Prelinger Archives

1,681–1,728 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 Children Must Learn, The 1940 · Film · Subtitles "This film is an authentic record of real people, living their usual lives. It documents one of several experiments carried on by various state universities… Internet Archive [Amateur film: Medicus collection: New York World's Fair, 1939-40] (Reel 4) (Part II) 1939 · Home movie · 20 min · Subtitles Detailed documentation of the "World of Tomorrow" in beautiful Kodachrome. Internet Archive Idaho's State Hospitals 1960 · Film · Subtitles Early investigative report on the Idaho state hospitals. Interviews with psychiatrists and doctors particularly about the issue of mental and geriatric care.… Internet Archive Coca-Cola Commercial (Arabic) (3 versions) 1950 · Commercial · Subtitles 11:52:23:04 Film appears to be an Egyptian Coca-Cola commercial in Arabic; commercial takes place in a restaurant with woman singing a song backed by band,… Internet Archive 'Till It Helps! 1959 · Film · Subtitles [Much of the footage from this film was in another film made for the United Way] 1959 St. Louis; footage of United Way of Greater St. Louis services for… Internet Archive Dining Together 1951 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Thanksgiving dining etiquette for young children. Internet Archive Rain for the Earth 1937 · Film · Subtitles Contents. Social and economic wastes resulting from continued drought in the midwestern dust bowl and efforts of the federal government in attempting to… Internet Archive Iran: Between Two Worlds 1954 · Short · 14 min · Subtitles Iran at the time of the 1953 U.S.-backed coup d'etat. Internet Archive Your Family 1948 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Family values in action bring happiness and concord. Internet Archive Around the Corner 1937 · Film · Subtitles Dramatic and clear explanation of how a vehicle can turn a corner keeping the wheels from skidding because the differential is at work. 05:55:39:21… Internet Archive General Panorama 1960 · Film · Subtitles Summary: Mixed A & B roll of film produced in Berkeley promoting the work of the General Research and Supply Co., "manufacturer of mechanized equipment for… Internet Archive United Nations and World Disputes 1950 · Film · Subtitles Reviews four major disputes that since 1945 have threatened world peace -- Indonesia, Palestine, India & Korea. Demonstrates how United Nations was successful… Internet Archive [Home Movies: "Home Movies Galore"] 2026 · Home movie · Subtitles Winter in suburbs. spring in suburbs: group of young boys outdoor wedding beach swimming action in pool Eastward Ho Country Club sign -- possibly in Chatham,… Internet Archive Vista Stock Shots: Office Communications and Machines 2026 · Film · Subtitles 06:12:07:13 CU hand of female telephone operator patches calls with quarter inch cables; operator’s hand dials on phone with rotary dial in bottom right… Internet Archive [Industrial footage, unedited: Borden's dairy] 1965 · Film · Subtitles 03:22:42:06Factory yard, industrial mlk processing.Truck with huge cylindrical aluminum carrying tank pulls into yard.White-uniformed milk man emerges from… Internet Archive Preventive Psychiatry in the Navy: The Role of the Junior Officer 1954 · Film · Subtitles Attempts to instruct young officers on the emotional lives of the men under their command and how it affects their performance in the Navy. Troops drilling… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Levy collection: Middle East] 1933 · Home movie · Subtitles Title card locates this film in Bethlehem, Palestine, 7.23.1933. Film consists of a variety of street scenes (peddlers, street performers, beggars, etc). Many… Internet Archive Look at Socialism, A 1955 · Film · Subtitles This is the first of a bracket of three films examining the major political and economic systems of the world today. The film discusses socialism and its… Internet Archive Horsepower 1937 · Film · Subtitles "HOW THE TERM 'HORSEPOWER' CAME TO BE APPLIED TO MECHANICAL DEVICES IS MADE CLEAR IN THIS PICTURE, & AN EXPLANATION OF HOW THE MODERN MOTORCAR CAN HOLD THE… Internet Archive World of Tomorrow, The (Part I) Short · 18 min · Subtitles 0682 PA8532 World of Tomorrow, The from 025.07; Engel collection; 16 B&W MOS neg pix Internet Archive Gospel Dynamics 1940 · Film · Subtitles Cartoon. very simple BW animation. 13:50:04:28 Carton: carton of dynamite lowers into frame, opens, and sticks of dynamite spell word �Gospel�13:53:34:08… Internet Archive Moving North 1955 · Film · Subtitles Martin Van Lines arrives to pick up a 1950s Caucasian family from their home in Seattle who are moving to Alaska. packing silver; kids at totem poles; Alaska… Internet Archive News Magazine of the Screen, The (Vol. 1, Issue 6) 1951 · Film · Subtitles 0:34:25 - UN CONDEMNS RED CHINA VS delegates at United Nations political committee session vote on resolution / General Matthew Ridgway studies war map in war… Internet Archive Understand Your Emotions 1950 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles Biology teacher explains emotions, voluntary and involuntary behavior. Internet Archive Animals in the Service of Man (Part I) Short · 11 min · Subtitles Presented by American Humane Assocation, produced by United Specialists, Inc., narrated by Lowell Thomas. 