Prelinger Archives

2,209–2,256 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 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 [Swimmers at Beach, May 18, 1958] 1958 · Film · Subtitles VS women in swimsuits in and out of water at shoreline, with children. Reacting to camera. Medium-sized waves. CU women, children, male. Probably Southern… Internet Archive [Oakland Oaks Baseball Season Opens] 1918 · Film · Subtitles Baseball season opens in Oakland, California: April 2, 1918 / Oaks vs. San Francisco / warmup / auto parade / CU players / "Doraldina" is pitcher (actually… Internet Archive Why Play Leap Frog? 1949 · Film · Subtitles WHY PLAY LEAPFROG?, the fourth in a series of economics films, shows through an animated Technicolor cartoon how increased wages based on increased… Internet Archive Freedom of the American Road 1955 · Film · Subtitles This new film is designed to act as the starting gun on a new campaign for better roads sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. As introduced in the film by… Internet Archive Victory Is Our Business 1942 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Patriotic motivational film for World War II industrial workers. Internet Archive Social Class in America 1957 · Film · Subtitles Shows the difference social class makes in the lives of three high school boys. Explains how one boy is able to raise his social status. Internet Archive Truck Farmer, The (2nd ed.) 1954 · Film · Subtitles POINTS OUT CHIEF TRUCK FARMING AREAS IN U.S. SHOWS ACTIVITIES ON TRUCK FARM IN RIO GRANDE DELTA, SUCH AS PLANTING, IRRIGATING, SPRAYING, HARVESTING, PACKING &… Internet Archive Procrastinator, The 1952 · Film · Subtitles Deals with individual who habitually fails to plan and use time wisely in carrying out responsibilities. Jean disappoints her peers when she becomes chairman… 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 Refreshing Look, The 1958 · Film · Subtitles •15:46:47:27- Great high angle driving POV of a suburban street. •15:48:29:00- 15:48:29:00 Shot of car driving by "roadside businesses" (as the narrator dubs… Internet Archive [Home Movies: W. Arrol Collection: Road Trip] 2026 · Home movie · Subtitles Some good highway travel shots to be logged. Colorado state line sign, Moffat County / rainbow next to Quonset hut on which is painted "Colorado Steel… Internet Archive Conquest of Light, The Film · Subtitles Tells the story of the laser, a device with unlimited potential in many areas, explaining how a laser works and what it is. Internet Archive Pick Your Tomorrow 1954 · Film · Subtitles Many great stock shots to log Nice CU and pull out teenage girl picking out song on jukebox, pressing button; camera pulls out to show her clasping her hands… Internet Archive News Magazine of the Screen, The (Vol. 4, Issue 2) 1953 · Newsreel · 23 min · Subtitles Newsreel stories reformatted for educational presentation. Internet Archive [Home Movies: High School, 1930s] 1930 · Home movie · Subtitles Screening notes: Dizzying pans throughout Various events and gatherings throughout the school year Beginning shows groups of students posing in different… Internet Archive Human Reproduction 1947 · Film · Subtitles "The development of a foetus [fetus] is followed in detail, and the absence of a common bloodstream is emphasized." "presents vital information accurately and… Internet Archive Industry on Parade (Can 3b) 1950 · Film · Subtitles Many stock shots to be logged. Contains a number of episodes of Industry on Parade spliced together. LIGHTS, ACTION, CAMERA! Mitchell Camera Corporation,… Internet Archive Broken Appointment 1955 · Film · Subtitles Tells the story of a young public health nurse who comes to realize the importance of emotional aspects in her work. Internet Archive Industry on Parade: Paperman's Paper, Ink Inc., Use and Discard Short · 9 min · Subtitles Industry on Parade: A Pictorial Review of Events in Business and Industry, produced weekly by the National Association of Manufacturers. 