Dutch TT Assen 1954 | Shell Historical Film Archive

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. This film captures the essence of the event, as riders raced past serene pastures with grazing cows and horses, while spectators eagerly watched from behind rustic straw bales.

Assen, a charming town in the northern Netherlands, served as the perfect backdrop for this unforgettable race day. Over a hundred motorcycles gathered at the ten-mile circuit, showcasing the latest models from renowned factory teams and privately owned machines. These motorcycles weren't just about winning races; they were also a testing ground for new ideas and designs.

With a crowd of 150,000 spectators, the day featured four separate races for motorcycles of various capacities, ranging from 125cc to 500cc.

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Shell’s surprising and captivating Historic Film Archive dates from 1934 and covers a rich mix of topics from technology, science and engineering to craftsmanship, motorsport and travelogue.

The Shell Film Unit, responsible for the content, was a highly celebrated part of Britain’s Documentary Movement. Key figures from that movement were involved, including: Jack Beddington, Edgar Anstey, Arthur Elton, John Grierson, Kay Mander, Stuart Legg and Douglas Gordon.

Its films were wide reaching, often screened in cinemas and through the non-theatric film distribution circuit, which brought film to educational establishments and organisations across the UK. While many films covered technological themes related to Shell’s activities, others were entirely unrelated and served purely to educate the general public.

As Shell innovated in technologies that would provide oil and gas products for the world, the Shell Film Unit also innovated in the technological advancement of film, incorporating graphics and different forms of animation as early as the 1930s.

During WW2 the Shell Film Unit was co-opted into war effort, making films for the Ministry of Information’s film division. Its prowess in technological documentary suited the MoI’s need for technical training films.

While the name and the medium has changed many times over the years, the documentary tradition lives on at Shell. Its contemporary film team is part of Shell’s multi-disciplinary in-house agency, Creative Solutions. It continues making award-winning factual content that informs and educates the public, now usually released on social media platforms.