Prelinger Archives
6,337–6,384 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
Home Movie: Janet Dill Collection: 004069
Shows graduation ceremony at The Harvey School, Katonah, New York, 1964, with informal scenes of Frank M. Perrine (1933-2023), Headmaster. Can notes: "C6 /…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 004128
A parade in Washington D.C., for the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jan. 21, 1957. Includes footage of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M.…
Internet Archive
High School Rising (Outtakes, Can 2)
Outtakes from film produced by Camera News, Inc. (aka Newsreel) under the working titie "High School Prison," which likely became, in its release version,…
Internet Archive
Vista Stock Shots: San Francisco Scenics
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97259: Happenings Around Town: Roll 5: Workprint
To come.
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Can 10467: Buoy Work at California River]
Internet Archive
Flight Into Egypt, The
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 003425
Documentation from the SS Lurline's "81 day cruise from California to Hawaii, the South Pacific, East Asia and back to California".…
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098439: Yukon and Alaska trip, late 1940s]
17 min., color: Tourist travel by train and ship through the Yukon Territory to Alaska in the 1940s, with Native Canadians, Native Americans, visits to the…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Can 10724: Bobsledding Pokagen State Park]
Internet Archive
[Stillman Collection: Boston Fire Department]
[Stillman Collection: Boston Fire Department]
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098749_SF_CITY: San Francisco scenes from a Danish-American family]
A Danish-American family that lived on Prospect Street in San Francisco, worshipped at Bethel Temple (now Bethel Church) on Valencia Street, and recreated all…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Jamison Collection: 003781
Scenes of Italy, Amsterdam, a river cruise through Europe, and many scenes in India in the 1940s. Notes on paper inside can: 1, "ITALY" square triangle= 1947…
Internet Archive
Pay to the Order Of..
Internet Archive
Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair, The
Skeletal Record
Internet Archive
Panama-Pacific International Exposition Opening Parade
Dupe of original nitrate film of Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) opening parade with additional scenes around downtown San Francisco.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Anderson-Nelson Collection: 001233
A Christmas celebration, visit to Yosemite National Park, Russian River beach days, installing a TV antenna on a roof; and more. Can notes: "Roll 31:…
Internet Archive
Coal And Anthracite
Silent film showing the formation of coal deposits, mining, use, loading, etc
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 011111
Rural living in the early years of agriculture mechanization in Iowa, including lively scenes of children swimming in rivers and playing on farms, community…
Internet Archive
Camera Eye on New Jersey
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Fighting Tuna, The
Internet Archive
Calvin 0308
Outtakes from Calvin Company's production of "Where Do All the Dropouts Go?" Footage includes scenes of Hawai'ian tourism, including surfing, sunbathing, and…
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098380: 1920s Mining Executives, Reel 3]
9 min., color and BW: Scenes of oil drilling, mining, and panning for gold, filmed in Oklahoma and in Nevada (and perhaps beyond), showing both work being…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp., Homestead District Works: Supervisors Picnic, June 11, 1949, Lithuanian Country Club and at South Park]
Internet Archive
Detour to Wonderland
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97195: Miscellaneous Travel Scenes
To come.
Internet Archive
Strohm 0046
Footage of what is likely a grain trade show for farmers to learn about different types of wheat varieties. can reads: "Pakistan 1968 or complete GF show"…
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098730: A Pennsylvania family in the 1950s]
A wealthy Pennsylvania family in the 1950s, in a reel with both color and black-and-white sequences, showing family time, a swim meet with diving competition,…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Vacation of 1932] (Vacation #1)
Hudson River, Albany, New Hampshire
Internet Archive
American Choice Outtakes Reel 1
Outtakes from American Choice, an unfinished film. Scenes of wildflowers.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 10004: San Francisco Bay Cruise, ca. 1950s
Reference scan from 16mm home movie showing cruise on San Francisco Bay, city skyline, and an airplane trip towards the Eastern U.S., ca. 1950s.
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Groeber Collection: Kansas City, Mo. area, late 1930s]
skeletal entry. notes in logbook
Internet Archive
6404 HM Pennsylvania Snowbirds Reel 3 1944 01 14 09 00
[Home Movies: "Pennsylvania Snowbirds": Reel 3, 1944]
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 1739 R2
Outtakes from "Young Man River." Pittsburgh area, depicting rural land; suburbia; river traffic; coal; steel; and electric infrastructure. Mode-Art production…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Marrazzi Collection: 010350
Research film documenting an experiment to animate a frog leg using electric shock. Also includes footage of a brain wave analyzer being used to try to read a…
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 1151
Outtake footage from a film sponsored by American Bridge Company, "New River". Includes workers building a steel and concrete bridge over a river. Mode-Art…
Internet Archive
Hair-Raising Moments
Internet Archive
Where We Live, A B Roll
A and B roll from the sponsored film, "Where We Live." Includes footage of what is likely Houston, TX and surrounding areas, children, seniors, hospital…
Internet Archive
The Ravenswood Experience
Descriptive showcase of Ravenswood High School and its experimental policies toward desegregation in education produced in part as a plea for volunteers.…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Can 10587: San Francisco and West]
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97497: Unidentified
Can marked: Starved Rock Ft. Donelson Miami Beach
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97496: ROTC Camp Pictures
To come.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Luna Collection: 004376
Latinx family with young children celebrating birthdays, a wedding, and enjoying suburban life in Southern California, with many scenes of children playing…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Burns Collection: 004820
An African American family visits Cedar Point amusement park; children play in a living room; and more. Note on reel: 1. Cedar Pt. #1 2. Cedar Point #2…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98673: California Trip
To come.
Internet Archive
1st 1960 Good Neighbors
Outtakes of scenes in New Jersey including office buildings, reception, meeting rooms, and lobby, office workers, and downtown streets. Some footage from…
Internet Archive
Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
Internet Archive
Alaska Earthquake Damage 001
This silent film footage from the 1960s provides a comprehensive look at the devastation and recovery efforts following a massive earthquake. It begins with…