[Orwell Michaelis Home Movies: Reel 1]

This collection of home movies, originally filmed on 8mm and 16mm film, was taken between 1938 and 1956 by Orwell Michaelis. The collection was donated to ACMI by Michaelis’s daughter, Sally Cohen, and her husband Sheldon Cohen. The films show life in Melbourne including the 1956 Olympic Games, a fishing trip to Bermagui in NSW, and holidays in Indonesia.

This is a home movie from the Michaelis family of early Melbourne. ‘Australian Scenes’ is the title on screen and starts with a lovely view from the Yarra looking back to the city skyline. The river bank is packed as an exciting rowing regatta takes place. A great shot facing south from the top of Swanston Street and then the Shrine of Remembrance. We see a passing parade of Australian Army personnel in their slouch hats. A crowd on the steps of the Old Treasury Building. ‘Flemington, Cup Day, 1940’ is next with crowds of men in hats and wide shots of the running of the race and winners circle. A tennis match is played in front of a sold-out crowd in the ‘1946 Davis Cup Challenge’ at Kooyong’s tennis courts. A very scenic ‘Picnic at Warrandyte’ reflects a relaxing day out with the family in the country. There is footage of Australian native animals at what is possibly Healesville Sanctuary. ‘Bayside Scenes’ shows families enjoying the cooling waters of Port Phillip Bay. ‘Autumn at Macedon’ is a brief scene of trees in autumn colours. We then see the 1956 Olympic Games opening in Melbourne and the parade of athletes, releasing doves and the lighting of the flame. The film shows some events shot from the stands.

Selected Highlights List (time codes from Access Overscan)

00:35:00:00 rowing regatta on the Yarra
00:52:00:00 Melbourne street scene with vintage cars and tram #64. Facing south from the top end of Swanston Street.
00:59:00:00 St Kilda Road with Shrine of Remembrance in the distance; tram tracks and vintage cars
00:01:15:00 Shrine of Remembrance with people assembled on stairs
00:01:23:00 Melbourne Street scene, pedestrians and cars
00:01:28:00 possibly an Anzac Day march led by an army band and followed by soldiers
00:01:54:00 spectators crowd on the steps on the Old Treasury Building
00:02:06:00 Melbourne Cup Day, Flemington 1940. Punters crowd around the bookmakers – one being M. Labb
00:02:19:00 race horses being led around the mounting yard
00:02:47:00 footage of race (possibly the Melbourne Cup) shot from the grand stand
00:03:00:00 officials and jockey Andy Knox assemble for the cup presentation
00:03:07:00 1946 Davis Cup Challenge footage of Kooyong Centre Court and crowds in the grandstand
00:03:41:00 men’s singles match footage
00:03:51:00 men’s doubles match footage
00:04:29:00 close-up of the Davis Cup trophy with onlookers inspecting it
00:04:43:00 river in Warrandyte with swimmers on the bank
00:05:06:00 an old-style fireplace bush BBQ with chops and a billy boiling on the grill
00:05:10:00 close-up of a delicious looking BBQ’d lamb chop
00:05:13:00 family bush picnic in bucolic surrounds, eating picnic fare and sitting on blankets
00:05:23:00 rural scene with lake or dam and cabins with smoking chimneys and vintage cars parked around the cabins
00:08:46:00 Melbourne Olympic Games 1956 Opening Ceremony booklet or program
00:08:51:00 exterior of Melbourne Olympic stadium
00:09:09:00 interior of the Olympic stadium
00:09:40:00 atheletes enter the main stadium for the opening march and parade around the track
00:10:41:00 doves are released in to the stadium
00:10:48:00 Ron Clarke enters the stadium carrying the Olympic torch
00:10:58:00 shot of the Olympic cauldron alight with country flags in the background
00:11:26:00 track and field winners on podium