Library of Congress: National Screening Room

1–48 of 358 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.
Library of Congress [Dickson greeting] 1891 · Documentary Experimental film made with the Edison-Dickson-Heise experimental horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, using 3/4-inch wide film. Library of Congress [Men boxing] 1891 · Documentary Experimental film made with the Edison-Dickson-Heise experimental horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, using 3/4-inch wide film. Library of Congress [Newark athlete. No. 1] 1891 · Documentary Experimental film made with the Edison-Dickson-Heise experimental horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, using 3/4-inch wide film. Library of Congress Newark athlete. [No. 2] 1891 · Documentary Experimental film made with the Edison-Dickson-Heise experimental horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, using 3/4-inch wide film. Film reoriented by… Library of Congress Sandow 1894 · Documentary Strong-man Eugen Sandow stands against a black background with his arms up and hands behind his head. He strikes a variety of poses that demonstrate his upper… Library of Congress [Athlete with wand] 1894 · Documentary One of a series of films using athletes from the local Newark Turnverein as subjects. Library of Congress Band drill 1894 · Documentary "From "Milk White Flag." Marching band with leader at the head"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue. Library of Congress The boxing cats (Prof. Welton's) 1894 · Documentary Professor Welton presents an amusing fight between two trained cats wearing boxing gloves. Library of Congress Bucking broncho 1894 · Documentary "A fine exhibition of horsemanship by Lee Martin, a genuine cowboy. This particular broncho is an unusually wicked one. 40 feet"--Edison films catalog, no. 105. Library of Congress Buffalo dance 1894 · Documentary Three Sioux Indians in full regalia perform a "buffalo dance", while two others use drums to supply a rhythm. The three dancers move around in a circle as… Library of Congress Caicedo (with pole) 1894 · Documentary "King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home. 50 feet"--Edison films… Library of Congress Carmencita 1894 · Documentary "Carmencita the Spanish dancer, sways her graceful figure and pirouttes with a whirl of flying skirts"--Edison motion pictures,1890-1900. Library of Congress Glenroy Bros. [No. 2] 1894 · Documentary "The Glenroy Brothers perform a portion of their vaudeville act, The Comic View of Boxing: The Tramp & the Athlete"--Internet movie database. "Farcical… Library of Congress Hadj Cheriff 1894 · Documentary Although the variant title for this film is "Arab knife juggler", and the performer is holding a knife in each hand, he appears to discard the knives just… Library of Congress Imperial Japanese dance 1894 · Documentary "A charming representation of The Mikado dance by three beautiful Japanese ladies in full costume. Very effective when colored. 45 feet"--Edison films catalog. Library of Congress Leonard-Cushing fight 1894 · Documentary "An actual six-round contest between Mike Leonard, commonly called the "Beau Brummel" of pugilism, and Jack Cushing. Full of hard fighting, clever hits,… Library of Congress Luis Martinetti 1894 · Documentary "Gymnast and contortionist, performing on flying rings"--Raff & Gammon price list. Library of Congress [Lakota Grass Dance] 1894 · Documentary Eleven dancers, including two boys (Johnny Burke No Neck, Seven Up) stand with their feet still, but their bodies swaying slightly. In the upper left corner,… Library of Congress Annie Oakley 1895 · Documentary Annie Oakley, the "Little Sure Shot" of the "Wild West," in an exhibition of rifle shooting. Library of Congress Princess Ali 1895 · Documentary Princess Ali, of Barnum and Bailey's Circus, is filmed performing an Egyptian dance. As she dances, some musicians perform in the background to provide… Library of Congress The morning alarm 1896 · Documentary "Shows chief in his buggy, followed by fire engines, hose carts, hook and ladder, insurance patrol and a chemical engine. Horses snorting, plunging and… Library of Congress A morning bath 1896 · Documentary An African American mother is shown giving her struggling child a bath. She thrusts him, kicking and struggling, into a tub of foaming suds. Library of Congress Mounted police charge 1896 · Documentary "A troop of mounted police, in full dress uniform, are seen approaching the audience at full gallop; when within but a few yards of the camera they suddenly… Library of Congress Amy Muller 1896 · Documentary "A beautiful fantastic toe dance. A good subject colored"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue, April 1897. Library of Congress Going to the fire 1896 · Documentary "This scene shows almost the entire Fire Department led by the Chief, responding to an alarm. The horses, said to be the finest of their