Various Mann family scenes

Family celebrations and scenes around Colchester

A reel of family and local scenes. Some of the scenes also appear on other reels from Sidney Mann Cat 215857 "Snapshots of Local Interest" and Cat 215861 "Adventures of Sidney Mann with his Cine Camera". The title “Sidney Mann presents” is superimposed over china figures of a man, woman and child. Scenes of children playing in a garden with scooter and tricycle, chickens in a pen, and family members are followed by a shot of a boy in pyjamas. The record of a birthday begins with the boy holding a blackboard chalked “I am 5 years old today”, then joined by other boys on a stepladder, then in a family group including a man (Sidney Mann) in uniform, a bicycle as a present and a birthday cake with candles. A group of family and neighbours sit at tables outdoors having tea. A band of small children play pipes or kazoos, and women play musical chairs. A Union Jack suggests a patriotic occasion, perhaps VE Day or VJ Day or another peace celebration. Following a brief glimpse of a fire, boy uses a fretsaw to produce the name David in wood. Children run races on a marked grass track. An older man arrives in car YW4639. The following scenes show family and guests in the garden; using a woodwork plane; composed family portraits; an older couple kissing at seaside. A News of the World newspaper carries the headline “British to enter Berlin”. Scenes of an aviation display include a helicopter and various aeroplanes performing aerobatics. Interspersed with the air display are sequences of civil defence exercises with uniformed wardens watched by bystanders and a commentator with microphone; a first aid exercise with a casualty on a stretcher, and an exercise in extinguishing incendiaries with stirrup pumps. A warden in a gas mask stands inside a telephone box, then an area is hosed down following a gas attack. A Silver Eagle toy plane smoulders on the ground. The old man arrives home and is shown mowing the lawn and with two pipe smoking colleagues. A scene of Colchester High Street pans past the cinema and shops including Mann Bros music shop selling gramophones, record, wireless, pianos and music. Following a view over Colchester rooftops, scenes around Colchester Castle are introduced with the notice signs for the Castle and Museum. Exterior views of the Castle include men carrying out repair work. Joan Mann walks in the Castle grounds. There are swans and a bridge, disappearance trick effect. A small train pulls wagons, followed by scenes of railway bridge works and other town views. A man interacts with large poster on hoarding “Life seems brighter after Guinness”. The title Snow at Colchester is followed by snow scenes around castle, with Joan sliding and throwing snowballs. The High Road is shown in snow, followed by another view with a Carnival sign above the cinema. The reel ends with Sidney Mann’s record of the visit to Colchester by the Prince of Wales on 21 October 1931. The Prince is seen carrying out ceremonial inspection at the Castle, cheered by crowds, and leaving by car. Crowds wait in the High Road where shops are decorated for the occasion. View from an upstairs window shows the Prince leaving a building to enter the car.

Keywords

Family; Birthday; Peace celebrations; Games; Snow; Civil defence; Royal visit

Intertitles

Sidney Mann presents Snow at Colchester The Prince of Wales at Colchester, Oct 21st 1931. Film made by Mr S.W. Mann