Prelinger Archives

2,929–2,976 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 Beginning Tennis 1960 · Film · Subtitles Shows how the tennis instructor teaches tennis to beginning and advanced students. Includes an analysis of the basic fundamentals of tennis--serving, forehand… Internet Archive Carnegie Hall: New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts Film · Subtitles Concert conducted by Leonard Bernstein for children, Bernstein talks about music and composers to audience. Part I Part II: "What Does music mean? skeletal… Internet Archive Brazil Gets the News 1942 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Promotes Brazil's wartime press as "modern" and "free." Internet Archive Wastage of Human Resources 1947 · Film · Subtitles SHOWS HUMAN WASTAGE CAUSED BY CRIPPLING DISEASE, ACCIDENTS, CRIME, WAR, OLD AGE, ALCOHOLISM & BAD LIVING CONDITIONS. Internet Archive Housing in Chile: One Government's Plan to Provide Better Homes 1943 · Short · 18 min · Subtitles Depicts progressive housing improvement in Chile during World War II. Internet Archive Adelante Cubanos 1958 · Film · Subtitles On industry in Cuba: supports buying Cuban-made products and extols the joys of consumerism. Apparently made in 1958 just prior to the revolution. Suburban… Internet Archive Film of Endurance, A 1933 · Film · Subtitles Film about an endurance race on the Bonneville salt flats. Cars stuck on Utah salt flats. Victory Highway milepost signs in Utah posted by Utah State Auto… Internet Archive What Happened to Emile (Cooperation & Obedience): A Film Lesson in Citizenship 1921 · Film · Subtitles Shots to be logged. Emile's father asks him to imagine a home where everyone did just as he pleases. Children leave messes, mothers don't make lunch because… 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 Evolution Film · Subtitles This is a poor dupe of the Fleischer film (although the poor quality is itself interesting) animated treatment of the evolution of the solar system Reel 2:… Internet Archive Wheels Across Africa (Part III) 1936 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles Armand Davis leads motor expedition in Africa, powered by Dodge cars. Internet Archive One Week in October 1963 · Film · Subtitles U.S. Department of Defense Civil Preparedness Film DDCP 20-223 about the Cuban Missile Crisis, Oct. 16-29, 1962. "(For Nationwide Exhibition) Story of the… Internet Archive Business Films 1968 · Film · Subtitles Key speakers from the 20th annual conference of the Public Relations Society of America. Internet Archive [Home Movies: California (?)] 2026 · Home movie · Subtitles Panama Canal journey Santa Catalina Island by streetcar and airplane. 09:18:50:25 Man carrying trunk over shoulder down stairs to 1920s to 1930s car smiles at… Internet Archive Film of Endurance, A 1933 · Film · Subtitles Film about an endurance race on the Bonneville salt flats. Cars stuck on Utah salt flats. Victory Highway milepost signs in Utah posted by Utah State Auto… Internet Archive Earth Satellites — Explorers of Outer Space 1958 · Film · Subtitles "Explains how man-made satellites stay aloft, presents launching of a satellite, describes what we may learn from satellites, and suggests what to look… Internet Archive Thrift: A Film Lesson in Citizenship 1921 · Film · Subtitles Film about value of frugal living. Features Poor Richard's Almanac. Intertitles. Distributed by De Vry School Films Inc. Internet Archive Glass Case, The 1939 · Film · Subtitles A man witnesses a holdup and the robber tries to shoot him, but the gun misfires. His poor vision, uncorrected by glasses, causes the frameup of an innocent… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Medicus Collection: Little Journeys to Niagara Falls and Canada, August 1931] 1931 · Home movie · Subtitles Begins with Amateur Cinema League leader Niagara Falls. VS Niagara Falls from many angles and perspectives – many good shots of Falls and white water Swiftly… Internet Archive Coast Guard SPARS 1943 · Short · 5 min · Subtitles Women in the wartime Coast Guard. Internet Archive Flying the Lindbergh Trail (Part I) 1937 · Short · 22 min · Subtitles Aerial travelogue of South America. Internet Archive News Magazine of the Screen, The (Vol. 4, Issue 9) 1954 · Newsreel · 21 min · Subtitles Newsreel stories reformatted for classroom use. Internet Archive Your Police 1953 · Short · 15 min · Subtitles Presents information about the police department and its services to citizens. Internet Archive Heritage For Victory A Film · Subtitles