Prelinger Archives

2,401–2,448 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 From Dawn to Sunset 1937 · Film · Subtitles "THIS PICTURE MAKES VIVID THE LIVES OF THE MEN & WOMEN WHO BUILD THE MODERN AUTOMOBILE. IT SHOWS THEM IN THE MORNING ON THEIR WAY TO WORK, AT WORK IN THE… Internet Archive Mental Health : Keeping Mentally Fit 1952 · Film · Subtitles Defines good mental health, describes its attributes, and emphasizes our steps in acquiring, maintaining, and improving mental health: express emotions… Internet Archive Table Manners 1947 · Film · Subtitles Mrs. Post in her garden in Edgartown, Mass. in floral dress, pearls, white gloves and funny hat. "Most people are at ease in their own homes, but often are… Internet Archive [Amateur film: Medicus collection: New York World's Fair, 1939-40] (Reel 4) (Part III) 1939 · Home movie · 20 min · Subtitles Detailed documentation of the "World of Tomorrow" in beautiful Kodachrome. Internet Archive [Home Movies: Massachusetts Catholic family] 1956 · Home movie · Subtitles Family lives in Revere or Milton, Massachusetts Girl and boy, ages 8 - 10 or so, ride in scale model railroad car.Girl and boy turn and smile at photographer… Internet Archive [Animation Sample Reel] Cartoon · Subtitles Contains samples from Solar and Terrestrial Radiation (U.S. Navy); Skylines Unlimited (Otis Elevator Co.); and Walls Without Welds (U.S. Steel). Some of the… Internet Archive Communism In Action: Part One 1962 · Film · Subtitles Part 1 of a polemical political documentary detailing the birth and rise of Soviet-style Communism in the twentieth century. See item 201344 for Part 2.… Internet Archive Light in Your Life, The 1949 · Film · Subtitles Shows the parts of a light bulb and different types of bulbs. Animation illustrates how light is a part of business, industry, education and the home.Many… Internet Archive D-Day Minus One 1945 · Film · Subtitles Record of the operations of the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in the 1944 invasion of France. Shows paratroops, gliders and troop carriers landing in… Internet Archive Pipe of Plenty, The 1948 · Film · Subtitles SHOWS NEED FOR, AND CONSTRUCTION OF PIPELINE FROM BIG RAPIDS TO DETROIT, MICHIGAN. GOOD OUTDOOR CONSTRUCTION FOOTAGE, ALSO SHOTS OF GAS USERS. • 9:50:54:21-… Internet Archive [Untitled: Music Video] Film · Subtitles 60's band - singing "You gotta have friends beside you..." 1 singer, 3 backup singers, keyboardist, bassist and drummer Internet Archive [George Jackson Funeral] 1971 · Film · Subtitles Shot around St. Augustine's Church, 27th and West Streets, Oakland, California members of the Black Panther Party and supporters outside church Internet Archive What About School Spirit? 1958 · Film · Subtitles Demonstrates that school spirit is a form of citizenship requiring the assumption of responsibilities, both curricular and extra-curricular. Internet Archive Good Sportsmanship 1950 · Short · 9 min · Subtitles How sportsmanship enriches daily living: a lesson for teens. Internet Archive Our Bill Of Rights 1940 · Film · Subtitles Presents the arguments both for and against the addition of the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, to the Constitution. Portrays Franklin, Washington… Internet Archive Maintenance of Roads 1920 · Film · Subtitles Some shots to be logged. Boy lies down on mother's lap while she sews up a tear in his pants. 08:15:24:15 Woman sits on coach sewing. Boy in with… Internet Archive Help Wanted: Secretary 1969 · Film · Subtitles Driven to the psychiatrist's couch, a harried executive relates his traumatic search for the perfect secretary. His tale is illustrated by three humorous… Internet Archive Skyline Railways Film · Subtitles The Third Avenue El, New York City 08:09:28:16 9th Avenue elevated line in New York City? 08:11:24:21 Pan of up Empire State Building. 08:12:12:00 Low angle… Internet Archive Living Pages 1935 · Film · Subtitles "Housekeeping still remains the most important business in the world." "Each woman faces it singlehandedly.""She must know clothes, how to buy and how to make… Internet Archive Yellowstone National Park Short · 6 min · Subtitles The film explores the history and beauty of Yellowstone National Park, highlighting its significance as the first national park in the United States,… Internet Archive Felling Forest Giants 1920 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles Early documentation of the American forest industry. Internet Archive "Mad" Ohio, The 1937 · Film · Subtitles "Showing West Virginia and Kentucky flooded by the Ohio River and its tributaries during the great flood of 1937." "Our first obstacle. The Guyandotte crosses… Internet Archive Uncle Jim's Dairy Farm 1963 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles Children visit their uncle's dairy farm. Internet Archive Flying Businessman 1953 · Film · Subtitles VS night