Menzies Home Movie Collection (1941 - 1970)
Historical footage collection
Series synopsis:
The Menzies Home Movie Collection includes approximately 35 films of varying duration. It provides a unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of an Australian Prime Minister. The collection features colour footage of the London Blitz in 1941, scenes of the Churchill family at home and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, while also including, like most home movies, footage of family holidays, birthday celebrations and weddings.
Curator’s Notes:
Shot on 16mm colour film, these home movies are a rare glimpse into the life of the longest serving Australian Prime Minister as well as an historical record of Australian political life during the Second World War.
After being given a 16mm camera by his good friend, George Nicholls, Sir Robert Menzies began filming home movies in 1941, the same year as he recorded footage of the London Blitz. When interviewed for The Canberra Files (2006), Menzies’ daughter Heather Henderson explained how her father captured the mood of the country (England) during the Blitz and how the films correspond to his diaries. Menzies had access to many people, allowing him to record the Churchill family at home as well as members of the British Royal Family.
The home movies are shot with an eye for composition and were edited in a way that not only told the story but did so in an interesting way. According to Heather Henderson, Sir Robert used to visit Kodak production studios to instruct the technicians on how to edit his films. He also created his own title cards and often screened his home movies after dinner at The Lodge.
Dame Pattie Menzies donated the Menzies Home Movie Collection to the National Film and Sound Archive in 1985. It was in good condition and most of the titles have been transferred to video.
Titles in this collection
Australia to England via Tobruk and Benghazi: Menzies Wartime Tour (1941)
This home movie, filmed by Australian Prime Minister the Right Honourable, Sir Robert Menzies, was taken during his 1941 wartime tour of Tobruk, Benghazi, Cairo, Khartoum, Libya and Palestine, en route to England. The film includes footage of official visits ...
From England to the USA: Menzies Wartime Tour (c1941)
This home movie, filmed by the then Australian prime minister Sir Robert Menzies, records his trip from England to the USA via Lisbon and Canada. It begins with footage of Lisbon including a fishing village and a bullfight. It then ...
Menzies 1948 Journey, Reel 1 (1948)
This home movie is the first reel of a four-part travelogue, filmed by Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, on a journey from Australia to England by the Menzies family in 1948. It begins with the ship’s departure at a ...
Menzies 1948 Journey, Reel 2 (1948)
This home movie filmed by Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, during a family journey through Europe in 1948, begins with a title card that says ‘I didn’t see enough of it’ and cuts to footage of the cricket at ...
Menzies 1948 Journey, Reel 3 (1948)
This home movie is the third reel of a four-part travelogue filmed by Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, on a journey he made with his family from Australia to Scotland and London in 1948. It features panoramic shots of ...
Menzies RG: Our Coronation Tour: Home Movie (1953)
This home movie filmed by the Australian Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Robert G Menzies, records the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the official ceremonies and parades associated with the event.
Menzies RG: Our Royal Visitors: Home Movie (1954)
This home movie, filmed by the Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, records the official visit by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh to Melbourne in 1954. It shows the Queen and Prince Philip ...
Menzies’ Wartime Tour – England (1941)
This home movie filmed by Australia’s longest serving prime minister, Sir Robert Menzies, captures England during the Blitz in 1941. It features footage of the Churchills in their home, close-ups of various political leaders and prominent figures of England including ...
