Prelinger Archives

1,393–1,440 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 Distant Drummer: A Movable Scene Film · Subtitles Narrator: Robert Mitchum. 0:49:17 VS Chicago cityscapes: tracking shot along highway, tracking shot from street, corn-cob apartment buildings 0:49:31 VS… Internet Archive Fish from Hell (Part I) 1945 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles Deep-sea fishing adventure. Internet Archive Sewing: Pattern Interpretation Film · Subtitles Educational film about using patterns for sewing. Made as a teaching tool for home economic students. This was one of the first films produced by Centron… Internet Archive Beautiful State of Mind: Massachusetts 1970 · Film · Subtitles 10:01:56:23 CU gold statue of a Native American with feather in hair arms outstretched looking up to the sky, camera does quick zoom out shows statue on large… Internet Archive Two-Ford Freedom 1956 · Film · Subtitles A Ford advertising film or television commercial. A suburban housewife talks to CAM in her clean kitchen about the benefits of owning two cars; man pulls out… Internet Archive Gossip 1953 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Quirky social guidance film on the negative effects of gossip. (from PA-2323) Internet Archive Letter to A Pilot 1950 · Film · Subtitles Great footage of airline operations circa 1950. Stock shots to be logged. 21:27:55:28 VS, CU disembodied hands shuffle through mail; cuts to same letters in… Internet Archive Brotherhood of Man, The 1946 · Film · Subtitles Based on the pamphlet The Races of Mankind, by Ruth Benedict and Gene Weltfish. An animated cartoon. Explains that there are no basic differences between the… Internet Archive Food for America (Part II) 1941 · Short · 22 min · Subtitles This Kodachrome film is a travelogue of epic length in which the camera rarely leaves the factory floor. Mrs. Harwood, a lady of a certain social position,… Internet Archive America Goes Over (Part I) 1918 · Short · 13 min · Subtitles Government-produced historical record of major World War I battles. Internet Archive Better Use of Leisure Time 1950 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles How to make the most of your free time. Internet Archive Chance to Play, A 1950 · Film · Subtitles Film about the need for Americans to have more places to participate in sports, recreation, and other leisure activities. Considers the special needs of young… Internet Archive Miracle on the Delaware 1953 · Film · Subtitles PA-0807 shotlist: 07:10:56:15 Philadelphia as seen across Delaware River. 07:11:07:23 Great shot from car on Delaware Bridge. 07:11:13:10 Pan up industrial… Internet Archive Education for Excellence 1964 · Educational · Subtitles The film "Education for Excellence" highlights the educational programs for gifted children in New York City's public elementary schools. It showcases the… Internet Archive [Home Movies: 1971 San Francisco Vacation] 1971 · Home movie · Subtitles Pan around State Line Hotel and Casino, West Wendover Nevada State Line neon sign Unfocused shot of sign with "Wendover Will," hand-waving cowboy (unfocused… Internet Archive Heart, The 1950 · Film · Subtitles Another in the astonishing series of science and nature films narrated by writer/naturalist John Kieran, The Heart achieves a surreal effect from the… Internet Archive [Kidnapping in San Francisco] 1950 · Newsreel · 1 min · Subtitles Captive for 64 Hours, Wealthy Realtor Saved. Realtor Leonard Moskowitz kidnapped; journalists are in on the story but keep it out of the press to lessen the… Internet Archive [Television Commercials: Color: Camera Only] Commercial · Subtitles [The following titles and shotlists may be elsewhere on PA-0649; this description may therefore need revision after viewing.] Tape 0649 Film 8184 [Untitled]… Internet Archive Radio and Television 1940 · Film · Subtitles Appraisal. Good for (1) showing occupations in radio and television, (2) giving impressions of the nature of the work and the training required in various… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Medicus Collection: New York, 1934] 1934 · Home movie · Subtitles Some good shots to be logged.Selected list of contents:New York City schoolchildren in street outside school family picnic roller skating in Central Park1934… Internet Archive Lady and the Stock Exchange, The 1962 · Film · Subtitles Begins with B&W prologue about new female staff at Stock Exchange. In style of dramatic sitcom, about a woman who investigates the stock market and tries to… Internet Archive American Look 1958 · Film · Subtitles A "tribute to the American stylist," American Look shows families at leisure, children dressed in cowboy and cowgirl outfits watching television, a father… Internet Archive Going Places 1948 · Film · Subtitles Defines the profit motive and dramatizes the part it has played in the economic development of our country. Stresses the need for continued industrial profits… Internet Archive And Then There Were Four 1950 · Film · Subtitles 05:19:16:13 Carnation Ice Cream truck drives down suburban neighborhood street in the City of Los Angeles; VS Los Angeles residential neighborhoods.