Prelinger Archives
6,049–6,096 of 10,345 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
Home Movie: Jamison Collection: 004123
Beginning with images of a military airfield, this film consists largely of sightseeing in the Western United States, including trips to the Boulder and…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Anderson-Nelson Collection: 001220
Images of the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939 and a visit to Los Angeles. Count Basie and Helen Humes perform on stage at the Exposition. Can…
Internet Archive
Freedom to Learn
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Stillman Fires Collection: FDNY Chief Officers
from Stillman Fires Collection.
Internet Archive
Dual-Purpose Trees
Internet Archive
From Forest to Fireside: The Story of Ponderosa Pine
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098432: 1940s feasting and family fun]
3:30, color: An affectionate family gathers in the mid-1940s for feasting, singing, and teasing]
Internet Archive
America the Beautiful (Cuts, Can 5)
Collected travelogue sequences filmed in the Eastern United States, featuring Florida tourist activities, Washington, D.C.'s national landmarks and settings…
Internet Archive
Home movie: 170003: 1940s California road trip, landscapes, agriculture, blimps
Home movie: 170003: 1940s California road trip, landscapes, agriculture, blimps
Internet Archive
[Gould can 1054.1]
Exterior shot of Red Star Laundry, San Francisco or Oakland, California.
Internet Archive
Delta Levee Break!
California Delta
Internet Archive
Nature's Armour
Looks at the protective skin of animals.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98594: Michigan Family
To come.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Janet Dill Collection: 004047
Wintertime activities with the Dill family including a road trip on US Highway 9 in New York State; cutting down a Christmas tree, Christmas dinner, snow…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97302: Columbiana General
To come.
Internet Archive
Cape May Original Trims Reel 2
Original trims from a production shot in Cape May, New Jersey. Includes footage of vacationers and beachgoers swimming, sailing, visiting the pier, and…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Charles Edward Smith Collection: 000463
Historically significant documentation of internal migration within the U.S., showing the Okies, among other migrant communities, people who had fled dust…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97185: Hunting and Fishing
To come.
Internet Archive
Stillman Fires Collection: Fire Destroys Staten Island Ferry
from Stillman Fires Collection.
Internet Archive
[China Under Communism Outtakes]
Outtakes from the production, "China Under Communism," including shots of John Strohm with a map of China. China Under Communism is a 1962 educational film…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Galante Collection: 004313
A series of family movies from the very early days of amateur cinema. Also a commercial release print highlighting early aviation feats and disasters titled,…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Paul Steelman Collection: 004117
Film opens with what appears to be home movie footage but ends with a sequence that seems more edited, including a closeup of a steelhead trout, images from…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Can 10536]
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97160: Nela Girls Camp 1940
Church School Picnic at Nela Park, Cleveland, OH, 1940
Internet Archive
[Kansas City Hippies]
Inter-cut sequences of black and white and color film of counterculture in Kansas City, including many scenes filmed at a live music event in a public park…
Internet Archive
Dust is Dying, The
Many good shots to be logged.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Arnot Collection: 099017
A trip through Europe, including footage of the Alps; Venice, Italy; and London, England. Much footage is in soft focus.
Internet Archive
A Closer Look at Football
Documentary showcasing candid insider views on professional football through interviews with Franco Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers), Nick Buonoconti (Miami…
Internet Archive
Forest Fun (part nine of a series)
Live action and puppet animation about california forests
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 10804: Prelinger Collection
To come.
Internet Archive
[Soundies: "Raise, Raise the Steins of Dear Old Main" and "Shout 'till the Rafters Ring!"]
Beer Steins. College-style drinking song.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 010248
Features scenes of damaged beach homes and wreckage from storms in late December 1940 in Redondo Beach, California. Includes a visit to Venice Beach, a view…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98687: Family Scenes
To come.
Internet Archive
Vista Stock Shots: Bay Area Aerials II
Sutro Baths and Land's End aerial featured starting about 05:33:00:00
Internet Archive
Patty Garman, Little Helper
Internet Archive
[Untitled: Beach Bathers]
early footage (1920's?) of people running along beach and sitting in rocks
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Northwest]
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098720: Canadian Rockies by train]
Trip to the Canadian Rockies starting by ship on the Great Lakes, with an RCMP parade, then Banff, Lake Louise, and scenes of waterfalls, rivers, elk, and…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: D.L. Schreyer Collection: 004646
Schreyer family at a dog show, playing in their yard, and horseback riding. Note found in can reads: "#10 / 1. 7/72 Dog Show / 2. 1974 - 1st Home / 3. 1976 /…
Internet Archive
Movie Trailers ("In Addition to Seeing a Huge Show with Extra Cartoons, Comedies, Contests and Stage Shows")
Internet Archive
[Unidentified: Trucks]
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Jay Hansell Collection: 003630
Donor inventory notes: Roll 11 1967 - Yellowstone 1969 - Millies Hansell's family – Ray, Julia, Treva & Fran w Jack Hansell 1971 - Wickenburg home year shots…
Internet Archive
Stillman Fires Collection: Typical Fire
from Stillman Fires Collection.
Internet Archive
Oil Today -- Power Tomorrow
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Home movie: 098168: 1960s Canada family with two boys
Home movie: 098168: 1960s Canada family with two boys
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Rural Family, Ashland County, Ohio and Niagara Falls, ca. 1941]
Internet Archive
Toy Truck, The
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 11779: Graphman Collection
to come