Prelinger Archives

2,593–2,640 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 Your Social Security 1940 · Film · Subtitles Explains how SS, survivors' insurance and other benefit systems work, focuses on the helpful SS workers, strongly encourages workers to file for their SS… Internet Archive Little Friend of the Wild 1920 · Film · Subtitles On a little boy who follows his friend Bunny, a rabbit, who finds food in the snow; feeds a deer; feeds Mr. Squirrel; visits Mr. Racoon (sic); a little bear;… Internet Archive Trip to the Planets, A Film · Subtitles space travel in giant airship animation and models heavy on intertitles some great models astronauts jumping around on Mars Internet Archive This Is the Dairy Industry 1957 · Film · Subtitles The film discusses the significance of the dairy industry, highlighting its vast economic impact and job creation. It emphasizes the importance of dairy… Internet Archive Film Tactics 1945 · Film · Subtitles EXPLAINS THROUGH DRAMATIZED EPISODES HOW TRAINING FILMS SHOULD & SHOULD NOT BE USED BY INSTRUCTORS & DEMONSTRATES SOME RESULTS OF GOOD & POOR TEACHING. Internet Archive Bus Driver, The 1946 · Film · Subtitles DEPICTS A TRIP TAKEN BY A YOUNG BOY & HIS FATHER FROM NEW YORK TO PITTSBURGH. SHOWS HOW THE BUS DRIVER MEETS DRIVING HAZARDS, SERVES HIS PASSENGERS & KEEPS… Internet Archive Some Fruits We Like 1920 · Film · Subtitles Some excellent shots to be logged. Fruits at market. African American children picking berries in field. Young White women (teenagers) packing strawberries in… Internet Archive Thrill Driver's Choice 1956 · Film · Subtitles The film showcases the thrilling performances of Joey Chitwood's auto thrill show, featuring a talented team of drivers executing breathtaking stunts with… Internet Archive Chevrolet Leader News (Vol. 5, No. 2) 1939 · Newsreel · 8 min · Subtitles Promotional newsreels featuring a variety of Chevrolet-centric stories. Internet Archive White Ammunition 1942 · Short · 24 min · Subtitles How milk is made, transported and processed. Internet Archive [Completion of Northwestern Pacific Rail Road] (Part II) 1914 · Film · Subtitles Golden Spike ceremony and celebration for the completion of the Northwestern Pacific Rail Road, October 23-25, 1914. Film begins a short way north of its… Internet Archive Knight Clubs 1936 · Film · Subtitles "THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEN'S CLUBS IS TRACED FROM KING ARTHUR TO THE PRESENT TIME. HISTORICAL FACTS MIXED WITH HUMOROUS BITS IN AN INSPIRING & ENLIGHTENING… Internet Archive Facts on Friction 1934 · Short · 9 min · Subtitles 0690 PA8676 Facts on Friction Internet Archive Chevrolet Leader News (Vol. 3, No. 4) 1937 · Newsreel · 6 min · Subtitles Promotional newsreels featuring a variety of Chevrolet-centric stories. Internet Archive [Home Movies: West, Disneyland] 1959 · Home movie · Subtitles Buffalo grazing in sage; sign "Wind River Canyon"; views of canyon and rushing water through bare canyon; "Hell's Canyon"; sandstone pillars; "Garden of the… Internet Archive Our Navy In The World War Film · Subtitles Silent film that shows the United States Navy ships and personnel during World War One. Internet Archive They Call It All-States 1950 · Short · 20 min · Subtitles Activities at National Farmers Union's summer camp for farm children. Internet Archive Birth Of The Soil 1948 · Film · Subtitles Explains how topsoil is produced from rock, water, air and sunlight over a period of many centuries. Contrasts the productivity of topsoil with subsoil. Internet Archive This Nations Power 1940 · Film · Subtitles Shows marvelous precision tools & machines in Chevrolet plants used in making that automobiles. Further shows ingenious design of Chevrolet. Internet Archive [Opium Destruction, San Francisco 1914] 1914 · Film · Subtitles 1. Government agents burn confiscated opium near new (unfinished) San Francisco City Hall. 2. Agents destroy confiscated Chinese drugs, San Francisco,… Internet Archive Bob Learns About Ocean Trade 1953 · Film · Subtitles BOB LEARNS ABOUT IMPORT & EXPORT TRADE. HE WATCHES SHIPS AT A LARGE HARBOR & SEES PINKERTON GUARDS, LONGSHOREMEN & CHECKERS AT WORK. Internet Archive Story Without End 1950 · Film · Subtitles Studies possible trends of telephone service, including the improvement and expansion of service in rural areas and the development and application of… Internet Archive "While Brave Men Die..." 1966 · Film · Subtitles Documentary produced in support of war in Vietnam and against social change, featuring extensive footage of social protest movements of the 1960s and of… Internet Archive [Home Movies: "My Alaska Cruise"] 1938 · Home movie · Subtitles Some good shots to be logged. Reel 1: June 1938. "Alaskan Adventurers" certificate made out to one Fred M. Laserson. Great shots of Santa Cruz casino and… Internet Archive Captain Brown, Harbor Pilot 1950 · Film · Subtitles SHOWS HOW THE PILOT GUIDES A SHIP THROUGH BAYS & CHANNELS, DIRECTING MEN IN THE PILOT HOUSE & ENGINE ROOM, IN THE TUGBOATS & ON DOCKS. GIVES DETAILS ON… Internet Archive Shore Lines And Shore Development 1923 · Film · Subtitles Silent science film looks at how geological and climate factors contribute to the development of shores. Internet Archive [Golden Gate International Exposition Marionettes] 1930 · Film · Subtitles California history-based show possibly sponsored by Associated Service Stations at the Golden Gate International Exposition. No soundtrack present.