0527 PA8190 Industry… Internet Archive [San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Construction] 1933 · Film · Subtitles San Francisco Bay Bridge during construction at various times showing progress of bridge. Oakland and San Francisco, California Great historical footage of… Internet Archive Development of Transportation 1958 · Film · Subtitles Surveys the rapid growth of transportation in the United States from the early settlers to the jet age. Internet Archive Day at the River: A Film Lesson in Nature Study, A 1928 · Film · Subtitles Tale of a fish hatchery and fish life cycle complete with microcinematography of fish eggs. Silent film with title cards. STOCK SHOTS: Huckleberry Finn-like… Internet Archive Imagination Unlimited 1961 · Film · Subtitles Promotional film for ornamental concrete blocks and how they can add style to a construction project. Internet Archive [Cornwall, N.Y., Memorial Day Celebration 1920] 1920 · Short · 15 min · Subtitles [Cornwall, N.Y., Memorial Day Celebration 1920] Internet Archive Trip to the Moon, A 1920 · Film · Subtitles animated journey from Earth to Moon Internet Archive Valley of The Tennessee 1944 · Short · 28 min · Subtitles One of a series of films made for the Office of War Information primarily for propaganda purposes abroad, this film employs a narrative structure in… Internet Archive World Through Stamps: The Stories Behind Postage Stamps, The 1957 · Film · Subtitles Pan over CUs of various airmail stamps Title: NEW HORIZONS FOR OLD By Alan Stern CU 1949 airmail stamp commemorating 45th anniversary of Wright Brothers… Internet Archive News Magazine of the Screen, The (Vol. 7, Issue 4) 1956 · Newsreel · 21 min · Subtitles Internet Archive Air: A Film Lesson in "General Science" 1928 · Film · Subtitles Great animated tornado coming into camera and animated tornado moving over map of town. Internet Archive San Francisco Scenes Film · Subtitles Silent black and white footage of San Francisco, presumably from the late 1920's or early 1930's. Internet Archive Dairy Industry, The 1942 · Film · Subtitles PRESENTS THE WORK INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION, PROCESSING & MARKETING THE PRODUCTS OF THE DAIRY FARM. Internet Archive Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1882-1945 1945 · Film · Subtitles This biographical sketch of the late President Roosevelt starts with scenes of his funeral. The film then goes back to scenes of his entry into politics in… Internet Archive Community Development with Gunnison Homes 1950 · Film · Subtitles Gunnison Homes was a subsidiary of US Steel. Warehouse where prefabricated house parts are built. Great shots of tract housing suburban development.… Internet Archive 1935 Pontiac Advertising (R2) 1935 · Film · Subtitles Produced for showing to Pontiac automobile dealers. Describes the advertising campaign undertaken by Pontiac to promote the 1935 models in a variety of media:… Internet Archive Pathe News Christmas with Their Cameramen and Crews 'Round the World 1950 · Film · Subtitles 00:41:23 WS Children's choir Cameramen in Hollywood, Paris, Chicago, London, Washington, Mexico, San Francisco, South America, Seattle, Miami, Tokyo, Berlin Internet Archive [Tacoma-Narrows Bridge Collapse] 1940 · Film · Subtitles Tacoma Span bridge collapse Internet Archive Disease Carriers: A Film Lesson in "Health and Hygiene" 1928 · Film · Subtitles About flies as carriers of disease, clean streets; sewage treatment; rat and rodent control; malaria mosquitoes. Internet Archive Wild ride through downtown Los Angeles, ca. 1932 1932 · Home movie This 16mm home movie clip shows a wild ride through the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Movie marquees help date the clip to around 1932. This film is from… Internet Archive Challenge to America 1955 · Film · Subtitles Many good stock shots to be logged. Good montage of New York area stores and crowds of people shopping. Internet Archive America Goes Over (Part III) 1918 · Short · 15 min · Subtitles Government-produced historical record of major World War I battles. Internet Archive Fire Fighters 1922 · Film · Subtitles Comedy starring domestic ducks and other animals dressed in miniature human costumes. African Americans play stereotypical and degrading comedy roles. The… 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 Sightseeing in Newark, N.J. 1926 · Film · Subtitles Some shots to be logged. Hudson Terminal (or Penn Station), Newark. Pan over city as seen from tall downtown building Historical landmarks Branch Brook Park… Internet Archive To Greater Vision 1944 · Film · Subtitles Shows the manufacture of glass for optical instruments and eyewear used in industry and war. Explains how eyes are treated and faulty vision is corrected. Internet Archive Let's Go Bowling (Part II) 1955 · Short · 13 min · Subtitles Culture and practice of bowling in 1950s America. Internet Archive Down the Gasoline Trail 1935 · Film · Subtitles Producer's synopsis: "Real photography and cartoon animation tell what happens to a drop of gasoline from the time it is put into the gasoline tank of a… Internet Archive Two Girl Hitchhikers Film · Subtitles Internet Archive Sharing Work At Home 1949 · Film · Subtitles A family cooperates to an unbelievable degree. Shows the importance of co-operation in maintaining a happy family life.