Prelinger Archives

2,497–2,544 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 Soundie - "Ten Pretty Girls" and "I'll Make You Mine" 1930 · Short · 3 min · Subtitles unknown singer sings two songs Internet Archive [Untitled: American Fashion and American Department Stores] 2026 · Film · Subtitles A pro-mass production view of American fashion. Great film about Montgomery Wards; marketing class comprised on international students notable one from Russia… Internet Archive Wild Life in the 49th State 1959 · Film · Subtitles Promo for camping equipment made from duPont synthetic fibers. "Your name is Walter Berlet. You make your living in part as a naturalist. But long ago you put… Internet Archive Old Family Album Goes Modern, The 1930 · Film · Subtitles A promotional film for the Marquee's home movie service. As an example we see the development of a baby boy, from his newborn stage to around eighteen months… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Postwar London, Paris, Washington] 2026 · Home movie · Subtitles Kodachrome and B&W (alternates several times) Piccadilly Circus; post-bombing London scenes; Nelson's Pillar; war memorials; Big Ben; military parade; car… Internet Archive Santa Barbara -- Everybody's Mistake 1969 · Film · Subtitles From NICEM Catalog, 1984: "Examines the controversies behind the two-million gallon oil leak off the shore of California in 1969. Points out that the smog… Internet Archive Beauties on the Beach 1950 · Film · Subtitles SHOWS BREEDING HABITS, HATCHING & DEFENSE FROM ATTACK OF BIRDS WHICH BREED EXCLUSIVELY NEAR WATER. 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 U.S. News Review, Issue No. 3 1942 · Newsreel · 18 min · Subtitles Government-produced World War II newsreel. Internet Archive Face in the Mirror (I Wonder), The 1940 · Film · Subtitles 20:16:29 Man shaving himself in bathroom mirror. Applies lather with brush. Wife nags him from other room. 20:17:31 Wife enters in silver lame housedress and… Internet Archive Driven To Kill 1948 · Film · Subtitles Content warning: Narration includes sexist attitudes about women and gender roles. Driving safety and morality film set in Medford, NJ. "Stresses the… Internet Archive 50 Years of Powered Flight 1953 · Film · Subtitles 06:51:13:06 Old-fashioned Wright Brothers-style biplane with “Billy Parker” written on its tail is pushed on runway. 06:51:59:19 Old-fashioned plane based on… Internet Archive Something for Nothing 1940 · Film · Subtitles "WITH THE HELP OF RUBE GOLDBERG, THE PICTURE PROVES THAT WE CAN'T GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. THAT IS, TO GET POWER OUT OF AN ENGINE, YOU HAVE TO PUT FUEL IN.… Internet Archive Better Environment Through Recycling, A 1970 · Film · Subtitles Some shots to be logged. Trash piles, gulls on top. VS trash. recycling corrugated containers Internet Archive [Home Movies: Oregon, Montana] 1960 · Home movie · Subtitles Crater Lake, shaky shots from rim area POV driving around rim road, fallen rock peaks in southern Cascades informational signs for Bailey, Thielsen Diamond… Internet Archive Atomic Energy as a Force for Good 1955 · Film · Subtitles Describes the reactions of citizens of a small town to the construction of an atomic energy plant in their community. Explains that an understanding by the… Internet Archive Our Prisons 1956 · Film · Subtitles Footage of state prisons ca. 1956 in Kansas. PA-2003 ìOur Prisonsî 00:00:02:19 - 00:29:59:18 B/W Silent 1956 "Our Prisons" (A & B Rolls) Documentary of… Internet Archive Pilgrims, The 1955 · Film · Subtitles Follows the Pilgrims from England to Holland and to New England. Discusses the Mayflower compact and the hardships in the New World. Internet Archive Accident Behavior 1950 · Film · Subtitles Teaches procedures to follow when involved in an accident. Discusses the care of the injured, hazards of fire, keeping the accident from getting worse and… 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 Civil Rights Rally Presented by I.U.E., AFL-CIO 1963 · Film · Subtitles Rally in NY of District 4 IUE - demands"All and Now" - with over 1,500 in attendance for civil rights. Internet Archive [Home Movies: "Wyoming Vacation 1978", Part 1] 1978 · Home movie · Subtitles [Home Movies: "Wyoming Vacation 1978", Part 1] Internet Archive General Motors Export (Antwerp, Alexandria) 1927 · Film · Subtitles EARLY MODEL CAR DOWN BEAUTIFUL STREET. MULE CART PASSES BY CARS PARKED ON STREET. SEVERAL CHEVROLETS DRIVING AROUND PYRAMIDS AND SPHINX. CHEVROLET SALES ROOM… Internet Archive Boy in Court 1940 · Film · Subtitles SHOWS IN DETAIL THE WORKINGS OF THE JUVENILE COURT WHEN A BOY IS BROUGHT BEFORE IT. BEGINS WITH THE SNATCHING OF A CAR BY YOUNG DELINQUENTS & FOLLOWS THEM TO… Internet Archive Century of Progress Exposition: Wings of a Century 