Shell Film Unit Movie Trailers

Coupe des Alpes: The Story of the 1958 Alpine Rally Trailer (1959)

01 January 1959

1958 Shell trade test film following the progress of the 1958 Alpine Cup rally across southern Europe.

How An Airplane Flies Trailer (1947)

01 January 1947

A six-part instructional film produced by the Shell Film Unit explaining the fundamentals of heavier-than-air flight through live-action aircraft footage, diagrams, and model demonstrations, covering lift, drag, thrust, equilibrium, stability, and control.

Martial Dances of Malabar Trailer (1958)

02 January 1958

Martial Dances of Malabar (1958) is a short documentary directed by Paul Zils, focusing on the traditional martial arts of the Malabar region in India.

Atomization Trailer (1949)

01 January 1949

A Shell-sponsored industrial science short examining the physics of liquid spray and dispersal, produced in the context of Shell’s research into insecticides and chemical application.

The Dutch T.T. 1954 Trailer (1954)

29 June 1954

The iconic 1954 Dutch TT, where the legendary English rider Geoff Duke stole the show with a historic victory in the 500cc category on an Italian machine.

Isle of Man TT Races - 1950 Trailer (1950)

10 June 1950

Highlights from the 1950 Isle of Man motor cycle race won by Geoff Duke.

Shellarama Trailer (1965)

01 January 1965

A celebration of Shell Petroleum, tracing its manufacture from discovery in oil fields to its eventual use as fuel for modern living across the globe.

Proud Ships Trailer (1954)

30 June 1954

Created in 1954 by the Shell Oil Company, "Proud Ships" was directed by Philip Armitage. Across and around the world from oilfields to refineries and from refineries to consumers, oil tankers carry crude oil and its refined products.

How An Airplane Flies Trailer (1975)

01 January 1975

Derek Armstrong’s 1975 Shell Film Unit instructional series on aerodynamics, explaining the relationship between lift and weight as the foundational forces that keep an aircraft flying.

The Cornish Engine Trailer (1948)

22 August 1948

BAFTA-nominated documentary about the history of Cornish pumping engines.

First Principles of the Compression Ignition Engine Trailer (1939)

01 January 1939

An exposition, by means of diagrams and models, of the working principles of the compression ignition or oil engine.

Belgian Grand Prix 1955 Trailer (1955)

09 January 1955

An overview of the 1955 Belgian Grand Prix by Shell Oil. Watch the racing heroes of the 1950's conquer the tarmac in one of the picturesque racing circuits of Europe.