Prelinger Archives

3,553–3,600 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 Lost Landscapes of San Francisco 20 (1897-2025) 2025 · Feature · 1 h 15 min · Subtitles The 20th Lost Landscapes of San Francisco, premiered at Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, December 3 and 4, 2025. The premieres were made possible through a… Internet Archive [Home Movies: The World's Fair: August 1940] 1939 · Home movie · Subtitles The World's Fair August 1940, City of Light, garden, parade, Florida Building, Japanese Building, Ford Building, Electrical Building. 12:32:46 The World's… Internet Archive You and Your Parents 1950 · Short · Subtitles Teenager and parents in conflict learn to develop mutual understanding. Internet Archive [Home Movies: Ransohoff Collection: Beresford, 1926] 1926 · Home movie · Subtitles Title: Different scenes at Beresford including some of the active members. 1926. The Beresford Club was probably located in San Mateo, California,and is now… Internet Archive [Home Movies: St. Louis Metro Area, ca. 1962 - 1963] 1962 · Home movie · Subtitles Description to be added from log sheet. Driving POVs, Missouri city, St. Louis drive by Pruitt-Igoe housing project Internet Archive [Home Movies: Western US, Cuba, New York World's Fair] 1940 · Home movie · Subtitles Western Americana : worth logging Motor court: Close-Inn Court / Air Cooled Cottages Continental Divide marker VS Nebraska State Capitol ? Florida --… Internet Archive Vista Stock Shots: Airplanes, Airports, Passengers Film · Subtitles color orig; shot in SFO and at PHX Sky Harbor Airport; some pre-jet era planes in lower-quality color print 06:28:51:02 United Airlines plane landing on… Internet Archive [Television Commercials] Commercial · Subtitles Ivory Soap, Comet cleanser, Top Job; Tide; Epic Coffee, Crisco, Johnson's Family Hairspray; Cascade, Skeletal Entry Internet Archive Adventures in Art: Basic Art 1960 · Film · Subtitles Introduction to drawing Internet Archive Aerial Trip Over New York, An 1934 · Film · Subtitles Some good shots to be logged. Many aerials of Manhattan; shots of Bowery and Third Avenue under Elevated RR; steamer "Hendrick Hudson" in harbor. New York… Internet Archive Cancer 1952 · Film · Subtitles On cancer, its symptoms, treatments, and the importance of getting regular screenings. Internet Archive The Littlest Puppy Grows Up 1954 · Film · Subtitles Instructional film on the care and rearing of a puppy at home. Stresses the care feeding, and early training of a young puppy from the time it is a few days… Internet Archive Pork People Like 1956 · Film · Subtitles Illustrates the different qualities of pork and shows how to acquire the best in meat purchases. Explains the importance of a "meat" type hog, with the… Internet Archive [Kitestinking, Artesia, California] 1950 · Film · Subtitles SPORTS: KITESTINKING (sp?), Artesia, California Games where people get drenched Water stunt camera gets drenched, so do others Internet Archive Two Pay Days (Part II) 1927 · Short · 13 min · Subtitles Motivational film for 1920s Chevrolet salesmen. Internet Archive [Home Movies: "Our Stay in Texas: On a Picnic at Landa Park, New Braunfels, Tex., April 1946"] 1946 · Home movie · Subtitles Driving POVs, shaky but good, including scene shot through front windshield and a driveby of a Texaco service station; a small dose of other roadside culture… Internet Archive This Land of Ours: Wyoming 1947 · Film · Subtitles American history narrative in service of colonial expansion, covering extraction of coal and oil, as well as timber, logging, mining, agriculture, farming,… Internet Archive Pork People Like 1956 · Film · Subtitles Illustrates the different qualities of pork and shows how to acquire the best in meat purchases. Explains the importance of a "meat" type hog, with the… Internet Archive Design for Correction 1963 · Film · Subtitles The design and building of a Federal Prison in Marion, Illinois. Produced by Southern Illinois University in 1963. Note in can: "Design for Correction / SIU /… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Mahoning Valley collection, can 26] 1938 · Home movie · Subtitles Begins with title: "Agfa 1938." VS people playing golf intercut with shots of 2 cats fighting Two girls ride on a bicycle Mini-montage of one girl: she plays… Internet Archive New Ford Tractor, The 1953 · Film · Subtitles Golden Jubilee Model - 1903-1953 Internet Archive [Gilmore Bros., Aviation Pioneers] 1931 · Film · Subtitles Grass Valley, California: