Prelinger Archives
6,001–6,048 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
Better Milk
Internet Archive
Stillman Fires Collection: Industrial Fires
from Stillman Fires Collection.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Genter Collection: 003518
This film is a duplication of an existing home movie created in an amateur laboratory at home and processed by hand. It retains a rough haphazard handmade…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: David Duer Collection: 004033
Family from the San Francisco East Bay. Family gatherings, domestic scenes, and travel to Seattle, Washington.
Internet Archive
Two Pay Days
Internet Archive
Vista Stock Shots: San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, Roll 4
Internet Archive
Hudson County: Gateway to Profits
A promotional film for Hudson County, New Jersey, emphasizing its attractiveness for businesses seeking to relocate or expand. The narrative follows Bob…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Can 10596: San Francisco, 1959]
Internet Archive
Daitoa News
Japanese newsreel celebrating their victories in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the attack on Pearl Harbor. "Part 1 shows a Japanese fleet in the Pacific.…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 10059: Lake Ozonia, Boonville, New York, Hearst Metrotone News Mobile Moving Picture Studio
Home movie including scenes at Lake Ozonia (St. Lawrence County), and Boonville (Oneida County), New York, early 1930s. Includes scene showing the Hearst…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Atlantic City]
Internet Archive
Stillman Fires Collection: Industrial Fires
from Stillman Fires Collection.
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Can 10845: Holland, Michigan Collection]
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
[Untitled: San Francisco Building Demolition]
Scene of building and tower demolition in San Francisco
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 3017
First 135 feet (4 minutes) are workprint elements from production on agriculture, with animated cells introducing crops by name, footage of agricultural…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: W. H. Cooper Collection: 003907
The architecture and mid-20th century streets and peoples of Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia are seen in this reel that offers a privileged perspective on…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: W. H. Cooper Collection: 003908
A visit to the ruins of the Apadana Palace at Persepolis, in modern-day Iran, with observant photography of the sculptures, towers, inscriptions and friezes…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Archer, 1944, K.R. Hare]
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Janet Dill Collection: 004065
Home movie footage of a family's travels through Southern Florida, including Ochopee, the Everglades, and Naples. Can notes (typed): "1961 / Winter / Birds /…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: D.L. Schreyer Collection: 004642
Schreyer family spending time around their home, visiting the beach, and on a wildlife safari.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Janet Dill Collection: 004336
Florida vacation, swimming and ice storms. Can notes: "E4 / Delray 1964 / Thanksgiving / Ice storm"
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 010245
Features African American children on a playground and competing in various activities facilitated by Los Angeles City Schools Recreation, likely in South Los…
Internet Archive
Home movie: 097818b: 1930s antiwar protests and campus life with baseball and Japanese guests
Home movie: 097818b: 1930s antiwar protests and campus life with baseball and Japanese guests
Internet Archive
Strohm 0039
Events at the Donahue family farm and property, including a wedding, children doing a sack race, and children blowing balloons. Can reads: "Donahue farming."
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 1152
Outtakes from industrial film, New River, sponsored by American Bridge. Scenes of a repair of a high elevation riveted steel bridge spanning a large river in…
Internet Archive
Movie Trailers ("Greatest Show on Earth Advisory")
Internet Archive
The Islands of South China & Java Seas
A dated Royal Cruise Line film created to promote their cruise through the Java and South China Seas, with stops in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: W. H. Cooper Collection: 003910
A visit to the ruins of the Apadana Palace at Persepolis, in modern-day Iran, with observant photography of the sculptures, towers, inscriptions and friezes…
Internet Archive
Beauty that Lives Forever
The film begins with Jane reflecting on her first wedding anniversary and her high school graduation, a significant moment marked by receiving her diploma.…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 004361
Imperial Valley rodeo in Brawley, California, scenes of Death Valley, neon at night in Las Vegas, and boating on Lake Mead. Can notes: "Rodeo and around Calif."
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Vusovich Collection: 004119
A family vacation to Lake Tahoe and more, including brief scenes at a California mission and domestic suburban scenes of children playing outdoors. The final…
Internet Archive
Branch Brook Park
Stock footage of Branch Brook Park, New Jersey, and environs, in service of various promotional productions created on commission for New Jersey Tourism…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97365: Pennsylvania Family
To come.
Internet Archive
From the Ridge to the River: The Story of a Watershed
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Uranium Fever 001
Uranium Fever 001
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97242: Arizona
Notes indicate shot in Phoenix, Arizona. To come.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Janet Dill Collection: 004048
Notes on can: A9 / 1957, in and around home. Skating and shooting at Club Gregory's Birthday. Fishing at Hadley. Parent's day at Harvey. Seth's Graduation…
Internet Archive
000629
000629
Internet Archive
Movie Trailers ("Patrons, Avoid Noise")
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098812: A rail fan in the midwest: mid-1950s New Orleans field trip to film the motion of streetcars]
A rail fan in the midwest: mid-1950s trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, bright 16mm kodachrome views of streetcars, sidewalk views, streetcars in downtown and in…
Internet Archive
Carol of Harvest, A
"a visual interpretation of Walt Whitman's famous poem 'A Carol of Harvest.'"
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98593: Family and Travel
To come.
Internet Archive
Bridge for the Yaque
0652 PA8639 Bridge for the Yaque
Internet Archive
Growth of Cities
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 001500
An African American family travels through Germany, Austria, and San Marino via tourbus, river cruises, railways and ferries. Many views of the Alps, castles,…
Internet Archive
Photography Fights
Internet Archive
[West of Twin Peaks] (possibly reel 2 of other film]
Westwood Park, 1916-17
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 2973
Comedic sketch approach to documenting railroad track and right-of-way work; workers shown enacting staged howlers and laughing. Documents assembly and…