Summary

A 16mm motion picture film featuring a television advertisement for Kodak Retina Automatic cameras, showing how they are used and stating a range of three to choose from. It takes place in an office, where two men discuss the simplicity of Kodak cameras. It concludes with the line used in many advertisements of this period: 'And they're made by Kodak, so you KNOW they're good', stressing the quality and reliability of Kodak products. The commercial was produced by Fanfare Films for Berry Currie Advertising (Vic), who were commissioned by Kodak Australasia.

This film is part of the Kodak collection of products, promotional materials, photographs and working life artefacts collected from Kodak Australasia in 2005, when the Melbourne manufacturing plant at Coburg closed down.

Kodak manufactured and distributed a wide range of photographic products to Australasia, such as film, paper, chemicals, cameras and miscellaneous equipment. Its client base included amateur and professional photographers, as well as specialist medical and graphic art professionals who used photography, x-ray and other imaging techniques.

Description of Content

Television commercial advertising Kodak Retina Automatic cameras. It opens with music and two men in an office discussing attendance at a Vintage Car Rally. John asks Jack to shoot some colour slides. Jack says he doesn't know anything about it so John explains how easy the Kodak Retina is to use. There are some images of the car rally and the ad concludes with the two in a lounge in front of a projection screen and a male voice over narration explaining pricing.

Physical Description

16mm cellulose acetate motion picture film; Black and White; Television commercial (TVC); Optical sound

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Kodak Heritage Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Images & Image Making, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation from Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Ms. Kate Metcalf - Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, 2005

  • Acknowledgement

    Courtesy of Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd.

  • Organisation Depicted

    Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, 173 - 199 Elizabeth Street, Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1960 - 1963

  • Agent

    Berry Currie Advertising (VIC.) Pty Ltd, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1960-1963

  • Producer

    Fanfare Films Pty Ltd, Richmond, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1960-1963

  • Recording Details

    Commercial TV, 00:01:31 HH:MM:SS, Excellent, 16mm cellulose acetate motion picture film; B&W; 30 feet;Television commercial (TVC); Optical sound

  • Content Summary

    1, 00:00:00 HH:MM:SS, Leader countdown and Fanfare Films intertitle.,2, 00:00:13 HH:MM:SS, Two model cars on desk. Camera pans up and zooms out to office with man at desk. Another enters and says "See you at the Vintage Car Rally Saturday, John?",3, 00:00:21 HH:MM:SS, John at desk with cigarette in hand and papers. Asks Jack to shoot colour slides at rally.,4, 00:00:26 HH:MM:SS, Low angle shot over John's shoulder of Jack saying he doesn't know anything about shooting colour slides.,5, 00:00:30 HH:MM:SS, High angle shot of John at desk. Says you just point and shoot. Jack leans down into frame to look at camera and says: "I thought you had to have exposure meters and things". John: "No. Not with this camera. This meter automatically sets the exposure whether it's cloudy or sunny.",6, 00:00:43 HH:MM:SS, Crossfade to model cars on desk framed by superimposed viewfinder marks. John: "When there's not enough light, a stop sign appears and it won't let you take a picture". Jack: "What about focusing?",7, 00:00:49 HH:MM:SS, Crossfade to wide shot of vintage car rally with viewfinder and focus dots superimposed. John: "Easy. Simply select three dots for distant scenes",8, 00:00:54 HH:MM:SS, Crossfade to two cars framed by viewfinder marks and focus dots. John: "Two if your subject is in medium range".,9, 00:00:57 HH:MM:SS, Crossfade to mid shot of John with car framed by viewfinder marks and focus dot. John: "And one dot for close ups",10, 00:00:59 HH:MM:SS, Crossfade to photo on slide projection screen. Camera zooms out to show John and Jack in lounge watching slideshow. Jack "I wouldn't have believed it! Every slide's perfect. I must have one of these Retina Automatics".,11, 00:01:08 HH:MM:SS, Close up of camera on bitumen with price tag. Male voice over narration commences: "The Kodak Retina Automatic Camera is available in three models from fifty-five pounds at your Kodak dealer".,12, 00:01:13 HH:MM:SS, Kodak graphic logo reading: 'CAMERAS / Kodak / FILM'. Voice over: "And they're made by Kodak so you KNOW they're good".,13, 00:01:26 HH:MM:SS, End.

  • Format

    Motion Film, 16 mm, Black & White

  • Language

    English

  • Classification

    Manufacturing & industry, Photographic products, Promotional materials

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Technology

  • Type of item

    Audiovisual

  • Keywords

    Photography, Manufacturing, Advertising, Motion Picture Films, Cameras, Television Production