The world's archives

1,009–1,056 of 1,846 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.
Commons Harmonium automaat AMABILE Kijk en Luistermuseum 800090 1906 · Short · 1 min Automated harmonium Amabile. The rectangular casket is made out of simple wood and has disks common to a disk musical box, but these contain ribs in the… Commons Lifestyle and fashion of the 1900s 1900 · Short · 8 min Compilation of beautiful and rare footage about the lifestyle and fashion around the year 1900. Enjoy! Commons The 29th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony (HD) 1901 · Short · 1 min The first 3 minutes may be unrelated footage: includes views of men getting into cars and carriages; views of crowds observing men disembarking from carriages… Commons The Martyred Presidents (1901 film) 1901 · Short · 1 min "The scene opens with a beautiful woman who represents Columbia seated at the altar of Justice. As if from out of space there slowly appears a perfect and… Commons McKinley's funeral entering Westlawn Cemetery, Canton, Ohio 1901 · Short · 3 min Funeral Cortege Entering Westlawn Cemetary at Canton, Ohio. Another of our cameras is in an excellent position at the entrance to the Westlawn Cemetery,… Commons Princess Rajah dance - Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904) 1904 · Short · 1 min "An Oriental dance which was one of the features of "Mysterious Asia," a Concession on the Pike, St. Louis Exposition. Length 72 feet"--Kleine Optical Co.… Commons Emigrants (i.e. immigrants) landing at Ellis Island - 1903 · Short · 2 min "Shows a large open barge loaded with people of every nationality, who have just arrived from Europe, disembarking at Ellis Island, N.Y. A most interesting… Commons Delhi, Great Capital of India (1909) 1909 · Short · 3 min Delhi, Great Capital of India. Part of India on Film: 1899 – 1947 This collection of newly digitised films is part of the BFI's contribution to the UK-India… Commons The Cheese Mites (1903) 1903 · Short · 2 min The Cheese Mites (1903) is a British short silent documentary film, produced by Charles Urban and directed by F. Martin Duncan. Part of Charles Urban's 1903… Commons Le village de Namo - Panorama pris d'une chaise à porteurs (1900) 1900 · Short · 1 min Lumiere Film Catalogue no. 1296 Filmed by Gabriel Veyre for Lumière Brothers in the village of Namo (Indochina). With the camera set on a pulled rickshaw, a… Commons The Tempest (1908) 1908 · Short · 11 min The Tempest is a 1908 silent short adaptation of Shakespeare's play by Percy Stow. Commons New York Subway (1905) - G.W. Bitzer - Interior NYC From 14th to 42nd Street 1905 · Short · 5 min Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street, American silent short film made by Billy Bitzer. In 2017, it was selected for preservation in the United… Commons Fair in North England, Leeds, September 1902 1902 · Short · 7 min This is an agricultural fair in Leeds in September of 1902. It's a strange look at time long since past, and it has survived in real good condition. I put in… Commons Visual tour of a snowy, cold Halifax, England, January 1902 1902 · Short · 15 min January 1902, Visual tour of a snowy, cold Halifax, England (Stabilized). Sound removed on upload to Commons. Commons First ever recorded video footage of Seoul, Korea, by Burton Holmes circa 1901 1901 · Short · 5 min The first moving pictures taken in Korea, by Burton Holmes. Shows Seoul, the Royal Archers, the Royal Dancers at the Palace, horsehair hat tying, workmen and… Commons Scenes in New York City, 1903 1903 · Short · 4 min Old film of New York City in 1903. Set to a natural rate, used some stabilization to the last 2 scenes and added in sound for ambiance (sound removed on… Commons Segundo de Chomon-Symphonie bizarre-1909 1909 · Short · 4 min La symphonie bizarre, film réalisé par Segundo de Chomón en 1909 pour Pathé Frères Commons Nuit de Noël 1908 · Short · 9 min Nuit de Noël, French silent film by Pathé Frères (1908), English title Christmas Eve Tragedy Commons How to Stop a Motor Car (1902) 1902 · Short · 2 min How to Stop a Motor Car, restored from an incomplete black-and-white positive print in the Will Day film collection. Commons Visual Tour of Ireland, April-May 1902 1902 · Short · 17 min Views of Cork, Ireland in spring 1902. This is a long film prepared for the Cork Exhibition of 1902. The last 3 minutes or so is from January 1902, it was… Commons Additional street scenes in England and Ireland, 1902 1902 · Short · 8 min Some more films that haven't been on my other youtube posts. Great scenes from England and Ireland throughout 1902. Silent films, I added in sound for… Commons President William McKinley reviewing the Troops at the Pan-American Exposition 1901 · Short · 1 min "The President is seen on the reviewing stand at the Stadium, escorted by President Milburn, of the Pan-American Exposition, Secretary Cortelyou, and other… Commons A Trip down market street (1906) 1906 · Short · 8 min LOC description: "This film, shot from the front window of a moving Market Street cable car, is a rare record of San Francisco's principal thoroughfare and… Commons Tour along the new electric tram in Lytham, England, May 28, 1903 1903 · Short · 10 min View of the brand new electric tram route in Lytham on May 28, 1903. There's also some non-mobile scenes of parks around the area. The ride itself starts at… Commons The Finish of Bridget McKeen (1901) 1901 · Short · 1 min The Finish of Bridget McKeen. 