[KenRa Films Present: the Kenneth Rankine Home Movie Collection: Reel 3]

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.

In this film, titled ‘Our Garden’, Kenneth introduces us to the Rankine house (exterior) and garden as well as family and friends meeting and greeting the camera, playing ball games, showing off the family pet rabbit and dog and finally. This reel also introduces Bob Wootton who will marry daughter Bettye Rankine. Kenneth includes lingering shots of flowers which often feature throughout his films, often to separate his scenes. There are some great examples of the style and textiles of the clothes of the era and the family cars that feature in Kenneth’s reels. As proof that Bob Wootton is now in the family, Kenneth directs a kiss between him and his future mother-in-law to end the reel.

Selected highlights list:

00:04:12:00 women of the house posing in matching frocks and dodging bees where Kenneth has them pose.

00:04:27:00 the women eating watermelon.

00:04:54:00 one of the women wearing a uniform (possible of the WAAAF).

00:06:30:00 example of 1940 style dress with gloves and bag.
00:07:04:00 another uniform shot interspersed with flowers and the pet rabbit.

00:08:51:00 fruit trees are another feature of the garden and whilst collecting apricots, apples and green beans we see some examples of two piece sunsuits of the day.

00:14:11:00 title card ‘Peter’ begins a sequence featuring the family pet rabbit.

00:16:18:00 shows Mrs Rankine in a large black car in the driveway before shots of the lawns covered in hailstones or sleet.

00:16:31:00 title card ‘Kim’ introduces us to the family dog and to a young Bob Wootton who would become part of the family when married to Kenneth’s daughter.

00:17:30:00 title card ‘His First Bath’ shows the dog being washed in two enamel bowls typical of the time.

00:18:36:00 car being driven by Bob Wootton and members of the family in or near the car and playing with Kim.