Prelinger Archives
6,913–6,960 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
Mode-Art Can 1763 (Reel 1)
Construction of a hydropower plant or chemical plant alongside a river, probably the Ohio River.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 000635
Children playing and spending time around the home. Part of small collection from Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, Kern County, California. Can…
Internet Archive
Loading Snow with Athey Force Feed Loader: 010284
Demonstration of the Athey Force Feed Loader, hydraulic machinery for municipal snow removal. Shot on location in various towns in the U.S. and Canada, mostly…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Sasaki Collection: 04
The Sasaki family take a road trip from Ohio to California, pulling over along the way to pet horses at Trail Creek Ranch, explore Joshua Tree forests,…
Internet Archive
Grass: The Big Story
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 004743
Home movie of San Francisco Bay Area, Yosemite National Park, and Southern California, including Santa Catalina Island. Note on can: California Reel 1-4…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97079: Erie 1957, Christmas 1957
To come.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 004215
Outdoor domestic scenes of a rural family with a central focus on twin girls performing skits, doing gymnastics, and playing with animals. Scenes at start…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 10832: House, Las Vegas
Label on can lid states: House 1941, Las Vegas 1945, Las Vegas 1946.
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Can 10704: Betty Louise & Martha Jeannine, Oct '53 - Dec '54]
Internet Archive
[Mobil Bonneville]
car racing
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 003800
Opens with footage of the 1939/1940 Rose Bowl parade, where the four main cast members of the Wizard of Oz (1939 film) are present. Includes film featuring…
Internet Archive
Elements of the Automobile, Pt II : The Engine
Examines the automobile engine.
Internet Archive
Her Fractured Voice
Internet Archive
[Forests Are Born]
Film promoting afforestation projects in Israel.
Internet Archive
Ball Game
Ball Game
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 005066
A Latinx family in Los Angeles celebrates the birthdays of their two sons with a combined birthday party and a piñata. One notable scene in this rich film…
Internet Archive
Vista Stock Shots: Bay Bridge
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
[Berkeley]
Camera original images of youth taking to the streets in Berkeley, California in 1968, including tossed tear gas canisters, smoke, police activities and…
Internet Archive
Adele 001
Adele 001
Internet Archive
Prelinger_Intro_Outro_Bumper_Variants
Variant intros and outros for Prelinger hi-res and derivs.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 012058
Brought to New York by a special event, a Black family from Detroit takes in the Guggenheim and Central Park and the look and feel of the architecture and…
Internet Archive
[Gould can 5483.4: Kinograms Newsreel]
English boys run tough steeplechase
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98893: New England and Quebec Trip
Niagara Falls, Plymouth, Harvard, Boston, Franconia Notch etc., Aug 9 – 1956
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Radde Collection: Palm Sunday, Cottage and Flats, 1940-41]
Internet Archive
[Flight Deck]
Internet Archive
In Back Of The Headlines (Reel 1B)
B-roll (of A/B rolls) for a film about typesetting at the San Bernardino Sun newspaper. Can notes: "R-1B Behind The Headlines / 32 / Orig Gee Cr.Co"
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Kids And The Front Yard]
Kids and parents play and work in the front yard throughout the seasons.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98566: Oregon Trail (R-2)
To come.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98637: Florida
To come.
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Can 10495: Sanford Floats]
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 11694: Newport, OR Family Scenes, Beaches along OR Shore, Arago Park
To come.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 000911
Travelogue of a vacation to Germany and Austria, including lots of skiing and drinking beer by the water. Can notes: "Oberstaufen Bayern April 1962"
Internet Archive
Home movie: 010232_001: 1940s Illinois rural life and strike
Home movie: 010232_001: 1940s Illinois rural life and strike
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Janet Dill Collection: Can B8: 004059
The Dill family visiting Delray Beach, Florida. Includes footage of people fishing, visiting the beach, swimming, and driving throughout Florida. Can notes:…
Internet Archive
Oddities
Short clips of interesting topics and fun facts around science, animals, and U.S. places. Title card reads: "Oddities Screen Magazine Volume One Number Five"
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97515: Family
To come.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98356: Michigan Family
To come.
Internet Archive
RP 000745
RP 000745
Internet Archive
County Government
Internet Archive
[Gould can 5483.4: Kinograms Newsreel]
English boys run tough steeplechase
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98203: Milwaukee Transport
Can label states: "Milw. Transport 11-57 (1st 50 ft.)"
Internet Archive
1002 Figures Dont Lie Reel 1
to come
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 1588
Outtake footage from "Beyond Tomorrow," a production about soil and water conservation in Pennsylvania. Includes footage of farmers speaking with…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Dill Collection: 004076
Pheasant hunting expeditions, boating recreation, horse farms and racing, and more. Can notes: "D1 / 1953, Spring / Easton trip to visit the Shepard's / 1957…
Internet Archive
[Hoover Birthday on Hoover Passenger Liner]
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 1482 R5
Outtakes possibly used in "Profile of Steel". Includes the launching of ship, Gulf Knight. Mode-Art production no. 926.
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 1991
Outtakes from Mode-Art Pictures production number 2475, shot for a Gibbons Beer by Lion Brewery advertisement. Includes footage of animals, amusements, and…