Universal Newsreels

1–48 of 609 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 Extra!! Scoop! - First Actual Pictures - Assassination, 1934/10/17 1934 · Newsreel · Subtitles King Alexander and Louis Barthou, Shot Down in Streets of Marseilles by Revolutionists. Furious Spectators Batter Killer to Death As His Victims Die.… Internet Archive First U.S. Satellite Launched! 1958/02/03 1958 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) Cape Canaveral launch of 30-pound Explorer satellite by 3-stage Redstone missile, press conference with von Braun and Van Allen with model, night time… Internet Archive Farmer Plays Tune With Hands, 1933/10/11 1933 · Newsreel · Subtitles Chicago: Exclusive sound pictures of Cecil H. Dill, of Traverse City, Michigan, an aspiring radio artist demonstrating his ability to render popular melodies… Internet Archive Space Movie. Camera Records Missile In Flight, 1963/11/14 1963 · Newsreel · Subtitles Titan II launch in South Atlantic, with camera on 2nd stage - makes film of stage separation above earth, "The curvature of the earth is plainly visible.… Internet Archive Nazis Face War Crime Evidence, 1945/12/06 1945 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) Nuremberg trials continue, covered by cameras and press, chart shown of "entire Hitler dynasty" (2) German War Plant Razed - Gen. Truscott oversees… Internet Archive Eve of Battle, 1944/06/06 1944 · Newsreel · Subtitles Eve of Battle "Universal Newsreel, in full co-operation with the War Department, presents official pictures of the final military preparations for the… Internet Archive 'Dead' A-Bomb Hits U.S. Town, 1958/03/13 1958 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) B-47 a-bomb fell on house in SC, first such accident (2) Los Angeles - automatic control of machine tool production line, using punched tape, developed by… Internet Archive Gen. Adolf Takes Over, 1942/01/07 1942 · Newsreel "The cleverest anti-Nazi propaganda yet! You will howl with glee when you see and hear what our London newsreel friends have cooked up for Hitler and his… Internet Archive New Moon. Reds Launch First Space Satellite, 1957/10/07 1957 · Newsreel · Subtitles First report of Sputnik - animations of rocket used same animations as done for earlier report on the Vanguard story (partial newsreel) Internet Archive Soldiers Stage 'Girlie' Show, 1942/02/04 1942 · Newsreel · Subtitles "Fort Slocum, NY: Modern 'Doughboys' doff their usual khaki and don, of all things, wome's clothes to star in their own version of 'Swing Fever.' Singing and… Internet Archive First Pictures Atomic Blast!, 1946/07/08 1946 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) "The dramatic film history of the atom bomb test at Bikini! Pictures of the actual bomb drop! Blasted ships and the terrible destructive force of the… Internet Archive Jap Films of Hiroshima, 1946/08/05 1946 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) Japanese Films of atomic bomb blast at Hiroshima, released one year later (2) Underwater atom blast rocks Bikini (line down middle of film frames) Admiral… Internet Archive Universal Newsreel Volume 36, Release 97, 11/28/1963 1963 · Newsreel · 8 min · Subtitles National Archives description: "The original release sheet reads: PRESIDENT'S SLAYER SHOT IN DALLAS JAIL: Madness and hate erupt anew in Dallas as President… Internet Archive Universal Newsreel Volume 35, Release 2, 01/01/1962 1962 · Newsreel · 6 min · Subtitles National Archives description: "The original release sheet reads: NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF 1961 The Year 1961 was a year of international tensions compounded by… Internet Archive Universal Newsreel Volume 36, Release 96, 11/24/1963 1963 · Newsreel · 6 min · Subtitles National Archives description: "The original release sheet reads: SPECIAL RELEASE PRESIDENT - ASSASSINATED PRESIDENT JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY IS DEAD AT THE… Internet Archive First Pictures Nazi Rocket Bomb in U.S, 1946/05/13 1946 · Newsreel · Subtitles "New Mexico: Fourteen-ton Nazi rockets, launched by Army technicians in the first phase of our new