Classic TV

1–48 of 10,700 films, free to watch, from the world's open archives.

Where these films come from, and who sees what

Every film here plays from the archive that keeps it: the Internet Archive, Wikimedia Commons, the NASA Image and Video Library, the Library of Congress and Open Images (the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision). Nothing is copied to this site. Each film's page names its archive, links to its page there, and states its licence or status as the archive does.

Archive films carry no age ratings, so each is placed from the collections it sits in and the subjects the archive gives it, cautiously. Sexual content and nudity are left out altogether.

Little OnesFilms for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool.
KidsCartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature.
TweensDocumentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures.
TeensEverything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower.
AdultSexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage.
Internet Archive "The Three Stooges" Failed Pilot 1949 · Short · 19 min · Subtitles This is a failed pilot for a "Three Stooges" TV show. The concept of the show was that the Stooges would try a new profession each show. In this episode they… Internet Archive Burke's Law 1963 · Feature · 51 min · Subtitles The only PD episode of Burke's Law. Episode Title: "Who Killed Jason Shaw" S1 E15 This show was originally set to air on 22 November 1963. It was pushed back… Internet Archive "Thriller" The Return of Andrew Bentley 1961 · Feature · 50 min · Subtitles Season 2 Episode 12 This is the only episode of the Thriller series to enter the Public Domain. It stars and is directed by John Newland of One Step Beyond… Internet Archive Thanks For The Memories (Bob Hope Special) 1964 · TV · 23 min · Subtitles This is a rare retrospective on Bob Hope's command performances for US troops all over the world since WWII. Features appearances by John F Kenedy, Betty… Internet Archive Stamp Day For Superman 1954 · Short · 18 min · Subtitles The Superman production company donated this special 18 minute episode to the US Treasury to help promote school stamp day savings plans to children. This is… Internet Archive Peter Gunn - The Fuse 1959 · Short · 25 min · Subtitles Season One Episode 16 (5 January 1959) An honest union leader is killed with a car bomb and suspicion falls on his chief rival, who hires Gunn to clear his… Internet Archive The Adventures of Ellery Queen - The Hanging Acrobat - DuMont Network 1951 · Short · 24 min · Subtitles This is an episode of the DuMont Network's "The Adventures of Ellery Queen" (1950-54). This ran on the DuMont Network before moving to the ABC. The series was… Internet Archive Sherlock Holmes - The Man Who Disappeared (Failed Pilot) 1951 · Feature · Subtitles Failed pilot for a proposed British Sherlock Holmes series starring John Longdon (Hitchcock's "Blackmail" and "The Skin Game") as Sherlock Holmes. Campbell… Internet Archive Hollywood Without Makeup 1963 · Home movie · 50 min · Subtitles A collection of behind the scenes and home movies from the golden age of Hollywood. Hosted by Ken Murray with a Special appearance by Kirk Douglas. Features… Internet Archive Colgate Comedy Hour - Abbott and Costello and Company 1951 · Feature · 41 min · Subtitles This is the 7 January 1951 Episode of the Colgate Comedy Hour hosted by Abbott and Costello. IMDB page here . Internet Archive Topper - Henrietta Sells The House 1953 · Feature · Subtitles Rare original network print of a Topper episode. Contains original sponsor opening and closing credits and original commercials. Internet Archive Petticoat Junction "Spur Line To Shady Rest" 1963 · Short · 26 min · Subtitles This is Season 1 Episode 1 (24 Sept 1963) Some of the music has been altered for copyright reasons. imdb page Internet Archive Police Station 1959 · Short · 29 min · Subtitles This is a 1959 episode of a police drama called "Police Station". This show dealt with the day-to-day goings on in the Precinct 11 Station. 39 episodes were… Internet Archive Hollywood: The Fabulous Era (Henry Fonda TV Special) 1962 · Feature · 52 min · Subtitles This one hour TV special tells the story of Hollywood from the advent of sound up to the modern day. Originally Aired 28 November 1962. Hosted by Henry Fonda. Internet Archive Petticoat Junction "A Night at the Hooterville Hilton" 1963 · Short · 26 min · Subtitles This is Episode 13 Season 1 (17 December 1963) Music altered for copyright reasons. imdb page Internet Archive Adventures of Dr Fu Manchu S1E11 1956 · Feature · Subtitles The Adventures of Dr Fu Manchu Series 1 Episode 11 - The Masterplan of Fu Manchu CAST Glen Gordon - Dr. Fu Manchu Lester Matthews - Sir Dennis Nayland Smith… Internet Archive The Beverly Hillbillies TV Show 1962 · TV · Subtitles THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES did turn into television's number one show faster than any sitcom in history. A supreme television classic, this CBS-TV folklore… Internet Archive Petticoat Junction "Herbie Gets Drafted" 1963 · Short · 26 min · Subtitles Season 1 Episode 15 December 31 1963. Due to copyright concerns, the opening credits music has been replaced with a public domain recording of a traditional… Internet Archive Studio One - Flowers From A Stranger 1949 · Feature · 52 min · Subtitles Episode 1.15 25 May 1949. Features Yul Brynner (with blonde hair!) as Dr Nestri. Contains original Westinghouse ads presented by Betty Furness. Internet Archive Bonanza - The Trail Gang TV · 49 min · Subtitles Set in Nevada in the 1860's, Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch called The Ponderosa. Ben Cartwright and his… Internet Archive The World at War (1973) - Thames Television 1973 · TV · 32 min The World At War (1973) Producer - Thames Television - Jeremy Isaacs Director - David Elstein Narrator - Laurence Olivier Composer - Carl Davis 1 Series - 26… Internet Archive Studio One - Two Sharp Knives 1949 · Feature · 52 min · Subtitles This is Season 2 Episode 10 Original Air Date 14 November 1949 Based on a story By Dashiell Hammet CAST Stanley Ridges Wynne Gibson Theodore Newton Peggy… Internet Archive Tales of Tomorrow #9: The Crystal Egg 1951 · TV · 23 min · Subtitles From the live tv anthology series Tales of Tomorrow. After a customer is overly eager to buy a crystal egg, an antique shop owner does the only logical thing:… Internet Archive Studio One - Plan For Escape 1952 · Feature · 52 min · Subtitles This is episode 8 of season 5 Original Air Date 17 Nov 1952 Based on a Story by Violet Wolfson CAST Peggy Ann Garner Frank Overton Jean Carson Robert Webber… Internet Archive Mahabharat 1988 TV series (94 episodes) - B. R. Chopra 1988 · TV · Subtitles Set of video files covering the 94 episodes of the series. Language: Hindi Embedded subtitles: English Note: some of the files had gaps in the English… Internet Archive Studio One - There Was A Crooked Man 1950 · Feature · 56 min · Subtitles Season 2 Episode 41 Original Air Date 19 June 1950 CAST Robert Sterling Charles Korvin Virginia Gilmore Richard Purdy Ann Shoemaker Harry Cooke Marion Scanlon… Internet Archive UFO. (Complete Series) 1969 · TV UFO is a 1970 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth, created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and… Internet Archive You Asked For It - BelaLugosi 1952 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles This is a rare episode of "You Asked For It", a program that originated in 1950 on the Du Mont Network, moved to the ABC network in the mid 50s, where it was… Internet Archive Peter Gunn - Lets Kill Timothy 1959 · Short · 25 min Season One Episode 17 (19 January 1959) After a Jewel robbery, a very nervous man hires Gunn to protect someone named Timothy from being murders. Gunn finds… Internet Archive Sherlock Holmes - The Case of the Shy Ballerina 1954 · TV · 27 min · Subtitles The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes "The Case of the Shy Ballerina" Originally aired November 22, 1954. A simple case of mistakenly switched coats suddenly… Internet Archive The Adventures of Dr Fu Manchu S1E9 1956 · Short · 26 min · Subtitles An Episode of the Fu Manchu TV Series "The Death Ships of Fu Manchu" (air date - Oct 29 1956) Starring Glen Gordon as Fu Manchu and Lester Matthews as Nayland… Internet Archive Sherlock Holmes - The Case of Lady Beryl 1954 · TV · 27 min · Subtitles The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes "The Case of Lady Beryl" Originally aired October 25, 1954. Lady Beryl admits to a crime she did not commit. Holmes not… Internet Archive Space 1999 (Complete Series 1) 1975 · TV Space 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. The series was the last production… Internet Archive Pride and Prejudice (1995 miniseries) 1995 · TV The iconic six-episode BBC1 adaptation of Jane Austen's 1813 romance novel, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. Internet Archive Mr ED "Wilbur Gets The Message... About Payroll Savings!" 1964 · Short · Subtitles Rare lost episode of Mr Ed. One of only two episodes that are in the Public Domain. This episode is, essentially, an episode length public service… Internet Archive Æon Flux Full Series 1991 · TV Æon Flux / ˌ iː ɒ n ˈ f l ʌ k s / is an American avant-garde science fiction adventure animated television series that aired on MTV from November 30, 1991,… Internet Archive Shōgun (miniseries) 1980 · TV Shōgun is an American television miniseries based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, who also was the executive producer of the miniseries.… Internet Archive Bonanza - Day Of Reckoning TV · 49 min · Subtitles Set in Nevada in the 1860's, Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch called The Ponderosa. Ben Cartwright and his… Internet Archive Bonanza - Bitter Water TV · 49 min · Subtitles Set in Nevada in the 1860s, Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch called The Ponderosa. Ben Cartwright and his… Internet Archive Forensic Files All Episodes Collection 1996 · TV Forensic Files is an American documentary television series that details how various crimes are solved with the use of forensic science. This collection… Internet Archive Black Brigade (aka Carter's Army) 1970 · TV · Subtitles This WWII drama tells the story of a racist officer (played by Stephen Boyd) put in charge of a squad of black troops charged with seizing a dam topped with a… Internet Archive Bonanza - The Fear Merchants TV · 48 min · Subtitles Set in Nevada in the 1860s, Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch called The Ponderosa. Ben Cartwright and his… Internet Archive The Adventures of Dr Fu Manchu S1E1 Short · 26 min · Subtitles An Episode of the Fu Manchu TV Series "Prisoner of Fu Manchu" (air date - Sept 3 1956) Starring Glen Gordon as Fu Manchu and Lester Matthews as Nayland Smith Internet Archive Sherlock Holmes - The Case of the Cunningham Heritage 1954 · TV · 27 min · Subtitles The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes "The Case of the Cunningham Heritage" Originally aired October 18, 1954. Holmes unravels the mystery surrounding the… Internet Archive The Woman Hunter 1972 · TV · Subtitles Barbara Eden stars in this made-for-TV movie. She looks great, especially frolicking in a bikini and numerous other outfits. There is also some sort of plot… Internet Archive Jackie Gleason on "Cavalcade of Stars" 1951 · TV · 9 min · Subtitles Jackie Gleason on segment of the popular 50's TV series "Cavalcade of Stars", doing a sketch called "The Honeymooners", which was later turned into a sitcom.… Internet Archive Bonanza - The Spitfire TV · 49 min · Subtitles Set in Nevada in the 1860's, Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch called The Ponderosa. Ben Cartwright and his… Internet Archive Bonanza - The Stranger TV · 49 min · Subtitles Set in Nevada in the 1860s, Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch called The Ponderosa. Ben Cartwright and his…