… Internet Archive Eyes and Their Care (An Introduction), The 1941 · Cartoon · 10 min · Subtitles Animated drawings explain physiology of sight; how eyeglasses work. Internet Archive This is Robert: A Study of Personality Growth in a Preschool Child 1942 · Film · Subtitles Traces the development of Robert, an aggressive, "difficult", yet appealing child, from his arrival in nursery school at two up through his first year in a… Internet Archive [Bay Area Rapid Transit] 1972 · Film · Subtitles Audio track taken from Van Amburg and Jerry Jensen channel 7 “News Scene” show. Great stock shots of Bay Area Rapid Transport (BART) in 1970s. 06:57:09:02… Internet Archive New York - Vacation City Film · Subtitles Much great footage of New York City, including the usual landmarks; The Bowery; Harlem ("where the world learns how to sing and dance") Internet Archive Technicolor for Industrial Films 1949 · Film · Subtitles A promotional film for Technicolor, a company that produces high-quality color prints for use in industrial motion pictures and advertising. The film… 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 To Market, To Market Film · Subtitles Film about farmers getting produce and vegetable to market. 01:40:02:09 VS corn stalks, CU corn on stalk; CU crate of white onions; CU crate of sweet… Internet Archive Black Panther a.k.a. Off the Pig (Newsreel #19) 1968 · Newsreel · Subtitles "A compelling document of the Black Panther Party leadership in 1967. This film contains a prison interview with Minister of Defense Huey P. Newton as well as… Internet Archive Life Is a Lark at Willow Grove Park 1956 · Film · Subtitles Features bands playing at music stand; plus 20 minute film of amusement park, rides and circus. Internet Archive [Gould can 5314 -- Extra.5] 1918 · Film · Subtitles Additional material to can 5201. Parade celebrating end of World War I in San Francisco. Paraders are all wearing flu masks due to influenza epidemic in force… Internet Archive Aurora Stunt and Drag Race Set Commercial Commercial · 1 min · Subtitles Television commercial for Aurora Stunt and Drag Race toy cars. Internet Archive What Now! Film · Subtitles On carpet cleaning Nice sequence of late 1950s-early 1960s teenagers dancing in living room, making mess Internet Archive More Dangerous Than Dynamite 1941 · Film · Subtitles Presents an object lesson in fire safety, showing fires starting from the use of an electric iron, a lamp cord under a rug, cigar and cigarette stubs, turning… Internet Archive Happy Motoring Ahead! 1945 · Film · Subtitles 15:01:51:01 VS bus and cars passing Esso gas station; cars pulling out of gas station. 15:03:49:08 Father in shirt and tie reading newspaper with young boy on… Internet Archive News Magazine of the Screen, The (Vol. 5, Issue 10; Summer Review 1955) 1955 · Newsreel · 21 min · Subtitles Newsreel stories reformatted for classroom use. Internet Archive [Home Movies: Air Travel, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, New York City] 1940 · Home movie · Subtitles 11:00:52VS Airport scenes, unknown airport: tower, parking lot with 1940s cars, TWA baggage carts, Western Airlines plane; B&W CUs of people inside airport;… Internet Archive High Cost of Letting Go Film · Subtitles Safety film targeted at railroad workers about how mental upsets can increase vulnerability to accidents. A newspaper reporter tries to reconstruct why a… Internet Archive Life Is a Lark at Willow Grove Park 1956 · Film · Subtitles Features bands playing at music stand; plus 20 minute film of amusement park, rides and circus. Internet Archive Your Career in the Paper Industry 1952 · Film · Subtitles Lots of stock shots to be logged Times Square, New York at night; neon advertising signs street scene near Rockefeller Center on Fifth Avenue; pedestrians… Internet Archive Mickey's Big Chance 1952 · Film · Subtitles DESIGNED TO DEVELOP GOOD DRIVING HABITS IN YOUNG DRIVERS. INTENDED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE YEAR JUST BEFORE THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO GET DRIVER'S LICENSES OR… Internet Archive How Much? 1963 · Film · Subtitles 02:13:38 Two men in office 02:13:46 CU Man's hand writing price on paper 02:13:52 Man looks furtively at first man (client) 02:13:54 CU Man's hand turning…