Western Electric-sponsored film about the history of their company. Internet Archive Responsibilities of American Citizenship, The 1955 · Film · Subtitles Shows that citizens should understand the American way of life, communism and socialism and their propaganda techniques, public education and government. Internet Archive Drug Abuse: The Chemical Tomb 1969 · Film Stresses the dangers of becoming physically and emotionally dependent on drugs even after limited use and instills a desire, based on knowledge derived from… Internet Archive [Television Commercials] Commercial · Subtitles Ivory Soap, Comet cleanser, Top Job; Tide; Epic Coffee, Crisco, Johnson's Family Hairspray; Cascade, Internet Archive Social Seminar: Youth Culture, "Guy” 1971 · Film · Subtitles Presents the experiences of Guy, a 15-year-old Mexican-American who spends a great deal of time stoned on reds. Shows his flight into passivity and escape… Internet Archive Communism: Riddle, Mystery, Enigma 1962 · Film · Subtitles The film offers an in-depth look into the Soviet Army, highlighting its size, structure, and the lifestyle of its soldiers. It compares the Soviet Army with… Internet Archive Film of Endurance, A 1933 · Film · Subtitles Film about an endurance race on the Bonneville salt flats. Cars stuck on Utah salt flats. Victory Highway milepost signs in Utah posted by Utah State Auto… Internet Archive Lost Landscapes of San Francisco (Episode 11, 2016) 2016 · Film · Subtitles Participatory urban history film that premiered at Castro Theatre, San Francisco, December 2016 and played at Internet Archive January 2017. Internet Archive [Unid: Savings & Loan Industrial, possibly "Family Finance"] 1955 · Film · Subtitles Sitcom style story, color industrial starring Julie Bishop, Tommy Kirk and others. Contains: good scenes of typical American family life circa 1955. Really… Internet Archive Student-Directed Curriculum: An Alternative Educational Approach 1971 · Educational · Subtitles Describes an experimental student-directed curriculum project at San Francisco Polytechnic High School, with many street scenes of San Francisco. Internet Archive Flying Businessman 1953 · Film · Subtitles Film about the usefulness of airplanes to businessmen. Showcases airplanes that are designed specifically for business use with beds, typewriters, and desks.… Internet Archive [Untitled: California, San Francisco] 1939 · Film · Subtitles about California and San Francisco including Golden Gate International Exposition. VO ends film: "...San Francisco, the city that knows how" 02:51:51… Internet Archive [Teenage Road-E-O, Vallejo, California] 2026 · Film · Subtitles Driving tests for teenagers in Vallejo, California Contest for state's best driver probably a Teenage Road-e-o Car driving around obstacle course CU cops… Internet Archive Nature's Cameo: Bryce Canyon National Park 1930 · Short · 7 min · Subtitles Early Western tourism. Internet Archive Miss Clark Introduces Panorama 1960 · Film · Subtitles Promotional film for “Panorama,” a filmstrip/phonograph record/book playback unit. Woman operating “Panorama” unit showing Panorama Travel Program. She… Internet Archive Silvertip 1947 · Film · Subtitles Opening title card: "Moose and deer hunting at its best in that Sportsmen's Paradise North of the Border" The film follows a group of sportsmen, including… 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 Other Fellow's Feelings, The 1951 · Short · 8 min · Subtitles What happens when teasing and ridicule go too far. Internet Archive [Amateur Film Golden Gate Bridge] 1939 · Film · Subtitles Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate International Exposition. Internet Archive Blasting Cap: Danger 1957 · Film · Subtitles Shows the dangers to which children expose themselves when they play with blasting caps. Internet Archive Treasure Chest 1956 · Film · Subtitles CONCERNS THE TIN CAN. Excellent "newlywed" shot opens film, "Just Married" sign and tin cans ties to 1920s automobile; happy people throw bouquets at… Internet Archive [News Magazine of the Screen, March] 1952 · Newsreel · 20 min · Subtitles Newsreel stories reformatted for classroom use. 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 You Just Can't Beat A Lucky Strike! 2004 · Film · Subtitles If you're smoking too much, this video will seem alright to you. Internet Archive Psychoactive Drugs Film · Subtitles VS Middle-age men wearing suits in roundtable discussion about public mental hospitals in 1960s with large yellow and blue bar graph on stand behind them with…