Prelinger Archives
5,185–5,232 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
The Work of the River
Educational film about the grand importance of rivers, using the Columbia River as an example. From 16mm Educational Films index: "Shows the work of rivers.…
Internet Archive
Your Name Here Outtakes (Reel 3)
Internet Archive
Experimentally Produced "Social Problems" in Rats
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 11758: Midwestern Family Scenes, Wedding, IA Trip
to come
Internet Archive
Cal State Colleges: San Francisco State College
Documents scenes within the Third World Liberation Front strikes of 1968 at San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University). Includes…
Internet Archive
Time Pulls the Trigger (Part I)
0739 PA9033 Time Pulls the Trigger
Internet Archive
Mary Learns Her Traffic Lesson
Stop-motion animated film about a girl and her pet lamb learning how to cross the street safely, based on the Mother Goose nursery rhyme. Mary crosses a…
Internet Archive
Bay at the Moon
hunting, raccoon hunting, with coon hounds
Internet Archive
Stagehands
Internet Archive
"Making Man-Handlers" at West Point
Some good shots to be logged. Mass calisthenics. Boxing practice
Internet Archive
[California Landscapes and Sunsets]
Internet Archive
Vista Stock Shots: Meat Handling — Butcher Wholesale and Retail
Stock footage of California wholesale beef processing. Includes footage of butchers handling and cutting meat, meat inspection, meat packaging, and meat…
Internet Archive
[Untitled: Sealtest Ice Cream]
No sound. Shoppers browsing Ice cream in grocery store, man taking survey/interviewing shoppers about best ice-cream for Sealtest
Internet Archive
Place to Live, A
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98684: Travels in France and England
To come.
Internet Archive
Scmidts Commercial
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98221: CERA Fan Trip on CTA El
Label on can reads: "C.E.R.A. fan trip on CTA "El" with 4000 series cars 9-14-58"
Internet Archive
[Gould can 5364.3: Lincoln Highway Dedication]
Dedication ceremonies in San Francisco as the western terminus of the Lincoln Highway in Lincoln Park
Internet Archive
The American Indian: Child Life
Content warning: This film contains racist depictions and descriptions of Indigenous people, with title cards narrating a white settler colonialist and…
Internet Archive
Industry on Parade: Sylacauga Saga! / Seminar for Executives! / A Message from Industry to You
Sylacauga, Alabama: textile mills stock shots to be logged
Internet Archive
Vista Stock Shots: San Francisco
Compilation of scenic shots of San Francisco locations, originally shot for use in a San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau film.
Internet Archive
Strohm 0047
A visit to Egypt, India, and Thailand. Includes many portrait-type shots of people looking at the camera, and some brief shots of agriculture and water use.
Internet Archive
Good Friday Through Cuernavaca
0628 PA8771 [Good Friday Through Cuernavaca]
Internet Archive
001330
001330
Internet Archive
[Untitled: Milton Caniff]
Portrait of Milton Caniff working on cartoons and illustrations
Internet Archive
The Salesman: A Film Lesson in Vocational Guidance
Jim, a hardware and appliances storeowner, learns how to become an effective salesperson and is able to grow his modest store into a successful department…
Internet Archive
How Sound Is Transmitted Via Radio
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Arlington, Virginia Parade]
A short film reel featuring a parade in Arlington, Virginia. It includes scenes of spectators waiting and a banner that reads "Arlington Memorial, Subscribe…
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098943: U.S. Army personnel films Air Defense Command activities in western states, 1967]
U.S. Army Air Defense Command scenes: Visit to 74th Artillery Group headquarters and a trip to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, to White Sands…
Internet Archive
The Sound of A Million
Industry, infrastructure, and tourism in Kansas City, Missouri, depicted over the course of a day from sunrise to sunset.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98907: Family and Travel
Label on can states: Aug 23 & Sept 8 1952, Alligators & St Petersburg & Evelyn's house & Jack Miners in Windsor, Nov 1952, Ma, Aug 23 to Sept 8 1952,
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 010105
Documentation of the Peace March in San Francisco, California on April 24, 1971. Includes an appearance by William "Bill" Matons in character as "General…
Internet Archive
[Untitled: Sealtest Ice Cream]
Silent. Shoppers browsing Ice cream in grocery store, man taking survey/interviewing shoppers about best ice-cream for Sealtest
Internet Archive
Model Railroad
Internet Archive
John Schmidt Collection: Reel 09
Various studies of light, reflection, and texture. Includes images of springtime Sierra Nevada landscapes, close ups of plants and feathers, a person applying…
Internet Archive
Her Boy Friend
silent comedy short - Music over film
Internet Archive
Language of a Drawing
Internet Archive
Bridge, The
Internet Archive
OUR City Oakland
This film discusses the city of Oakland and its efforts in urban renewal and revitalization. It begins by highlighting the historical significance of Lake…
Internet Archive
Essentials of Wood Turning
Illustrates skills needed to use a lathe to carve wood and replace a part of a broken wooden table. From Educational Film Catalog, 1943: "Two high school…
Internet Archive
Movie Trailers ("Christmas Party" Promotion)
Internet Archive
[Atari Pac-Man]
footage of screen - pac-man game being played.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Leong Collection: 005408
The Chinese American Leong family visits Marineland of the Pacific in Southern California, where they view seal and dolphin shows. notes on film box:…
Internet Archive
Great and Honorable Duty, A
"this is an introduction to police service"
Internet Archive
Movie Trailers: "Marathon of Fright"
(aka CREEPSHOW MOVIE TRAILERS)
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Galante Collection: 004319
An early home movie featuring a family in the yard of their country home with children playing and running through a sprinkler, then in another setting on the…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Koura Collection: 006120
A Japanese American family visits the Gulf Islands in British Columbia and explores the area by foot and ferry boat. Also includes images of visits to the…
Internet Archive
Home Movies: Can 11272: Detroit, Michigan 200th Anniversary Celebration Parade, 1951
Home movies shot at the parade celebrating the city of Detroit, Michigan's 200th anniversary, 1951. Begins with brief shot of the boxer Joe Louis riding in…