long-range missile program, soar 75 miles into the… Internet Archive Peace March. Thousands Oppose Vietnam War, 1967/04/18 1967 · Newsreel Antiwar demonstrators protest in Central Park, march to UN building, included students and hippies and priests and nuns, burn draft cards, shouted… Internet Archive Universal Newsreel Volume 35, Release 60, 07/23/1962 1962 · Newsreel · 6 min · Subtitles National Archives description: " The original release sheet reads: KENNEDY ON TELSTAR: EUROPE SEES NEWS CONFERENCE: In the first formal test of the new… Internet Archive Anti-War Demonstrators Storm Pentagon, 1967/10/24 1967 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) Mass protest against Vietnam war in Washington DC, on mall, across Potomac river to Pentagon, MPs with bayonets emerge from Pentagon, tear gas used, next… Internet Archive Universal Newsreel Volume 35, Release 53, 06/28/1962 1962 · Newsreel · Subtitles National Archives description: "The original release sheet reads: PRAY AT HOME: KENNEDY ANSWER TO COURT DECISION: In a six-to-one decision, the Supreme Court… Internet Archive The Cuban Crisis, 1962/10/25 1962 · Newsreel · Subtitles Adlai Stevenson at UN speaks on Cuban Missile Crisis; Castro builds up defenses in Cuba; cameras installed in airplane, photos show details, MiG-21 jets, OAS… Internet Archive Rally For Castro. One Million Roar 'Si' To Cuban Executions, 1959/01/22 1959 · Newsreel Great crowd outside Presidential Palace in Havana approves executions of Batista officials; Castro addresses crowd (partial newsreel) Internet Archive Universal Newsreel Volume 34, Issue 8: 01/23/1961 1961 · Newsreel · 6 min · Subtitles National Archives description: "The original release sheet reads: KENNEDY SWORN IN, NEW ERA BEGINS John F. Kennedy settles into office as the 35th President… Internet Archive RAF Sinks Tirpitz, 1944/11/22 1944 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) "RAF Lancasters converge on the 45,000 ton Nazi Battlewagon, hidden in Tennsue Fjord in Norway. She is throwing tons of bursting steel skyward, but super… Internet Archive Universal Newsreel Volume 35, Release 39, 05/10/1962 1962 · Newsreel · 6 min · Subtitles National Archives description:" The original release sheet reads: FIRST LADY NAMES NEW SUB: Mrs. Kennedy christens the newest of our Polaris-equipped… Internet Archive Loyola Students Compete For Keg, 1933/11/15 1933 · Newsreel · Subtitles Chicago, IL: Exclusive pictures of a hectic pushball game in which the Freshmen of Loyola University defeat the Sophomores in a wild battle for a prize beer… Internet Archive The Red Threat. President Orders Cuban Blockade, 1962/10/22 1962 · Newsreel · Subtitles JFK speaks on Cuban Missile Crisis - "Soviet military buildup on the island of Cuba" - "a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment has been… Internet Archive Space Triumph! Glenn Flight Thrills World, 1962/02/22 1962 · Newsreel · Subtitles Whole issue on Friendship 7 Mercury space flight of John Glenn; Glenn getting ready, puts on space suit, walks to launch pad, 6 am EST, 10 months after… Internet Archive Extra! Special! Roosevelt Inaugurated 1933/03/05 1933 · Newsreel · Subtitles Airplane takes off with film of FDR Inauguration, lands in New York City, views of the inaugural parade. "The First Sound Pictures Ever Shown of a… Internet Archive Showdown in Vietnam, 1965/02/08 1965 · Newsreel · Subtitles Pleiku in Vietnam, 8 died in recent attack, but 49 jets struck back, McNamara briefing with map shows response, speaks about retaliatory action approved by… Internet Archive Special Release - Zeppelin Explodes Scores Dead, 1937/05/10 1937 · Newsreel · Subtitles "Lakehurst, NJ: Thirty-five persons die and scores of others are injured as the mighty dirigible explodes three hundred feet over the landing field at the end… Internet Archive Mussolini Executed, 1945/04/30 1945 · Newsreel · Subtitles Mussolini Executed - "Il Duce Obit 1945 - Benito Mussolini orates before his Black Shirt Legions and confers with his arch conspirator, Hitler. Reverses… Internet Archive Long Way to Go Says FDR, 1943/09/09 1943 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) - "Pres. Roosevelt