Titles from the 1930s
133 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year prev 1 2 3 next
1932 (continued)
Tasmanian countryside, Hobart and Tasmanian Tiger historical – c1932
A Tasmanian Tiger, Hobart City and the Tasmanian countryside are all showcased in this black-and-white actuality footage from the early 1930s.
Tasmanian Tiger Footage historical – 1932
In 1932, zoologist and naturalist David Fleay filmed some of the last known moving images of a living (now extinct) Tasmanian tiger.
Welcome to the English Cricket Team newsreel – 1932
At the start of what would become the infamous Bodyline series, there is no hint of hostility as Australian cricket captain Bill Woodfull welcomes the English squad to Australia.
1933
Australasian Gazette – Highlights of the Cricket Series England vs Australia newsreel – 1933
This Australasian Gazette newsreel footage features highlights of the first test in the 1932–1933 England versus Australia cricket series.
Australasian Gazette – Historic Cricket newsreel – 1933
This newsreel shows highlights of the second Test in the 1932–1933 series, which was won by Australia.
Australasian Gazette – The Ups and Downs of Cricket newsreel – 1933
This newsreel shows highlights of the third Test cricket series – the notorious 'Bodyline’ series – between England and Australia in Adelaide in January 1933.
Balinese Holiday home movie – c1933
This rare example of amateur footage of Bali and Java in the 1930s represents a particular Westerner’s view of the Asian region at that time.
Catching Crocodiles documentary – 1933
If you’ve ever wanted to catch a crocodile, this nine-minute instructional video tells you how, 1930s style.
Endurance documentary – 1933
After watching Home of the Blizzard Ernest Shackleton asked Frank Hurley to film his expedition across Antarctica with the aim of funding part of the expedition through film sales.
Harmony Row feature film – 1933
George Wallace’s talent for physical comedy is fully evident in the boxing match which serves as the film’s climax.
The Hayseeds feature film – 1933
This is the seventh and last film about a comical rural family known as the Hayseeds — it is also the first with sound.
In the Wake of the Bounty feature film – 1933
Made by Charles Chauvel and with Errol Flynn in the cast, In the Wake of the Bounty is an odd mixture of re-creation and travelogue.
The Squatter’s Daughter feature film – 1933
Flammable nitrate film fed the fires in the spectacular bushfire finale to Ken G Hall’s The Squatter’s Daughter. The fires rapidly got out of control during filming but no one was hurt.
1934
Australia documentary – 1934
This record of the man on the land in the 1930s, aimed at UK audiences, would have been narrated by the filmmaker when screened.
Centenary Celebrations of Melbourne, Victoria newsreel – 1934
This unedited newsreel footage includes a speech given by the Duke of Gloucester opening Melbourne’s centenary celebrations.
Cinesound Varieties historical – 1934
This variety show originally ran for about an hour, but only a few segments survive.
Rodeo documentary – c1934
This silent documentary is about a rodeo held in northern Queensland in approximately 1934. It features 500 participants parading through the streets of Townsville.
The Silence of Dean Maitland feature film – 1934
Renowned filmmaker Ken G Hall was concerned that this film would incite religious anger, but it was a smash hit instead.
Splendid Fellows feature film – 1934
Famous Australian aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, and his famous plane, have cameo roles in this comedy adventure.
Strike Me Lucky feature film – 1934
The Holocaust made vaudeville star Roy Rene’s Jewish caricatures unacceptable in later years, but this wasn’t the case in 1934.
Tatler News No 2, Dr Maloney MLA newsreel – c1934
Dr Maloney expresses concerns about social injustice and poverty, addresses women’s voting rights and approves removing the word 'illegitimate’ from the birth registry.
Tatler Social Newsreel: Social Party in South Yarra newsreel – c1934
Only a few Efftee newsreels have survived and this one is a vivid record of Melbourne society at play in the 1930s, complete with a society party in South Yarra.
A Ticket in Tatts feature film – 1934
George Wallace helps a champion horse to avoid crooks and win a big race.
Toora Vale Ice Company, Berri: The Ice Man Was Never Like This advertisement – c1934
Animated slogans in this advertisement effectively promote the use of ice in refrigeration.