kind in the country,… Library of Congress Interrupted lovers 1896 · Short "The watchful father disturbs a dream of bliss, and the bucolic lover is taught a lesson. He made a great hit"--Edison films catalog, no. 105. Library of Congress Passaic Falls 1896 · Documentary "Passaic Falls. This beautiful subject rivals our Niagara Falls series in realistic effects showing the great volume of water pouring over the brink, mist… Library of Congress Shooting the chutes 1896 · Documentary "A lively scene on the famous water chutes at Coney Island"--Maguire & Baucus catalogue. Library of Congress American falls from above, American side 1896 · Documentary "New Niagara Falls series: The following subjects were all taken on the latest and most improved clear stock during December 1896, and should not be… Library of Congress The burning stable 1896 · Documentary "Shows a barn actually in flames, from which four horses and a burning wagon are rescued by firemen and stable hands. The scene is exciting, full of action… Library of Congress Feeding the doves 1896 · Documentary "A farm yard picture, showing a young girl and her baby sister scattering grain to the doves and chickens. The fluttering birds and excited fowls give an… Library of Congress Duel au pistolet 1896 · Short A dramatization of a duel with pistols in which one man is felled and his seconds rush in to care for him. Library of Congress Sandow 1896 · Documentary Strong-man Eugene (Eugen) Sandow poses in a long shot on a bare stage against a black background, wearing only tight trunks and laced sandals. He begins with… Library of Congress Empire State Express 1896 · Documentary "The film opens on a scene of a railroad section gang mending tracks on a curved area. In the distane a locomotive can be seen approaching the camera… Library of Congress May Irwin kiss 1896 · Short From Maguire & Baucus catalogue: An osculatory performance by May Irwin and John Rice. The most popular subject ever shown. From Edison films catalog: By May… Library of Congress Surf at Monterey 1897 · Documentary "The water breaks over the rocks, and is dashed into silvery spray, high into the air. Exceptionally fine water effects. 50 feet"--Edison films catalog, no.… Library of Congress Sutro Baths, no. 1 1897 · Documentary "One of the sights of San Francisco. A 50-foot slide is used by the bathers, who toboggan down its slippery surface in all positions. The bathers are clad in… Library of Congress Sutro Baths 1897 · Documentary "Another view in which the figures show larger. A springboard furnishes the bathers with much amusement; also a toboggan slide. 50 feet"--Edison films… Library of Congress Waterfall in the Catskills 1897 · Documentary "Beautiful water effects at Haines' Falls, a most picturesque and charming mountain cataract. The wild and rugged surroundings are very impressive. 50… Library of Congress Arrest in Chinatown, San Francisco, Cal 1897 · Documentary This film shows the arrest and conveyance of a Chinese man in Chinatown, watched by a crowd of onlookers. The precise date of this film and the arrest charge… Library of Congress Fishing smacks 1897 · Documentary Taken at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, Cal., with a large fleet of fishing boats at anchor. From a single camera position, several small fishing vessels… Library of Congress Free-for-all race at Charter Oak Park 1897 · Documentary "Shows a part of the enormous crowd and the start and finish of the free-for-all pacing race, in which the fastest harness horse in the world, John R. Gentry… Library of Congress Giant coal dumper 1897 · Documentary "Erie Railroad Series: The following subjects present novel and interesting views along the line of the Erie, such as do not always come within the… Library of Congress Horses loading for Klondike, no. 9 1897 · Documentary "The wharf is crowded with live stock, and the huge derrick slowly drops the large box or sling into the bunch. Into this cradle a horse is led, and is slowly… Library of Congress Hotel Del Monte 1897 · Documentary "Shows a party of tourists at this famous resort; located in Monterey, Cal., on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The magnificence of its surroundings is clearly… Library of Congress Launch of life boat 1897 · Documentary "Pacific Coast Life Saving Service series: These subjects are illustrative of the work performed by the Life Saving Corps of the United States Government, and… Library of Congress Leander Sisters 1897 · Documentary The Leander Sisters perform a clever, characteristic dance called the "Yellow Kid." Stage is in the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, Cal., and the audience is… Library of Congress Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Cal 1897 · Documentary "The background of this picture is the Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, Cal. This observatory, the gift of James Lick, of Pennsylvania, was constructed at a…