Prelinger Archives
4,849–4,896 of 10,346 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 Ones | Films for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool. |
|---|---|
| Kids | Cartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature. |
| Tweens | Documentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures. |
| Teens | Everything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower. |
| Adult | Sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage. |
Internet Archive
Subversion And Espionage Directed Against The Military
Internet Archive
[News Magazine of the Screen, January 1951]
Retreat in Korea.
Internet Archive
[County Fair / Livestock Judging] (stock shots)
Includes fair rides, cattle and livestock judging.
Internet Archive
Where Safety Starts
Subtitle: The Story of National Driver Education and Training Program for High Schools and the New Improved General Squeegee Tire Film about General Squeegee…
Internet Archive
Caroline Mission
0581 PA8491 [Caroline Mission]
Internet Archive
Vista Color Stock Shots: People of All Kinds
Stock shots of people filmed around and about in San Francisco, including a lengthy segment at Candlestick Park. A shorter segment at the end features…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Lloyd Royal Collection: 011063
A family in Mississippi celebrates their first Christmas in their new home in 1947 and documents it using a sound-on-film motion picture camera. Notable…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98896: Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park Trip
Denver & Rocky Mt. Natl. Park Trip, Hoovers Home, Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, Estes Pk. Boulder, Silver City, July - 1955
Internet Archive
Scenic New Orleans
Footage of New Orleans landmarks and downtown streets. Shots should be logged.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98700: Wedding
To come.
Internet Archive
It Happens Every Day
Internet Archive
Alice in Wonderland
live action and animation
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: United Auto Workers Strikers in Detroit] HBA00025
Pictures picketing and demonstrations by members of the United Automobile Workers of America in the late 1930s, probably in Michigan.
Internet Archive
[Gould can 5165.3]
Redwood City, California: couple wed in airplane.
Internet Archive
US Steel Commercial #1
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Oakland 1949]
[Home Movies: Oakland 1949]
Internet Archive
Report from Rhode Island
The film "Report from Rhode Island" highlights the history and community spirit of Rhode Island, focusing on its founding by Roger Williams, who advocated for…
Internet Archive
Financing the American Family
Good shots to be logged. Includes both live action and animation.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97498: Europe
Note in can states: Europe - 1st Trip (Part II) Paris Vernet Perpignan Geneva Zurich New York
Internet Archive
Fire Lookout
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Canada and Gaspé Peninsula, 1969]
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Vacation in Arizona
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098287: A Los Angeles beachgoing family of the 50s]
15 min., color: 1950s ordinary scenes of a Los Angeles area family enjoying trips to the beach and backyard cookouts with their small children and with friends.
Internet Archive
Your Movie Camera and How to Use It
Great shots of man shooting with home movie camera.
Internet Archive
Protecting Nurses' Welfare: A Chronicle of Achievement
Film about the advocacy work being done by the American Nurses' Association to ensure fair working conditions for nurses across the country.
Internet Archive
Newport Cigarette Commercial #7
Internet Archive
Education for Excellence (Part I)
0722 PA8847 Education for Excellence
Internet Archive
Chance To Lose
Internet Archive
Your Name Here Outtakes (Reel 10)
Internet Archive
Flags on Duty
children's educational film about flags
Internet Archive
[Untitled: KPO Singer]
Woman sings at Chronicle KPO NBC broadcast. Sign of "City of St. Francis" behind her and band
Internet Archive
Golden State, The
Internet Archive
Beyond All Barriers (segment)
First half of an incomplete faded and scratched copy of Bell Telephone promotional or educational film. This section opens with a brief series of images of…
Internet Archive
Tear Gas Demo
0628 PA8755 [Tear Gas Demo]
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098323: 1938 Christmas and roller skating]
9 min., BW: A middle-class California family celebrates Christmas in 1938, and a little girl receives a film camera as a gift. Roller skating sequences and…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Dill Collection: 004078
Leisure and domestic scenes of the Dill family in Florida and Maine. Includes images of boat recreation, playing with a new puppy, pool days, and more. Can…
Internet Archive
A Sharper Sword and Stronger Shield
Miscellaneous Film MF 20-9040 "Modernization of army for defense -- new pentagonal organization and flexible structure -- new tactical concepts -- new weapons…
Internet Archive
Do We Need Wiretapping Laws?
TV discussion program with host - "Washington Spotlight"
Internet Archive
Pageant of Steel (Part 1)
"Deals with the production and application of sheet steel. Illustrates the importance of products made from steel sheets, and its use by architects,…
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098259: PA rail fan 2: Train stations in rural PA, 1964]
4.5 min., color: scenes from train stations, train platforms, with workers posing, all rural and small-town Pennsylvania: Lenni, Media, Swarthmore, etc.,…
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098726: A boy grows from 4 to 6 in the early 50s]
A young boy is the focal point of this black and white reel, filmed 1952-1954; in winter scenes he plays with snow shovels and toboggans, and in summer scenes…
Internet Archive
School: A Film About Progressive Education
Film about Hessian Hills School at Croton-on-Hudson New York.
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Bohemian Grove]
Men lining up to eat. Man in chef’s outfit serves food outside.
Internet Archive
Falling Waters Of Yosemite
Silent travelogue that looks at the waterfalls of the Yosemite National Park.
Internet Archive
Gary Tyler Must Be Free!
A documentary describing the case of Gary Tyler, a teenager who was unfairly convicted of murder in St. Charles Parish in 1974 and the activists working to…
Internet Archive
Miracle of Corn Growth, The
Good corn farming footage;
Internet Archive
Western Grebe, The
Internet Archive
Report to the People
Call to prevent traffic accidents