Toora Vale Ice Company, Berri: Welcome Mr Ice Man advertisement – c1934
The advertisement comes from a time when electrical goods were being heavily promoted for the home.
1935
Activities of the Royal Aero Club of South Australia home movie – c1935
Amateur filmmaker and professional photographer John Mack manages to convey the experience of flight in a light aircraft.
Fez Please documentary – c1935
A short silent documentary made by the Owen Brothers about Melbourne’s fast-disappearing cable trams.
Grandad Rudd feature film – 1935
Some of the comical sketches are old-fashioned while others are beautifully designed to get audiences laughing during the Depression.
Heritage feature film – 1935
Heritage is a thunderous piece of endorsement for the pioneer mythology of Australia, made by the prolific Charles Chauvel.
Rinso Washing Powder: Fairy Story Comes True advertisement – c1935
A young girl helps grant her mother’s wish to have a washing day that does not require long hours of scrubbing.
1936
Conquest advertisement – 1936
This ad for the Rural Bank of New South Wales pitches the story of the ‘man on the land’ as one of industry, courage, determination and progress.
Double-decker Bus and Rail Motor home movie – c1936
The bus-rail hybrid was designed to service minor rail lines in Sydney that did not have enough passengers to justify the larger rail motor.
Home sponsored film – c1936
Dedicated to 'home builders and home lovers everywhere’, this film looks at the changing landscape in house building from the first settlers to modern homeowners.
Magical Powers short film – 1936
The idea behind Magical Powers was to show the audience some of the illusions and simple tricks that can be created with a moving image camera.
Monte Carlo Russian Ballet. Original Ballet Russe home movie – c1936
This footage shows staged sequences of the Ballets Russes’ repertoire on their 1930s tours to Australia. It includes excerpts from ballets Les Presages and Thamar.
Murray-Will, Ewan: Ballet Russes home movie – c1936
Dermatologist and amateur filmmaker Dr Ewan Murray-Will’s film captures solo dancers from the Ballets Russes du Monte Carlo performing on a Sydney beach.
Murray-Will, Ewan: Ballets Russes: Petrouchka: Carnaval: Aurora’s Wedding home movie – c1936
Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe – shown here on tour in Australia during 1936-37 – revolutionised ballet by giving equal emphasis to dance, music, drama and design.
Orphan of the Wilderness feature film – 1936
Boxing contests between men and kangaroos, as shown in this film, were a frequent ‘attraction’ in travelling tent shows.
Rangle River feature film – 1936
NSW legislation required exhibitors and distributors to invest in, and show, Australian films — but not for long.
Safety First sponsored film – c1936
This early road safety film uses drama, artwork and song to show children the correct way to behave when on the road.
Silver City sponsored film – 1936
This film is narrated with Frank Hurley’s typical flamboyance and presents mining as instrumental to maintaining the livelihood of over 100,000 Australians.
Thoroughbred feature film – 1936
The ending of this film led to allegations of plagiarism, because it was almost identical to the 1934 film, Broadway Bill.
Treasures of Katoomba sponsored film – 1936
Frank Hurley’s sense of adventure and eye for landscape composition is evident in this charming travelogue promoting tourism in the Blue Mountains.
Uncivilised feature film – 1936
Uncivilised is basically an Australian Tarzan, but with an English singer, Dennis Hoey, playing the king of the jungle.
Wrap Me Up With My Stockwhip and Blanket music – 1936
New Zealand-born Tex Morton created an awareness that country and western music could be an Australian form as much as it was an American form.
1937
Dad and Dave from Snake Gully – Episode 1 radio – 1937
The first episode of the long-running Dad and Dave radio show from 1937.
Imperial Tractors: Western Australian Farmers Support an Australian Industry advertisement – 1937
This cinema advertisement introduces Imperial Tractors and uses a similar style to the industrial documentaries produced in the 1920s.
It Isn’t Done feature film – 1937
1937 was Cinesound’s golden year – the studio’s films now boasted wittier scripts, more attention to performance, and a series of strong leading players.
Lovers and Luggers feature film – 1937
This entertaining film is packed with action, romance and comedy — the cocktail Ken G Hall’s usually offers — but also sophistication.
Mystery Island feature film – 1937
Two of the principal actors disappeared at sea after filming finished and what became of them is still unknown.
