Prelinger Archives

2,737–2,784 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 [San Francisco Longshore Strike] (Part I) 1934 · Short · 1 min · Subtitles Longshoremen close down the Port of San Francisco in the spring of 1934. Internet Archive [Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, Arabia/North Africa] Short · 10 min · Subtitles In Arabic. The film narrates the story of the Coca-Cola bottling industry in the Middle East, highlighting its significance as a refreshing beverage for… Internet Archive How to Use Classroom Films 1963 · Film · Subtitles INTRODUCES THE BASIC PRINCIPLES NECESSARY FOR AN EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION OF CLASSROOM FILM, SUCH AS CHOOSING & RESERVING THE FILM, PREVIEWING, PREPARING THE… Internet Archive Arm Behind the Army, The 1942 · Film · Subtitles "The success of the Army on the firing line depends upon the success of labor and industry on the production line. And the security of American industry and… Internet Archive San Francisco by the Golden Gate 1932 · Film · Subtitles San Francisco scenes: Ferry Building and waterfront piers from air; pan across Ferry Building to San Francisco Bay; aerial of North Beach area; boats at… Internet Archive [Home Movies: X-Country, 1938, No. 2] 1938 · Home movie · Subtitles Woman making ?pastel? drawing of mountain, pan up to mountain, looks at camera apparently near Garden of the Gods, Colorado construction site: POV down… Internet Archive Carnival Film · Subtitles The film captures the lively atmosphere of a carnival, showcasing various attractions like the giant Wonder Wheel, thrilling rides, and joyful crowds. It… Internet Archive Beatrice Foods' News Report From Around the World 1960 · Film · Subtitles News of happenings within the Beatrice Foods Company around the world. Meadow Gold: Milkman to Far East Great Buddha at Kamakura Bloomfield Industries… Internet Archive Musical Review #11 [Louis Armstrong Soundie] Film · Subtitles A collection of the following short musical clips: Stereotypical Indians in full headdresses hide behind a shrub and wave each other over until three stand in… Internet Archive The Human Factor In Driving Film · Subtitles Driving safety film made by Progressive Pictures in the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area and possibly elsewhere. "Shows how certain habits… Internet Archive Surf Riders 1960 · Film · Subtitles Skeletal Entry Internet Archive California Picture Book 1946 · Short · 11 min · Subtitles Pictorial travelogue of California, using a variety of stock footage. Internet Archive Heights and Depths 1938 · Film · Subtitles Principles of engraving are dramatized, showing that the tones of pictures result from high and low places on the engraver's plate. Internet Archive Safety Patrol (1937) 1937 · Film · Subtitles A member of a schoolboy safety patrol in one of our typical cities tells the story of how children can prevent accidents by taking wise and careful traffic… Internet Archive [Home Movies: San Francisco and Reno, 9/17/1953] 1953 · Home movie · Subtitles screening notes: car pulls into parking place in front of camera, somewhere on the west side of San Francisco looking up at Lone Mountain / University of San… Internet Archive [Douglas Aircraft X-3 Supersonic Aircraft in Test Flights] 1950 · Film · Subtitles Douglas X-3 supersonic plane in testflights "flying stiletto" VS takeoff, air-to-air, landing Internet Archive Oregon State Parks 1950 · Film · Subtitles Tour of the state parks of Oregon, including much footage of natural beauty and culturally and historically significant sites. Internet Archive Young Uruguay 1943 · Short · 17 min · Subtitles Portrays the young people of Uruguay at home, play and school. Internet Archive Homes for Defense: A Defense Report on Film 1940 · Film · Subtitles On United States defense housing in World War II. VS slum housing, drive-by shots Building house trailers Pan over trailer park Prefabricated (demountable)… Internet Archive Seeing America's Greatest Chinatown: San Francisco (Part I) 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. Captain… Internet Archive Helping You Sell 1937 · Film · Subtitles SHOWS EXCERPTS FROM DMS (Direct Mass Selling) FILMS. SHOWS AUTO SALESMEN, SALESROOMS, CUSTOMERS. GOOD MEDIA STOCK SHOTS, INCLUDING BROADWAY NIGHT SIGNS. SHOWS… Internet Archive [Gould can 5118.2] 1903 · Film · Subtitles Wright Brothers first powered airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. (Check to see if this is footage of actual event or recreated.)14:18:18:03 Great… Internet Archive Democracy at Work in Rural Puerto Rico 1940 · Film · Subtitles Many scenes of life in rural Puerto Rico. 07:23:05 Democracy at Work in Rural Puerto Rico 00125 07:24:12 Nice black and white beach scene, more tropical beaches Internet Archive News Magazine of the Screen, The 1951 · Newsreel · 18 min · Subtitles Newsreel stories reformatted for classroom presentation. Internet Archive ask me don't tell me 1961 · Film · Subtitles Explores the problems of juvenile delinquency, showing what happened in San Francisco with restless, unemployed teenagers and showing their world of… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Paris, Times Square, China, etc.] 1932 · Home movie · Subtitles Begins with fragment of "Ports of the World" by Nomad Pictures. Direction: Sir Oswald Winfield. Photography: Robert Bloch. Continues to amateur footage.