[KenRa Films Present: the Kenneth Rankine Home Movie Collection: Reel 28]

Kenneth Carruthers Rankine (1890 - 1968) was a keen amateur cinematographer and filmmaker. This collection of his home movies has been donated to ACMI by Kenneth’s granddaughter. The collection represents a wonderful slice of life in Australia; with contents including scenes of everyday life, major family occasions, holidays around Victoria and views of Melbourne.

This film titled ‘Fragments of 1940’, contains several segments each with its own title and other smaller scenes. Kenneth’s views around the city and the Botanical Gardens as well as his own garden which often features in his films. We see good examples of signs of the era for shops and businesses such as a large wall sign for ‘Sidney Cooke’ printers: a business which later became CMI Fasteners Manufacturers of NZ. The ‘Our Garden’ segment shows the Rankine home garden where Kenneth captures the family circle enjoying themselves among the flowers, trees and gardening activities. There is a look at an Anzac Day parade and friends appear in military uniform - a reminder of the current war. There is also a segment showing daughter Bettye’s school sports day (uniforms indicate possible colleges, Genazzano and Vaucluse).

Selected highlights list:
00:00:11:00 title card ‘Fragments of 1940’ followed by sub-title, ‘Melbourne’ begins the footage with panoramic views around Melbourne, possibly taken from somewhere in Elizabeth St as smoke from industry can be seen on the horizon presumably to the west and buildings in Elizabeth feature later in the reel.

00:01:30:00 there is a view likely to be from Royal Parade looking down Elizabeth St including the Queen Victoria Market to the right of the screen at 00:00:00:00. Scenes following feature some examples of the trams and cars of the 1940’s era.

00:01:55:00 there is a dockside shot likely to be Port Melbourne. Footage shows Melbourne buildings in the CBD including the roof of the APA Tower in Collins St.

00:02:19:00 we see examples of Melbourne’s business signs of the time on various buildings including half a very recognisable Myer store sign as well as Flinders St Station facade at the end of the street.

00:02:37:00 title card ‘Botanical Gardens Melbourne’ appears beginning a segment of views around the Gardens.

00:03:35:00 the conservatory at the Botanical Gardens.

00:06:31:00 school girls participating in athletic sports in a park.

00:08:24:00 cricket teams take over the park while the school gives out the prizes for the day.

00:10:06:00 starts scenes at several beaches with members of the Rankine family and possibly friends. We see swimmers as well as beach strolling and the Rankines under a large umberella.

00:12:33:00 the Rankines return to a garden setting and house verandah, possibly situated in the Dandenongs.

00:13:09:00 title ‘Our Garden’ appears followed by sub-title ‘Come into our Garden’ which is filmed on glass looking through to a colourful garden and one of the Rankine family beckoning us in.

00:13:47:00 scenes of the women in the Rankine circle potting flowers.

00:14:50:00 ball games in the garden driveway.

00:15:11:00 an interesting shot of two of the Rankine women walking along the driveway, seemingly one to work (books and briefcase) and daughter Bettye to school (books in hand). Followed by shots of trees and flowers.

00:16:10:00 Mrs Rankine hosing the garden and Bettye prepared for tennis. More shots of shrubs and flowers.

00:17:17:00 Kenneth shows us a family member or friend in what appears to be her military uniform. Followed by Mrs Rankine cutting flowers.

00:17:40:00 members of the Rankine circle posing for the camera in the garden and the front steps of the house, showing its name, ‘Dunmore’. These shots include a wider circle than usual in Kenneth’s films and also show us a variety of the style of clothes of the day.

00:18:19:00 and indoor shot ends the reel where we see Bettye sitting and chatting to a friend in his military uniform.