This film is part of Free

Title of error

See Help

How to File

Listen up, apprentices! Learn how to smooth and shape metal – an important wartime skill.

Industry sponsored film 1941 8 mins

Overview

This is the directorial debut of pioneering female documentary director Kay Mander, and if you’re after advice on how to organise your paperwork you’re in the wrong place. This short instructional film (an early “how to” film) was aimed at wartime metalwork apprentices. It deploys some nifty camerawork to illustrate how to smooth and shape metals by means of skilled use of a file. Mander was working for the prestigious Shell Film Unit at the time of making this film, however, like many of the Unit’s films of the era, it does not explicitly promote, or even mention, Shell.

Director

Kay Mander

Genres

Industry sponsored film and Training

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No Dialogue with English subtitles

Subjects

Filing (metal working)

Subscribe to watch

Frida Kahlo & Tina Modotti Frida Kahlo & Tina Modotti

Documentary 1983 30 mins Director: Laura Mulvey and Peter Wollen

Immerse yourself in the work of Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti - icons of the Mexican Renaissance.

Watch for free

Once We Were Four Once We Were Four

Documentary 1942 9 mins

Innocent bunnies face an onslaught of badgers, bombs and birds of prey in this black comedy masquerading as a nature film.

Watch for free

Tunde's Film Tunde's Film

Documentary drama 1974 40 mins Location: Stepney

Tired of being hassled by the police and with no job opportunities, a group of teenage East End lads plan to rob a bank.

Watch for free

So This Is London So This Is London

Documentary 1933 14 mins Silent Location: Westminster

London at its best? This gorgeous lyrical portrait was made by pioneering female director Marion Grierson.

Currently unavailable

Black to Front Black to Front

Current affairs 1978 27 mins Location: Brixton

World in Action interviews the residents of Haycroft Road, Brixton as a controversial by-election stokes concerns about race and immigration.

Watch for free

Spring on the Farm Spring on the Farm

Documentary 1933 8 mins

The exhilaration of spring in the country – blossom, piglets, ducklings and more delights on the farm.

Watch for free

Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A

Inside Film 2025 30 mins

The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.