Gilmore Bros. and their planes including cabin model that was never flown but designed in 1908 / planes in their barn Internet Archive [San Francisco Aerials] 1920 · Film · Subtitles San Francisco City and Civic Center from a Balloon: take off / City Hall / aerials of various parts of the city and return to City Hall and land Internet Archive Preparation of Foods: Stone Age to Space Age Short · 10 min · Subtitles 0739 PA8930 Preparation of Foods: Stone Age to Space Age Internet Archive [Alma Emma Spreckels, 13th Birthday, August 23, 1922 and Spreckels Napa Stock Farm] 1922 · Film · Subtitles 13th birthday of Alma Emma Spreckels on Aug. 1922 in films taken at the Spreckels Napa Stock Farm. Includes rare footage of Mr. Spreckels. Internet Archive Soundie - The Hut Sut Song Short · 2 min · Subtitles Internet Archive [Home Movies: "Just 'Round Town"] 1942 · Home movie · Subtitles Roll in intermittently poor condition, but its deficiencies are artistically interesting CU American flag flying in foreground, old car visible; pan to show… Internet Archive Postwar Germany: 28 Months After V-E Day 1947 · Film "These pictures were taken by Mr. George T. Fonda, Assistant to the president, Weirton Steel Co., during an investigation of German industrial production. Mr.… Internet Archive Safety: In Danger Out of Doors Short · 14 min · Subtitles 0685 PA8790 Safety: In Danger Out of Doors Internet Archive Southern California Earthquake, The 1933 · Film · Subtitles Scenes of severe earthquake damage and disaster relief, including Red Cross tents and hospital interiors. Footage from Compton, Long Beach, Pacific Electric… Internet Archive Ideal Doll Commercial Commercial · 1 min · Subtitles Internet Archive [See America First] 1931 · Short · 15 min · Subtitles Actress Kay Gordon visits various Oakland, California businesses. Internet Archive [Gould can 5484.4: Kinograms Newsreel] 1925 · Newsreel · Subtitles Chicago, Illinois nymphs (actually members of the ballet corps of the Chicago Opera) don't mind chilly breezes Internet Archive [Home Movies: Lenawee County, Michigan: Highway, Swimming, Baseball, Kite Flying] 1930 · Home movie · Subtitles highway driving POVs (great) seq climbing up Original Irish Hills Tower and looking down, also showing Gray Tower, Kelly Knoll looking thru telescope from… Internet Archive The Child In The Middle 1956 · Educational · Subtitles UCLA Department of Theater Arts thesis film on the importance of parent-teacher conferences and how they can help identify behavioral problems in school and… Internet Archive Caltrans Photolog Sample Film · Subtitles Internet Archive Janet and the Genie 1967 · Film · Subtitles Internet Archive [Home Movies: Sport fishing off Fire Island] 1925 · Home movie · Subtitles c. 1925-1930 Summary: Twelve minutes of recreational fishing sequences, on the ocean, featuring a large family in a small boat, and dozens of fish caught and… Internet Archive Offshore Drilling 1958 · Film · Subtitles Shows offshore oil drilling off the coast of California. Internet Archive [Home Movies: Fire 6/28/1953] 1953 · Home movie · Subtitles Interesting, somewhat enigmatic firefighting footage shot in a mountain environment, probably southern California. Internet Archive Loop-A-Lot Toy Commercial Commercial · 1 min · Subtitles Internet Archive Greatest Name in Wine, The Film · Subtitles Shot of containers of chlorine compounds for swimming pool sanitation Much of it is silent CUs of a puppet show VS Italian Swiss Colony vineyards Some is A&B,… Internet Archive Let's Face It (Part 1) 1952 · Film · Subtitles begins with great rotating globe moving closer to camera and stopping on United States Internet Archive Round Trip: The USA in World Trade 1952 · Short · 18 min · Subtitles Workers discuss globalization half a century ago. Internet Archive Two Pay Days (Part I) 1927 · Short · 13 min · Subtitles Motivational film for 1920s Chevrolet salesmen. Internet Archive [Home Movies: Building Home in Detroit, June 1941] 1941 · Home movie · Subtitles Scenes in vacation area (Lake Superior, Michigan?) foundation of house house under construction: sign in front says "Winkler & Co., Detroit's Better Builders,… Internet Archive [Gould can 5314: Regiment Returns] 1919 · Film · Subtitles San Francisco's own 363rd Regiment returns to the city / Ferry pulling into the pier / dignitaries on hand including Mayor Rolph / parade up Market Street… Internet Archive Joy Dishwashing Liquid Commercial Commercial · 1 min · Subtitles Joy Dishwashing Liquid Commercial