… Internet Archive Pontiac Advertising (R2A/R2B) 1955 · Film · Subtitles • 2:13:10- 2:32:00 Nice graphics—bright yellow map of the U.S. on a blue background with red dots all over the map, moving whites lines (indicating sound… Internet Archive Boredom at Work: The Empty Life 1961 · Film · Subtitles The film explores the issue of boredom and how it affects different characters. The main character, Hugh, goes to a doctor seeking help for his boredom. The… Internet Archive Pontiac Advertising (R2A/R2B) 1955 · Film · Subtitles • 2:13:10- 2:32:00 Nice graphics—bright yellow map of the U.S. on a blue background with red dots all over the map, moving whites lines (indicating sound… 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 [Home Movies: Native Americans (1920s, Kodacolor)] 1920 · Home movie · Subtitles Native Americans in New Mexico or Arizona; adobe southwestern architecture; VS of Grand Canyon.Appears to be poor quality, as it's lenticular color that… Internet Archive News Magazine of the Screen, The 1951 · Film · Subtitles President Auriol of France visits the United States. Inside the Chalk River atomic plant. General Douglas McArthur returns to the United States, visiting San… Internet Archive Pathegrams Review (No. 1) 1927 · Film · Subtitles This is an assembly of various newsreel stories and fragments, all apparently Pathé-produced. Four-Footed Fortunes: Yearly Shearing on an Arizona Sheep-Ranch… Internet Archive Cheating 1952 · Film · Subtitles AFTER ELECTED TO STUDENT COUNCIL. JOHN FINDS IT HARD TO KEEP UP WITH HIS SCHOOLWORK. HE GETS HIS GIRLFRIEND TO HELP HIM WITH HIS LESSONS, & FINALLY TO HELP… Internet Archive Unid. Soundie "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" (Juvenile Jubilee) 1940 · Film · Subtitles 00:37:13:28 - 00:39:55:07 B/W Sound 1940s Female singer in evening gown w/ carnation in her hair. She performs "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby"… Internet Archive Letter From Bataan, A 1944 · Short · 13 min · Subtitles A soldier pleads to the folks to home to conserve scarce wartime resources. Internet Archive You Are the Switchman 1951 · Short · 11 min · Subtitles Be on the lookout for the warning signals of cancer. Internet Archive To Conserve Our Heritage (Part I) 1940 · Short · 17 min · Subtitles Simultaneously promotes conservation, the fur industry, hunting and fishing. Internet Archive Our Foster Mother, the Cow 1947 · Film · Subtitles This color film portrays the happenings on a dairy farm. Emphasizes the importance of milk, and the service of cows to mankind. Internet Archive [Home Movies: California 1936 - 1940] 1936 · Home movie · Subtitles shots to be logged POV driving north over an almost deserted Golden Gate Bridge. Alcatraz Island seen through moving barrier on south sidewalk of Golden Gate… Internet Archive Sheet Metal Worker, The 1942 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Vocational guidance and training film. Internet Archive Chevrolet Leader News (Vol. 2, No. 2) 1936 · Film · Subtitles AUTO-PULLED AQUAPLANE PROVIDES NEW OCEAN-SIDE SPORT. TOMMY CLARK, OF MUSA, FLORIDA WRESTLES WITH HIS PET ALLIGATOR. PUT A NICKEL IN THE SLOT TO PARK FOR AN… 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 [Television Commercials: Camera only] Commercial · Subtitles [The following titles and shotlists may be elsewhere on PA-0649; this description may therefore need revision after viewing.] Tape 0649 [New Film] [Untitled]… Internet Archive With Buffalo Bill on the U.P. Trail 1926 · Film · Subtitles Director: Frank S. Mattison. Producer: Anthony J. Xydias. Cinematography: Bert Longenecker. Film Editing: Al Martin. Technical Director: Al Pierce. With Roy… Internet Archive Bright Young Newcomer, The 1958 · Film · Subtitles Conventional wisdom has it that offices are nicer, cleaner and more civilized workplaces than factories. Look again. Bright Young Newcomer paints a picture of… Internet Archive Synthetic Fibers: Nylon and Rayon 1949 · Film · Subtitles Reveals how modern science and technology have made possible the development of new artificial fibers for making textiles -- specifically rayon and nylon.… Internet Archive As the Twig Is Bent... 1943 · Film · Subtitles Terrific film about juvenile delinquency during World War II. From the early sensationalist days, before warm and cuddly social guidance films took over.…