Prelinger Archives

1,297–1,344 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 OnesFilms for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool.
KidsCartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature.
TweensDocumentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures.
TeensEverything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower.
AdultSexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage.
Internet Archive Insect Zoo 1950 · Film · Subtitles Pictures the parts and eating habits of the katydid, caterpillar, and ladybird. After pointing out the relationship of ants to bees and wasps, the film… Internet Archive Borrowed Power 1952 · Film · Subtitles Jerry, a high school student, misuses the 'BORROWED POWER' of a car and is arrested on suspicion of hit and run manslaughter. With the help of the judge,… Internet Archive Close Harmony 1942 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Discussion on the need for unity between labor and management as the U.S. mobilizes for World War II. Internet Archive Gi Bill Of Rights Film · Subtitles Army-Navy Screen Magazine #43: "a pictorial report from all fronts for the armed forces only." Produced by the Army Information Branch, Army Pictorial… Internet Archive With This Ring 1954 · Film · Subtitles 100th anniversary presentation of Miller Brewing Co. with dramatized sequences. CU ring engraved 'Qualitat Uber Alles' [main title sequence] Hollywood actor… Internet Archive Dingbat Story, The 2026 · Film · Subtitles 21:49:24:27 American flag waving in the wind with text “The Dingbat Story” superimposed over shot. 21:47:53:09 Young men all wearing dark suits with white… Internet Archive Police Dogs In Action Short · 10 min · Subtitles A profile of Police Dogs, how they are trained, and what happens when they are off the job. Internet Archive Fish from Hell (Part II) 1945 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles Deep-sea fishing adventure. Internet Archive Girl on the Magazine Cover, The 1940 · Film · Subtitles Producer's synopsis: "This picture shows how professional models -- beautiful girls -- are used in making up magazine covers. A Chevrolet is shown on the… Internet Archive Yesterday And Tomorrow In Detroit 2014 · Home movie · 1 h 10 min · Subtitles Compilation of archival film images of Detroit's people and places 1925-1976. Made to be shown to participatory audiences who identify locations, ask… Internet Archive Quality Control in Modern Merchandising (Part I) 1952 · Film · Subtitles JC Penney Company, Inc. produced sponsored film about textiles and quality control. 0554 PA8308 Quality Control in Modern Merchandising 022.08 Internet Archive New Spirit for '76, A 1975 · Film · Subtitles On preparations for the United States Bicentennial celebrations in 1976. Internet Archive Door to Heaven, The 1941 · Film · Subtitles Urges people to take Jesus as their savior and through that be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. Waxes darkly about the wrath of God that befalls those who… Internet Archive Dateline: Long Island 1964 · Film · Subtitles Newsday was begun in 1940 in Long Island and this film shows the paper's role in the growth of the community and many shots of historical Long Island. It also… Internet Archive Secure the Blessings 1951 · Educational · 23 min · Subtitles Shows how American schoolchildren are taught the value of democracy, freedom and good citizenship. Internet Archive [Home Movies: Medicus collection: New York World's Fair, 1939-40] (Reel 2) 1939 · Home movie · Subtitles 4:00:47:29 - 04:02:39:24 color silent 1939-40 Can marked: "Electrical, Industrial, Food and State Buildings; night scenes" Electrical section, Industrial &… Internet Archive This Is Your Police Department 1951 · Film · Subtitles Operations and ceremonies of the Detroit Police Department. Shotlist Film on Detroit Police officers in two-parts one on the annual Detroit Police Field Day;… Internet Archive Hope Is in Your Hand 2026 · Film · Subtitles 3:30:90- 3:40:90 Interesting overexposed shot from a very low angle (below car level) of an intersection in front of a wooden furniture store's parking lot… Internet Archive Success in Business 1928 · Short · 11 min · Subtitles Story of a middle-class white-collar worker who finds the way to succeed in business, making his wife and family happy and enjoying affluence. Internet Archive School Safety Committee, The 1953 · Film · Subtitles "Dedicated to the Boys and Girls of School Safety Committees, whose service to their schools have resulted in the prevention of countless accidents, the… Internet Archive Understanding The Dollar 1953 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles A dramatization which explains the essential purposes of money as a medium of exchange, analyzes factors which affect the value of the dollar, and shows the… Internet Archive Science in Action: The Flow of Heat (Part II) 1956 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Kinescope of Fifties science TV program featuring discussions and demonstrations. Guest: Dr. Harvey R. White (University of California). Animal of the Week:… Internet Archive Home Movie: 97325: Family Scenes, 1963 1963 · Home movie To come. Internet Archive One Thousand Hours 1930 · Film · Subtitles Producer's synopsis: "Group of high school boys who have a workshop and laboratory of their own learn, from a transport pilot who befriends them, that studies… Internet Archive Safety Belt for Susie 1963 · Film · Subtitles Uses anthropometric dummies and dolls to show what could happen to children not wearing safety belts in collisons. Emphasizes that children, one-year-old and… Internet Archive Seventh Street Entrance 1935 · Film · Subtitles Film about woman sales associate winning trip to New York City. Filmed at Stix, Baer and Fuller department store in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. 