1933 · Film · Subtitles 00:46:00 A Century of Progress - Chicago 1933 50019 00:47:15 Main background of Fair 00:47:48 Pan of Fairgrounds Japanese Pavilion 00:50:22 Animatronic… Internet Archive The Wreck of the New York Subways (Newsreel #47) 1970 · Newsreel · Subtitles A documentary describing the actions, ideas, and reactions surrounding the subway fare increase in January of 1970 in New York City. Box notes: "Subways-A /… Internet Archive Chevrolet Commercial Commercial · Subtitles Internet Archive John Doe: Citizen Politician 1939 · Film · Subtitles From Educational Film Catalogue (1939): "Dramatizes a small city election, illustrates indifference of average citizen to public affairs and emphasizes that… Internet Archive [Kinograms Newsreel, 1924] 1924 · Newsreel · 11 min · Subtitles Typical newsreel of the silent film era. Internet Archive [Home Movies: San Francisco, Northern California and Oregon Coast] 1960 · Home movie · Subtitles San Francisco: California street in gray early morning light cable cars Alhambra Theater Fort Mason Crissy Field Alcatraz Fishermans Wharf Hogan's,… Internet Archive Joe's Kid 1946 · Film · Subtitles TO LET OLD & NEW MEMBERS OF THE V.F.W. KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR HOME FOR THE VETERANS' ORPHANS IN EATON RAPIDS. DELIBERATELY WRITTEN TO BE A "TEAR JERKER" AND… Internet Archive Century of Progress Exposition: Wings of a Century 1933 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles The Chicago World's Fair, 1933-34. Internet Archive Proof Parade, The (Frigidaire) 1937 · Film · Subtitles "Proof Parade" is a promotional film from 1937 showcasing Frigidaire's extensive marketing campaign for its new Super Duty refrigerators. The film details the… Internet Archive Street of Memory 1937 · Film · Subtitles A production in Trucolor about Olvera Street and the old Mexican quarter in Los Angeles, California Internet Archive As Others See Us 1953 · Film · Subtitles Discusses manners for young people mentioning etiquette at formal and informal teenage gatherings, and eating manners at home and school. Internet Archive Good Neighbors 1944 · Film · Subtitles 07:00:54 Good Neighbors 07:01:26 Waterfall 07:03:01 Panoramas of Minneapolis 07:03:33 Aerial view of large office 07:04:27 More aerial views of busy offices… Internet Archive Our Prisons 1956 · Film · Subtitles Footage of state prisons ca. 1956 in Kansas. PA-2003 ìOur Prisonsî 00:00:02:19 - 00:29:59:18 B/W Silent 1956 "Our Prisons" (A & B Rolls) Documentary of… Internet Archive Century of Progress Exposition, A (aka Bits of the Fair) 1933 · Film · Subtitles VS Indian Village at 1933 Chicago World's Fair Lama Temple The Fair at Night (good shots) Internet Archive [Park Slope House Remodeling, Roll 1] 2026 · Film · Subtitles This silent film captures the gritty reality of construction work in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, blending industrial imagery with the human and architectural… Internet Archive Mallinckrodt Chemical Comedy 1935 · Short · 8 min · Subtitles A "comic" reel made about and probably for the employees of Mallinckrodt Chemical Company. Internet Archive Seeing America's Greatest Chinatown: San Francisco (Part II) 1912 · Film · Subtitles Chinatown, San Francisco, California: Captain Lewis was a licensed Chinatown guide; these films represent what was salvaged from a multi-reel film. Chinese… Internet Archive Your Thrift Habits 1948 · Film · Subtitles Presents a lesson in thrift and budgeting. Points out the value of setting up a budget for systematic savings by careful buying without extravagances, and… Internet Archive Snob, The 1958 · Film · Subtitles USES STORY OF HIGH SCHOOL GIRL, WHOSE ATTITUDE TOWARD HER SCHOOLMATES CAUSES HER TO BE LABELED A SNOB, TO EXPLORE BASIC PROBLEM OF SNOBBERY & REASONS FOR IT. Internet Archive Topsoil 1948 · Film · Subtitles The story of one of America's richest treasures -- the thin layer of topsoil on which we depend for most of our food, clothes, and other necessities of life.… Internet Archive Holiday for Bill 1951 · Film · Subtitles Includes close-up of 78 rpm record spinning. 21:39:31:05 Great shot woman in driver’s seat of tractor starts up tractor as man in 1940s suit climbs into cart… Internet Archive Facts About Film 1948 · Film · Subtitles Shows the harmful effects on 16mm film of improper projector cleaning, film threading, film rewinding and placement of film in can. Internet Archive New Oregon Trail, The Film · Subtitles 01:37:41:05 Pioneers in walking and riding in cattle cars on the Oregon Trail. 01:38:05:05 Two cars passing on a highway surrounded by woods nestled in a… Internet Archive Working Together: A Case History in Labor-Management Cooperation 1951 · Short · 22 min · Subtitles Union and management cooperate in a Hoboken, N.J. pencil factory.