shots of airline neon signs at airport (Western Airlines) VS people at airport counter, clerk VS flight attendants and passengers inside airplane… Internet Archive Chevrolet Leader News (Vol. 1, No. 3) (M 7620) 1935 · Film · Subtitles NEWLY DESIGNED TRUCKS IN INDUSTRY & ARMY HAULING BIG GUNS. OLDEST HOUSES IN AMERICA (ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA). NEW YORK JEWELERS DISPLAY MOTORCAR INTERIOR… Internet Archive Johnny Learns His Manners 1946 · Film · Subtitles AN ARTIST'S DRAWING BOARD SHOWS HOW A LITTLE BOY WHO IS UNTIDY, ILL-MANNERED, & SELFISH IS TURNED INTO A PIG UNTIL HIS "GOODSELF" CONQUERS HIS "BADSELF"… Internet Archive [Universal Newsreel: Earhart Hops Foggy Pacific in 18 Hours] 1930 · Newsreel · Subtitles title: Earhart Hops Foggy Pacific in 18 Hours, Oakland, Calif. Amelia Earhart's plane landing at Oakland airport crowd pushes toward plane Earhart given… Internet Archive What About School Spirit? 1958 · Educational · 14 min · Subtitles School spirit and its social function for teenagers. Internet Archive Drop Out, The 1962 · Film · Subtitles Depicts various factors that stimulate teenagers to drop out of school, using several case histories for illustration. Lists various reasons for dropping out,… Internet Archive Ingenuity in Action 1959 · Film · Subtitles This informative film made for hot rod fans explains the process involved in preparing and entering a car show, but at times comes across as an ethnographic… Internet Archive Highway Hearing 1956 · Film · Subtitles A small town learns that it is to be bypassed by a new freeway that is due for construction. In a meeting attended by local government officials, town… Internet Archive Getting Along With Parents 1954 · Film · Subtitles Shows the conflict between six teen-agers and their respective parents in a situation designed to provoke discussion. Emphasizes that each generation must… Internet Archive All in One 1938 · Film · Subtitles The qualities in many kinds of dogs are similar to the qualities we want from our automobiles; safety, speed, protection; beauty. "For thousands of years,… Internet Archive [Caroline Mission] 1950 · Film · Subtitles St. Louis, Missouri: Catholic mission in the slums. 06:02:15:01 VS 1950s interracial group (African American and White children) of boys various ages from… Internet Archive Nation at Your Fingertips, The 1951 · Film · Subtitles Visible lines of transportation -- rivers, roads and rails -- traverse the landscape and enable the movement of people, freight and information in its… Internet Archive Herds West 1955 · Film · Subtitles Shows production of beef from the grasslands of the range to the feeding barns near big cities in the West. Points up the westward movement of cattle in… Internet Archive Pearl Harbor Film · Subtitles Internet Archive Holiday from Rules? 1959 · Film · Subtitles "Lord of the Flies" from an adult's point of view, starring four willful and confused children. Internet Archive Bomber 1941 · Film · Subtitles Commentary by Carl Sandburg. World War II Army Air Forces. Shows aircraft production in sequel. Internet Archive Rabbits 1949 · Film · Subtitles Illustrates the life and habits of the rabbits, shows how they build their homes, and pictures various species of rabbits. Calls attention to the breeding of… Internet Archive Waters of the Commonwealth 1950 · Film · Subtitles Shows the need for abatement of pollution of the streams and the accomplishments being attained by the Sanitary Water Board, Pennsylvania Department of… Internet Archive [Amateur film: Medicus collection: New York World's Fair, 1939-40] (Reel 6) (Part I) 1939 · Home movie · 20 min · Subtitles Detailed documentation of the "World of Tomorrow" in beautiful Kodachrome. Internet Archive First 25 Years, The 1973 · Film · Subtitles Traces the development of the first atomic bomb and the first hydrogen bomb at the Los Alamos scientific laboratory. Describes the role played by the Los… Internet Archive Fitting Faces 1940 · Short · 8 min · Subtitles Light short subject on eyeglass fashions. Internet Archive [Universal Newspaper Newsreel: Autogiro Lands in San Francisco] 1932 · Newsreel · Subtitles title: San Francisco, Cal. Autogiro "Mercury" delivers 1932 greetings! -- Novel plane parks itself in heart of metropolis Autogiro (early helicopter) lands on… Internet Archive Arm Behind the Army, The 1942 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles How winning World War II depends on successful labor-management collaboration. Internet Archive The Night Raiders 1924 · Film · Subtitles The Liberty Boys of '76 in a romantic picturization of Revolutionary War days with an authentic historical background. Internet Archive Driving Tips, Part 2 1958 · Film · Subtitles Warnings of drinking and driving, speeding, approaching a stopped school bus, the dangers of signal jumping "usually jumping into trouble", driving too…