cites Italy's capitulation as a victory for the Italian people, as well as for Gen. Eisenhower, as he officially opens the Third War… Internet Archive Manila Free of Japanese Domination, 1945/03/22 1945 · Newsreel · Subtitles "The Battle of Manila (Additional pictures, just received, showing the details of the terrible battle between MacArthur's Armies and the fanatical Japs). The… Internet Archive Hitlerites Parade In Rain To Demonstrate Great Nazi Strength 1933/03/16 1933 · Newsreel · Subtitles "Berlin, Germany: An unprecedented display of power and organization by the Brown Shirted forces of the German Chancellor marks the final pre-election… Internet Archive U.S. Films Fight Reds, 1947/10/23 1947 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) "Washington, DC: "An all-star cast, including actors Robert Montgomery, Adolph Menjou, and Producer Sam Wood, take the stand to tell the House Un-American… Internet Archive Britain Mourns. Soccer Champs Die In Plane Crash, 1958/02/10 1958 · Newsreel · Subtitles British plane on takeoff near Munich causes death of 25, including Manchester United soccer team. (partial newsreel). Internet Archive New York World's Fair, 1964/03/02 1964 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) New York World's Fair, symbolized by Unisphere, many bldgs yet to be completed, theme "peace through understanding" with 58 nations to participate, on… Internet Archive Cataclysm. Volcano, Tidal Waves, Devastate Pacific Area, 1960/05/27 1960 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) aerial view of Chile, destroyed buildings and cities due to earthquake; tidal waves at 500 mph raced across the Pacific, hit Californai coast, hit Japan,… Internet Archive Hollywood 'Red' Probe Begins, 1947/10/20 1947 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) "Washington: Hearings begin before the House Un-American Activities Committee, on charges of communist infiltration in Hollywood, Chirman Thomas outlines… Internet Archive Mrs. FDR Tells One, 1943/09/30 1943 · Newsreel · Subtitles "Eleanor Roosevelt convulses audiences as she relates a whopper involving the Japs and her husband." sound of Mrs. Roosevelt speaking. (partial newsreel) Internet Archive Landings On Okinawa, 1945/04/09 1945 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) "Conferences at Guam ended, Pacific Fleet Commander, Admiral Nimitz sends an armada of 1,400 vessels to Okinawa in the Ryukus. En route, the men of the… Internet Archive Anzac In Curious Racial Mix-Up, 1933/10/16 1933 · Newsreel · Subtitles Sydney, Australia: Unusual close-ups of a remarkable human enigma - Ernest Soong Soong Yee, an Australian, born in New South Wales, whose parents died while… Internet Archive Allies Seize German Loot and Criminals,1945/06/04 1945 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) Allies Seize German Loot and Criminals - "With Germany's complete capitulation, her various leaders present diverse pictures as they are forced from their… Internet Archive Big News of 1941 - The Editors of Universal Newsreel present dramatic highlights of an epochal year, 1941/12/24 1941 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) Help For Democracies - America's answer - ships, tanks, guns and planes for the brave actions fighting aggression. As the Arsenal of Democracy, the U.S.… Internet Archive Allied Vise Tightens On Rhineland, 1944/12/07 1944 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) "Strasbourg, capital of Alsace-Lorraine, is captured by the Americans and the French. Flooded canals testify to the unruly weather being encountered. Tons… Internet Archive Protests Galore! 1967/05/05 1967 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) Vietnam protest demonstration in Britain; also at Madrid University in Spain, burned American flag; also 4000 in Detroit at "love-in" and "be-in" with… Internet Archive Norman Alley's Bombing of USS Panay Special Issue, 1937/12/12 1937 · Newsreel (1) Reel 1 - "Nanking" (2) Reel 2 - "Uncensored!!! Unedited!!! The U.S.S. Panay Bombing in its entirey - exactly as photographed!" (this newsreel special is…