2K digital transfer from a 16 mm master positive, preserved at the U.S. Library of Congress, which was made from a 35 mm paper… Commons President McKinley's funeral cortege at Washington, D.C. 1901 · Short · 6 min When photographing the funeral of President McKinley we secured an excellent position at the foot of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., having had the… Commons Edgar Allan Poe 1909 D W Griffith G W Bitzer 1909 · Short · 6 min Starring Barry O'Moore as Edgar Allan Poe and Linda Arvidson as Virginia Poe. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0000854 Commons Christophe Colomb (1904) 1904 · Short · 12 min · Subtitles Christopher Columbus, 1904 French silent film. Hand-coloured print from La Cinémathèque de Toulouse. Commons The life of an american fireman 1903 · Short · 6 min The life of an American Fireman is one of the first narrative films. It premiered in 1903 and was filmed by Edwin Porter. Sound removed from YouTube version… Commons Treloar and Miss Marshall (1904) 1904 · Short · 2 min Treloar and Miss Marshall, Prize Winners at the Physical Culture Show in Madison Square Garden Commons A Trap for Santa Claus (1909) 1909 · Short · 15 min A Biograph Christmas film starring Henry B. Walthall, and with a cameo by Mack Sennett as the Angry Bartender. Commons Port scenes around Liverpool, Early 1901 1901 · Short · 9 min Various shots taken around Liverpool ports in the early months of 1901. Unfortunate watermark, but the quality is good. All of these are from the Mitchell and… Commons Coney Island, New York, August 13, 1903 1903 · Short · 10 min Early comedy/tour of Coney Island in August 1903. This film is Rube and Mandy at Coney Island. Added in some sound for ambience (removed on upload to… Commons Le Théâtre de Bob (1906) 1906 · Short · 5 min A partially hand-painted copy of Le Théâtre de Bob. 2022 4K restoration by the Cinémathèque française. This restoration is based on an incomplete… Commons Bob Kick, l'enfant terrible (1903, LOC) 1903 · Short · 1 min Bob Kick, the Mischievous Kid. Digital transfer, based on a paper print preserved by the U.S. Library of Congress, at 18 frames per second. Commons The Restoration, Shadows Of Doubt (1909) 1909 · Short · 11 min The original title was The Restoration, and the title when re-issued was Shadows of Doubt.[1] Commons The Miller s Daughter 1905 Steele MacKaye Thomas Edison 1905 · Short · 11 min Based on a play, "Hazel Kirke," by Steele Mackaye. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234247 Commons A Trip Down Market Street Before the Fire 1906 San Francisco Pre Earthquake 1906 · Short · 11 min Filmed 4 days before the devastating earthquake & fire of April 18th, 1906, which virtually destroyed the entire downtown area. The negative was taken by… Commons President McKinley's funeral, 1901 1901 · Short · 11 min Three sequences of the funeral ceremonies held for President William McKinley: Sequence 1: McKinley's body lay in state in the Rotunda of the Capitol,… Commons Those Awful Hats (1909) - Super 8 - Sound - UHD 1909 · Short · 4 min 1909!!! This is a film I bought when I was a kid. It's short but it's got special effects that we would do with a green screen today. Pretty amazing… Commons The Faded lillies (1909) 1909 · Short · 7 min American silent film distributed by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.. Commons San Francisco Earthquake and Fire (April 18, 1906) 1906 · Short · 12 min Shows the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake of April 18, 1906, and the devastation resulting from the subsequent three-day fire. The earthquake struck… Commons The Peachbasket hat (1909) 1909 · Short · 10 min American silent film distributed by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.. Commons Edison Manufacturing Company - Christening and Launching Kaiser Wilhelms Yacht 'Meteor' 1902 · Short · 5 min Edison Manufacturing Company - Christening and Launching Kaiser Wilhelms Yacht 'Meteor' Commons ELGAR Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Op. 47 - ＂The President's Own＂ United States Marine Band 1905 · Short · 16 min The United States Marine Band performs Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Op. 47, by Edward Elgar (1857–1934), composed and published in 1905. Conducted by… Commons Lonely Villa (1909) 1909 · Short · 11 min The Lonely Villa is a 1909 American silent short by D. W. Griffith starring Mary Pickford then 17 years old. Commons The Great Train Robbery (1903) 1903 · Short · 13 min The Great Train Robbery, a 1903 American silent film directed by Edwin S. Porter. Commons (Vancouver and Victoria Street and Harbour Scenes 1907) 1907 · Short · 10 min A Panorama or Panoramic rather than a documentary, a very popular attraction in Nickelodeons in the early days of film exhibition, in which scenes were filmed…