Prelinger Archives
4,081–4,128 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 Ones | Films for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool. |
|---|---|
| Kids | Cartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature. |
| Tweens | Documentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures. |
| Teens | Everything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower. |
| Adult | Sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage. |
Internet Archive
Barnyard Flappers
Silent comedy short featuring costumed ducks.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 97477: St. Louis Area Family, Reel 9
Viewing notes state: drive in country man with 8mm camera farm basketball / baseball Coke & Marlboros factory site by river tug pushes barge Dad’s…
Internet Archive
[Gould can 5161.10]
Los Angeles, California: Aftermath of Grand Prize automobile race. Lewis Jackson's Marmon car hits tree; six die. 09:48:20:03 “Los Angeles, California;…
Internet Archive
Unconditional Surrender
A film about polio.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 10971: Vacation and Family Activities
Tape label on can states: Vacation Aug 1962 San Francisco Sunrise Redwoods of Calif. Home, Worlds Fair Picnic, Patio, Maries (?) Motorcycle Races.
Internet Archive
Hanoi, Martes 13
The film is an account of one day in Vietnam. A parallel is drawn between the life of the American president of the day Lyndon B. Johnson and that of the…
Internet Archive
[Oakland "Sir Knights" Parade and City Scenes, 1949]
"Sir Knights" parade, Columbus Day 1949; skiing and flowers; kids' amusement park or fantasy village sponsored by Southern Pacific Railroad
Internet Archive
Story of Standard, The
History of the Standard Oil Co. Shows packaging of Standard Oil products.
Internet Archive
[Television Commercials]
Ivory Soap, Comet cleanser, Top Job; Tide; Epic Coffee, Crisco, Johnson's Family Hairspray; Cascade, Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Gay and Beautiful Budapest
Street scenes, buildings and monuments. Baths.
Internet Archive
Presentation Film
Executive man seated at desk delivering remarks to promote management training materials including films and brochures. Shows scenes from training film THE…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Croft Collection, Can 64: TV Antenna Installation]
Truck painted "Detroit & Suburban TV Antenna Service" television antenna being installed Family at Detroit airport, taking helicopter ride POV from helicopter…
Internet Archive
Radiant Treasures
Explores the evolution of human understanding and utilization of energy, particularly through the lens of the radiant energy spectrum. It traces the journey…
Internet Archive
So They Tell Me
"SO THEY TELL ME", an animated cartoon on a World War I theme.
Internet Archive
[Untitled: Anywhere But Here]
Teenagers c. 1970s wanting to leave home and boredom
Internet Archive
Once and Forever
Internet Archive
Shotgun or Sidearm
Content warning: contains fictional depictions of gun violence and injuries. A procedural educational film discouraging police officers from bringing a…
Internet Archive
[Home Movie: Henry Charles Collection: Northern States Road Trip, Part II]
Trip across Northern States; maps intercut incl Columbia Falls, BANF, Takakkaw Falls, Glacial National Park
Internet Archive
New World Through Chemistry
PA8965 New World Through Chemistry 16 Magnacolor print
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 10938: Travels in California
Note in can states: Pasadena, Roses, Huntington Art Gallery, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Seal Rocks, Monterey, Yosemite.
Internet Archive
[Gould can 5123.1]
"A MOMENT WITH JACK DEMPSEY" at his Oakland, California home. Jack poses on the stairs; house interiors; Dempsey waves at cameraman.
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098936: Pacific Northwest, 1951]
Road trip from Washington state to British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana, 1951, with stops including Washington State capitol building, Olympic National…
Internet Archive
Goat Dairy Farm, The
Internet Archive
Work of My Hands, The
09:25:48:28 CU woman open the Aron Hakodesh, or the Holy Ark, where the Torah is kept in synagogue; rabbi replaces two Torahs into the Ark. 09:26:10:12 Reform…
Internet Archive
Beginning to Date
Explains how to plan and enjoy a date.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98201: Illini RR Club Fan Trip on CNS&M and Milwaukee Transit Co.
Can label states: "Illini R.R. Club Fan Trip / C.N.S. & M. and Milw. Trans. Co. 2-17-57"
Internet Archive
Know the Cause
Stresses importance of knowing how fires start. Discusses obvious causes, unnatural causes, types of incendiaries, criminal agents, evidence recognition and…
Internet Archive
Pontiac Advertising
Internet Archive
Curse of Nicotine
To be logged.
Internet Archive
Soundie - One Look At You
Del Casino and his orchestra
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Aviators Land in Indianapolis)
Aviators land and are greeted by reception party Talking to press (evidently famous flyers)
Internet Archive
Making of a Shooter, The
Internet Archive
Birds That Eat Fish
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Deutschlandspiegel, 1960
English-language edition of the West German newsreel Deutschlandspiegel from 1960. Leader notes: "1960s German Newsreel" Can notes: "Deutschlandspiegel.…
Internet Archive
Sunbeam Bread Commercial #5
Internet Archive
War Department Report
Content warning: Last two minutes includes footage of violence, war injuries and death including people being shot and dead bodies hanging. "Report by the…
Internet Archive
America's Presidents
0720 PA8941 America's Presidents
Internet Archive
Know the Cause
Stresses importance of knowing how fires start. Discusses obvious causes, unnatural causes, types of incendiaries, criminal agents, evidence recognition and…
Internet Archive
In Our Hands, Part 1: How We Got What We Have
Part 1 of 4 of "In Our Hands". From the How We Live in America Series. Anti-communist, pro-capitalist film espousing the political freedom and economic…
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098279: LA family to San Diego in 1947]
9 min., color: An LA family vacations in San Diego at the Hotel del Coronado, with beach and swimming pool sequences, and a trip to an amusement park.
Internet Archive
You in Public Service: Good Grooming
Internet Archive
Mode-Art Can 2865
Film about Youngstown Sheet and Tube and their process of manufacturing steel products for petroleum production. Mode-Art Production No. 3798 can notes:…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Ransohoff Collection: "Last Scenes of '225 Post'"]
Front of Ransohoff's store, 225 Post Street, San Francisco front of store and sidewalk with pedestrians shot from nearby building "Glimpses of the Floors" --…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98638: New York
To come.
Internet Archive
Tupperware Commercial #2
Internet Archive
Israel In Crisis
Content warning: This film's voiceover narration contains racist anti-Arab statements, and the film contains some still images of violent death. Still images…
Internet Archive
Screw Drivers of 1940: Shell Progress in Pictures
Humorous driving and pedestrian safety film shot on the streets of Los Angeles. Emphasizes the importance of courtesy while driving to avoid accidents and…
Internet Archive
Oakland: Tomorrow's City Today
A-B roll. Director of Photography: Harold A. Zell. Scenario by Lee Rashall. Narrated by John Grover. Executive Producer: Gerald L. Karski.