0645 PA8768 Animals in the Service of Man Internet Archive Coach for Cinderella, A 1936 · Film · Subtitles Seven of the one hundred and eighteen films in Jam Handy's Direct Mass Selling series (see notes for Down the Gasoline Trail) were Technicolor cartoons… Internet Archive Land Of Opportunity Film · Subtitles Silent dramatic short that looks at how America can be a land of opportunity for even the lowest laborer by looking at Abraham Lincoln's life. Internet Archive Sending Radio Messages (Principles of Radio — Part 1) 1943 · Film · Subtitles Much great footage of radio equipment and animated radio waves also great footage of radio operators on land, sea and air Internet Archive Wonderful Jet World of Pan American, The 1959 · Film · Subtitles Large number of shots to be logged. Rotating globe shots. Backlighted gulls flying against sky. CU Turtle crawling in sand. Little boy climbing over country… Internet Archive Idaho's State Hospitals 1960 · Film · Subtitles Early investigative report on the Idaho state hospitals. Interviews with psychiatrists and doctors particularly about the issue of mental and geriatric care.… Internet Archive Vista Stock Shots: Supermarket, Interior and Exterior Stock Shots 2026 · Film · Subtitles 22:31:52:27 1960s to 1970s produce section of grocery store. Different European flags hang from ceiling: Germany, Switzerland, France. VS inside grocery… Internet Archive World's Fair Report with Lowell Thomas 1961 · Film · Subtitles About New York World's Fair under construction aerial of Unisphere Shea Stadium under construction models of future pavilions to be built Robert Moses and… Internet Archive Your Family 1948 · Film · Subtitles BRENT FAMILY LEAF THRU SCRAPBOOK. TONY PREPARES DOG FOOD, SCRUBS FLOOR, OFFERS TO HELP MOTHER, KITCHEN CLOCK WITH ACCELERATED HAND ACTION. NANCY SETS DINNER… Internet Archive Best Made Plans, The 1956 · Short · 21 min · Subtitles Loving tribute to Saran plastic wrap as an indispensable household accessory. Internet Archive Brazil: South American Medley 1948 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles People, industry, customs and climate of Brazil. Internet Archive San Francisco World's Fair Newsreel · Subtitles News Parade newsreel footage of the San Francisco World's Fair in 1939, the Golden Gate International Exposition. The fair was intended to celebrate the… Internet Archive Immunization (Second edition) 1955 · Film · Subtitles Explains what immunization is and how it is built up either by having a disease or by being inoculated with vaccine. Shows how smallpox vaccine is produced… Internet Archive What Makes A Good Party? 1950 · Film · Subtitles Shows how to plan a party. Illustrates the skills which enable the guests to have fun together. 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 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 Typesetting: Linotype 1960 · Film · Subtitles The film explores the intricate workings of mechanical typesetting machines, particularly the linotype and intertype machines, which revolutionized printing… Internet Archive World Through Stamps: The Stories Behind Postage Stamps, The 1957 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles Great moments in aviation history as told through postage stamps. Internet Archive Coach for Cinderella, A 1936 · Film · Subtitles Seven of the one hundred and eighteen films in Jam Handy's Direct Mass Selling series (see notes for Down the Gasoline Trail) were Technicolor cartoons… Internet Archive Ceiling on Your Home, A 1945 · Film · Subtitles Shows the economic factors affecting postwar deflation and an appeal for public cooperation, an appeal to the public to assist in retail price control, and… Internet Archive They Call It All-States 1950 · Film · Subtitles Many good shots to be logged. Camp for kids (teens), great film! Teenagers at camp: flag-raising & pledge, breakfast, doing dishes, sweeping (many brooms),… Internet Archive How to Use the Dial Phone 1927 · Film · Subtitles Gould can 1095. HOW TO USE THE DIAL PHONE. Instructional film on use of the dial telephone, produced for showing in the Fresno, California market. Internet Archive It Takes Everybody to Build This Land 1951 · Short · 19 min · Subtitles Traces the development and discusses the importance of specialization in American industry and agriculture, with the added attraction of a left-populist… Internet Archive Look to Lockheed for Leadership 1940 · Film · Subtitles Promotional film about Lockheed aircraft using test pilots and speed records to show how Lockheed is at the forefront of aviation technology. Wright Brothers,…