hindenburg disaster
Hot Dogs for Gauguin