03:38:15:27… Internet Archive Miracle of the Can 1956 · Film · Subtitles Shows history of can making in the U.S. Excellent footage of mass production and discussion of the growth of agribusiness. Stock shots: soldiers eating canned… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Medicus collection: New York World's Fair, 1939-40] (Reel 5) 1939 · Home movie · Subtitles 07:00:46:13 - 08:03:11:00 World's Fairs: New York, 1939-40; Amateur films. Detailed documentation of the "World of Tomorrow" in beautiful Kodachrome. Official… Internet Archive Girl on the Magazine Cover, The 1940 · Short · 8 min · Subtitles How professional models (and new automobiles) are photographed. Internet Archive Seasonal Changes in Trees 1949 · Film · Subtitles Introduces scientific study of trees, including classification & seasonal aspects. Stresses careful observation. Internet Archive Special Delivery 1946 · Film · Subtitles (titles zoom forward and blast apart into squares over the close-up of an airplane tire speeding down a runway for take-off) This film celebrates the strength… Internet Archive Ceiling on Your Home, A 1945 · Short · 11 min · Subtitles Economic factors affecting postwar deflation; an appeal to the public to assist in retail price control; difficulties World War II veterans faced in locating… Internet Archive [Home Movies: "My Alaska Cruise"] 1938 · Home movie · Subtitles Reel 1: June 1938. "Alaskan Adventurers" certificate made out to one Fred M. Laserson. Great shots of Santa Cruz casino and promenade under columned building… Internet Archive American Cowboy (Part I) 1950 · Film · Subtitles Visits the Roberson Hereford Ranch in Gunnison, Colorado. Includes scenes of a rodeo, the drive to summer pastures and winter feeding in raging blizzards. Internet Archive What About Drinking? 1954 · Film · Subtitles A group of teenagers discusses the use of alcoholic beverages and present various opinions. In conclusion, their points of view are summarized and question is… Internet Archive News Magazine of the Screen, The (Vol. 2, Issue 9) 1952 · Film · Subtitles 1:19;00 1;19:55 - President Harry Truman seated in airplane, looks through binoculars to observe flood damage, towns along Missouri River / aerial, rooftops… Internet Archive Life Cycle of the Mosquito 1946 · Film · Subtitles "An unusually informative film on the mosquito showing complete metamorphosis of the insect from the egg through the larva and the pupa stages to its… Internet Archive Hold Everything! 1936 · Film · Subtitles 07:01:25:04 VS different people asking about the new Chevrolet: MS shopkeeper in tie and apron bagging groceries “Have you heard anything about the new… Internet Archive Reasons Why, The (Part I) 1959 · Short · 9 min · Subtitles Television manufacturing at RCA's New Jersey plant. Includes scenes of design, engineering and quality control. Great scenes of TVs with flickering test… Internet Archive [UC Berkeley, unedited footage] 1960 · Film · Subtitles Summary. Unedited documentary footage of UC Berkeley and surrounds. Site-specific detail shots show printing products "at work" in the community of UC… Internet Archive Freeway Driving 1959 · Film · Subtitles Educational film about safe driving on Los Angeles freeways. A document of freeway adjacent, urban landscapes of Los Angeles. From Index to 16mm Educational… Internet Archive Day of Thanksgiving, A 1951 · Film · Subtitles [Educational Screen, Oct 1951] This film relates the experiences of a middle-class American family when they are stimulated to review the things for which… Internet Archive House in the Middle, The 1954 · Film · Subtitles Illustrates the importance of good housekeeping and heat reflectant value of white paint. Photographed during the atomic blast at the Nevada proving grounds. Internet Archive Living Past, The (Part 2) 1953 · Film · Subtitles Includes the early days of the horseless carriage, Columbus Circle 1900, Fifth Avenue in 1900, Spanish American War films, Duke of Windsor as a child, return… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Texas 1946] 1946 · Home movie · Subtitles Teenage boy polishing and washing car by house; shirtless boy plays with dog; mother rubs boy's back and teases him while he plays with dog; adult male… Internet Archive Speaking of Rubber (Part II) 1951 · Short · 14 min · Subtitles Narrated by a retired "rubber man," this classic industrial film shows the uses and manufacturing of rubber products. With excellent images of making boots,… Internet Archive House Fly, The (Second Edition) 1958 · Short · 15 min · Subtitles Complete story of the fly showing the 4 stages--egg, larva, pupa and adult. Emphasis given to the need for community action against this pest. Internet Archive Family Teamwork 1946 · Film · Subtitles Shows how family members work and play together on a small goat ranch. Family relationships, responsibilities and cooperation are emphasized. 00:34 Man and…