Prelinger Archives
4,609–4,656 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
Day is New, The
Depicts the life and daily pursuits of the residents of Mexico City
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098810: A rail fan in the midwest: 1956 trip to Chicago, all streetcars and streetcar-filmed street scenes]
1956 field trip to Chicago by a railroad club, the Illini Railroad Club, a foggy day in Chicago and 8mm film so some is dark, but much is bright and…
Internet Archive
News Footage 1954: Can 7
Miscellaneous news footage from an unidentified source, probably made for television. Some sequences have sound; some are silent. Included are a state visit…
Internet Archive
[Home Movie: San Francisco College for Women]
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098814: A rail fan in the midwest: 1962 Pittsburgh Railway footage, 23 minutes, a chartered tour of the rail system]
1962 Pittsburgh Railway footage, 23 minutes in 16mm kodachrome, filmed by a rail fan on a chartered tour of the rail system. Extensive footage of downtown…
Internet Archive
It Could Be You
The film starts with a phone call that excites the protagonist, revealing he is about to receive the keys to a brand-new Chevrolet. This excitement is quickly…
Internet Archive
Member of the Family
includes dog show and puppy growing up and becoming part of family
Internet Archive
GE Blender Commercial
Internet Archive
[Bell of Nevada]
many stock shots to be logged. begins with Nevada-Utah state line footage from "A Continent is Bridges" (1940)
Internet Archive
Cape May (Part 8)
Outtakes from tourism promotional film picturing leisure activities along beach and boardwalk, including amusements and nighttime shots.
Internet Archive
Forefathers of History
Explores the historical significance of Provincetown, where the Pilgrims first landed in America in 1620. It highlights the Pilgrim Monument, the town's…
Internet Archive
[Completion of Northwestern Pacific Rail Road] (Part III)
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Home Movies: Can 11302: Detroit, Michigan Family
Home movies presumably shot by a Detroit, Michigan family, approx, late 1940s or early 1950s. Includes family and home scenes, members of a wedding party and…
Internet Archive
The Elementary School, Part 1: School Environment and Healthful Living
Content warning: Beginning at 12:15, this film uses an outdated term for people with physical disabilities. It also misleadingly depicts racially segregated…
Internet Archive
Drive Your Bicycle
ENCOURAGES BOYS & GIRLS TO DRIVE THEIR BICYCLES, PRACTICING "RULES OF THE ROAD" THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT IN DRIVING AN AUTOMOBILE IN LATER YEARS. MANY LOCAL…
Internet Archive
The Chemical, Biological and Radiological Element
Instructional documentary footage introducing and orienting army personnel to radiation hazards and biological hazards of contemporary warfare. No sound. U.S.…
Internet Archive
Retrievers at Work
Internet Archive
City of Hope
worth noting: First there's an image of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (which is in a plain house) and next an excellent shot of women…
Internet Archive
[Television Public Service Announcements and Program Promos]
Skeletal entry tv spots in order: - National Safety Council: Winter Driving Safety tips with Julie Bishop (4 spots) - Women's Army Corps - National Guard (2…
Internet Archive
Oil Strike
Newsreel #25 Alternate titles: Union a.k.a. Oil Strike a.k.a. Richmond Oil Strike "January '69, oil workers in Northern California struck, and for the first…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Building the Pool, May-July 56]
Kodachrome alternates with B&W Title with trowel and: "Building the Pool, May-July '56"Title: "Naw! It was 1957"Process of building home swimming pool,…
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 98992: Family and Home
Label inside can states: Fall 1948, red shirts, es pups & Bessie, Indoor Xmas tree 1948, crusher Jan 1949, cardinal bird Jan 1949, Kids on fireplace, Tulips…
Internet Archive
Let's Face It (Part 2)
Wilding Picture Productions, Inc.
Internet Archive
Pneumonia
Internet Archive
Many Wings
Internet Archive
[Universal Newsreel: California Stories]
Internet Archive
Home Movie PA 097836
Home Movie PA 097836
Internet Archive
The Steel Ring (AA Defense of US)
Miscellaneous Film MF 45-8562 "Vulnerability of the US to sneak atomic attack--Radar and AAA defense centers composing the complicated defense perimeter known…
Internet Archive
Reproduction In Plants And Lower Animals
Silent microphotography of single cell-organisms.
Internet Archive
Home Movie: 12021: Unidentified Detroit Family
To come.
Internet Archive
Operation Luggage
Workplace portrait of the laborers and processes involved in manufacturing luggage at the Baltimore Luggage Company, 304 North Smallwood Street, Baltimore,…
Internet Archive
It's a Matter of Taste
Bottling of Seven-Up Soft Drinks
Internet Archive
Home Movie: Ransohoff Collection: 010149
Golden Gate International Exposition 1939-1940 on Treasure Island in San Francisco and family vacations to the Redwoods, Crater Lake, Banff, Yellowstone and…
Internet Archive
[Gould can 5483.1: Kinograms Newsreel]
Cuba's new leader, President-Elect Machado in Washington with daughter is greeted by President Coolidge and Secretary Kellogg
Internet Archive
Wheat and Zero Time
Content warning: First film contains racist and culturally insensitive depictions of Southeast Asian people. Segments of two films compiled onto one reel: 1)…
Internet Archive
Coke on the Go
Internet Archive
Up and Down New York
Internet Archive
Fiberglas At The Fair A/B Roll
Silent A/B roll of duPont film about fiberglas.
Internet Archive
Six Murderous Beliefs
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Wathen Collection: New Mexico, Texas, Arizona]
"Carlsbad New Mexico Elevator to Cavern Restaurant 1000 Ft Below" "El Paso Texas to Juarez Mexico Rio Grande River Church Bells 400 yr Old" "Texas Boulder…
Internet Archive
Driven To Kill
Internet Archive
Save the Soil
Title: The soil is the heritage of all mankind, given in perpetual trust to the children of men…SAVE THE SOIL! many great stock shots of famine, decadence,…
Internet Archive
Skippy and the 3 R's
Great sequence of elementary school-age boy walking to school. school and classroom scenes shots to be logged
Internet Archive
Movie Trailers ("Coming Soon")
Internet Archive
You're Growing Up
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
Doctor, The
Skeletal Entry
Internet Archive
When the Cows Come Home
The film discusses the evolution and importance of dairy farming in the United States, highlighting advancements in cow breeding and milk production. It…
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Croft Collection: Reel 96: In Church]
Lutheran Church of America conference "Con-Con" Includes footage of "Space Age Exhibit"