… Internet Archive Plow that Broke the Plains, The 1937 · Film · Subtitles 16:32:11:14 Animated map of the U.S. Writing appears on the map identifying the Great Plains Area which is then outlined in dotted lines. CU of Great Plains… Internet Archive Atomic Power at Shippingport (Part I) 1958 · Short · 14 min · Subtitles Tour of the first commercial nuclear power plant. Internet Archive Hope Is in Your Hand 1960 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Social problems of St. Louis in the late 1950s and how they are being addressed by member agencies of the United Fund. With striking images of the underside… Internet Archive Aristocrats of Fashion 2026 · Film · Subtitles Fashions for active sport and evening wear. Everything made from Bemberg rayon. Narrated by a woman fashion commentator in patronizing, but humorous way, in… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Summers Collection: San Francisco, California, 1941] 1941 · Home movie · Subtitles Comprehensive film of San Francisco, California and vicinity shot in the summer of 1941. • 13:57:09:14- 13:57:32:12 Nice aerial series—in every shot we see… Internet Archive Song Birds as Neighbors 1920 · Film · Subtitles Great shot of movie cameraman in woods shooting birds at close range. Describes insect pests. Birds are "nature's check against these hardened criminals."… Internet Archive Alaska: A Modern Frontier (Revised edition) 1948 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Views of the Territory of Alaska. Internet Archive Eyes Under Water 1949 · Film · Subtitles LIFE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN SHOWN IN A VISIT TO THE FLOOR OF THE SEA. MYRIAD FORMS OF STRANGE LIFE ARE ILLUSTRATED BY THE SHOTS OF MANY ODDITIES INCLUDING… Internet Archive Great Swindle, The (Part II) 1948 · Short · 7 min · Subtitles Union recruitment film criticizing monopoly control of the U.S. economy and advocating union membership as a defense against corporate power. Internet Archive Adventures of Junior Raindrop, The 1948 · Cartoon · 7 min · Subtitles Delinquent raindrop explains the need for good watershed management. Internet Archive Nonesuch Coffee Ad 1934 · Short · 1 min · Subtitles Screen ad for Nonesuch Coffee, featuring "Movie Week" special. Internet Archive Harvest of the Years: A Story of the Triumph of an Idea, The 1938 · Film · Subtitles Shows mass production of Ford cars in an assembly line; the research necessary to carry on the work; design, styling and modeling of new automobile models;… Internet Archive And Then There Were Four 1950 · Film · Subtitles 05:19:16:13 Carnation Ice Cream truck drives down suburban neighborhood street in the City of Los Angeles; VS Los Angeles residential neighborhoods.… Internet Archive Town That Came Back, The 1954 · Film · Subtitles A nameless midwestern town rediscovers its pre-war community spirit through 4-H. Enacted by the people of a small Missouri town, this film shows how citizens… Internet Archive Mechanical Engineering at duPont 1950 · Film · Subtitles Recruiting film for mechanical engineers to work for duPont; film surveys all job opportunities for mechanical engineers at duPont. 17:01:15:09 CU sign for… Internet Archive Pearl of the Orient 1955 · Film · Subtitles Astonishing film on Coca-Cola and the Philippines: Stock shots: dancing in costumes; dancing between sticks on the ground; cartoonish like map of the… Internet Archive City of Neighbors: Give Once for All 1950 · Film · Subtitles Portrays the United Foundation as "the businesslike method" of giving and notes that it offers "freedom from constant appeals". Aerial shots of Detroit… Internet Archive 1965 Parade of Homes, The (Part II) 1965 · Short · 13 min · Subtitles New homes go on display as part of a builders' promotion in outlying neighborhoods of Birmingham, Alabama. Kinescope of a locally aired television program. Internet Archive It's Everybody's War 1945 · Short · 15 min · Subtitles Plea for increased commitment by Americans to win the war. Internet Archive Fences and Gates 2026 · Film · Subtitles Takes a look at modern economics as it documents the efforts of a group of young musicians who are unable to achieve financial success. Presents basic… Internet Archive Twins Are Individuals: From Infancy to Adolescence 1946 · Film · Subtitles Uses animation to consider lives of two identical twins who develop completely different personalities. Comments on leveling power of American Society. In… Internet Archive Over the Waves 1938 · Short · 9 min · Subtitles How the Chevrolet suspension system smooths out a rough ride. Internet Archive Duck Farming 1920 · Film · Subtitles "A Tendor Milk-fed Duck, done to a turn", feather pluckers (funny!), 34 pounds of feed will raise a duck of 5 pounds dressed! ducks to the right of me, ducks… Internet Archive This is Coffee! 1961 · Film · Subtitles Shows the growth of coffee, its care and the steps involved in processing it. A number of good shots to be logged. Skeletal Entry