The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
Eye to the Future
A new recruit drives off into a chemical sunset and a future with ICI Wilton but first theres some serious business with an analogue computer.
From the collection of:
Overview
A new recruit gets a marvellous glimpse at the weird impersonal plants filling the Teesside skyline at ICI Wilton. This slick piece of sponsored filmmaking is a product of post-war efforts to attract young engineering graduates into Imperial Chemical Industries. Lest the restless youth find supersonic wind tunnels and analogue computers dull, tiddly winks and cool jazz in a cellar beckon.
The production of the ICI Film Unit, formed in 1929, mirrored the needs of government propaganda in this 1961 recruitment film, as ICI Wilton chemical was built in 1946 to help in Britains great reconstruction drive after World War Two. The use of tracking shots gives a suitably apocalyptic sense of the colossal chemical plants built between Redcar and Eston.
Related
Watch for free
This is Bournemouth This is Bournemouth
Promotional 1969 17 mins Location: Bournemouth
Bournemouth. A holiday resort that’s got the lot. Sunshine, sandy beaches, gardens, shops, fine dining and entertainment - with sports stars and a few beauty queens thrown in
Watch for free
Welcome to the Queen Welcome to the Queen
Documentary 1956 29 mins Location: Stockton-on-Tees
Beautiful documentary record of the royal visit to Teesside in 1956, shot in gorgeous Kodachrome.
Watch for free
Move North Move North
Industry sponsored film 1966 20 mins Location: Middlesbrough
A serious sales pitch for the North East by a battling former Labour MP.
Watch for free
Visit to ICI Visit to ICI
Cinemagazine 1952 6 mins Location: Billingham
ICI promotes its post-war potential on a fascinating tour of the great chemical city on Teesside.
Watch for free
One for the Road One for the Road
Documentary 1957 10 mins Location: Wilton
A giant truck with unusual cargo is on the road to ICI Wilton in the dead of winter.
Watch for free
Cleveland Conservation Cleveland Conservation
Open access programme 1976 15 mins Location: Middlesbrough
A local history teacher takes full advantage of an opportunity to highlight the decline of parts of Cleveland, and present a highly engaging case for preserving its heritage.
Watch for free
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
Watch for free
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
Watch for free
Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.
Watch for free
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Watch for free
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
Watch for free
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.