The world's archives

1,105–1,152 of 1,669 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 Oliver Twist (1909) 1909 · Short · 13 min Oliver Twist is a 1909 American film and the first film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist. Commons Pearl and Pumpkin-score-Act1 Sc1 No 01-Prologue-play 1905 · Short · 5 min Sheet music published by M. Witmark & Sons, New York in 1905. Converted the Library of Congress sheet-music PDF file to a playable score with MuseScore 4.6. Commons Pearl and Pumpkin-score-Act1 Sc2 No 02-Opening Chorus-play 1905 · Short · 4 min Sheet music published by M. Witmark & Sons, New York in 1905. Converted the Library of Congress sheet-music PDF file to a playable score with MuseScore 4.6. Commons The Call of the Wild (1908) 1908 · Short · 14 min The Call of the Wild is a 1908 American short adventure film directed by D.W. Griffith. Commons El ciego de la aldea, Garcia Cardona 1907 1907 · Short · 7 min "El ciego de la aldea", pel·lícula de 1907 dirigida pel director valencià Àngel Garcia Cardona Commons Un Drame au fond de la mer (1901) 1901 · Short · 1 min Un Drame au fond de la mer, a 1901 French silent short by Ferdinand Zecca, was one of the first films with a rolling title. Commons Secuencias de los orígenes de la animación cinematográfica 1905 · Cartoon · 6 min 1905-1910 French and German animations for toy projectors. Following the tradition of the magic lantern and the zoetrope, each of them is composed of a simple… Commons L'Oracle de Delphes (1903) 1903 · Short · 1 min The Delphic Oracle, silent French short directed by George Méliès in 1903. A robber tries to steal a treasure in the temple of Delphi, but a priest magically… Commons Demolishing and Building Up the Star Theatre (1901) 1901 · Short · 1 min Time lapse shot of the demolition of the Star Theatre in New York City. Produced by American Mutoscope and Biograph Company and preserved by the Library of… Commons The 30th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony 1905 · Short · 9 min March 4, 1905: The 30th Inaugural Ceremonies held for President Theodore Roosevelt at the U.S. Capitol Learn more about the Inaugural Ceremonies and the Joint… Commons Barcelone parc au crépuscule (1904) 1904 · Short · 1 min Barcelone, Parc au crépuscule. Directed and filmed by Segundo de Chomón. Distributed by Pathé. Commons Le Roi des dollars (1905) 1905 · Short · 1 min Le Roi des dollars is a short hand-colored 1905 trick film by Segundo de Chomón. Commons Les sept châteaux du diable 1901 · Short · 11 min Les sept châteaux du diable is a 1901 hand-colored silent trick film by Ferdinand Zecca. Commons Ali Baba et les 40 voleurs (1902) 1902 · Short · 9 min Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves is a 1902 hand-colored trick film by Ferdinand Zecca, loosely based on the eponymous folk tale. Commons La Fée Carabosse ou le poignard fatal (1906) 1906 · Short · 12 min La Fée Carabosse ou Le Poignard fatal is a 1906 short hand-colored trick film by Georges Méliès. Commons Les Aventures de Robinson Crusoe (1902) 1902 · Short · 11 min Robinson Crusoe is a 1902 hand-coloured film by Georges Méliès based on Daniel Defoe's eponymous novel. Internet Archive 51 CARSON THR 1900 OCT 13 Tue 1990 OCT 16 1900 · Film 51 CARSON THR 1900 OCT 13 Tue 1990 OCT 16 Internet Archive The Great Train Robbery 1903 · Commercial Library of Congress Terrible Teddy, the grizzly king 1901 · Short · 1 min "A burlesque on Theodore Roosevelt hunting mountain lions in Colorado and taken from the New York Journal and Advertiser. The scene opens in a very… Library of Congress Levi & Cohen, the Irish comedians 1903 · Documentary · 1 min Opens on a vaudeville or variety stage with a flat painted curtain of a stone fence and garden. On the right side of the stage sits a sign that reads "Zuzu… Library of Congress La poule aux œufs d'or. [Part] 4, Le châtiment de l'avare apothéose 1905 · Short · 10 min Beset by remorse, a man is about to slaughter a hen when the devil appears. When he takes his knife to the hen, an egg appears. It turns into a witch, casting… Library of Congress The taming of the shrew 1908 · Short · 18 min "Two suitors have come to the home of the popular Bianca to court her. But her bad-tempered sister Katharina interrupts, deals with the men roughly and chases… Library of Congress The faded lilies 1909 · Short · 8 min "Francois, a hunchback violinist, performs at a society party and is given a bouquet of lilies by a young woman in appreciation. He takes the gift a sign of… Commons Another Job for the Undertaker 1901 Edwin S Porter Thomas Edison 1901 · Short · 1 min Another Job for the Undertaker is a 1901 silent fantasy-comedy film made by Edison Studios. It was directed by Edwin Stanton Porter, an early film pioneer. It… Commons The First Film Footage of Albanians 1904 · Short · 1 min The following film footage, dating from 1904, is probably the first ever to show Albanians. It is part of a longer documentary film made by Arnold Muir Wilson… Commons Capture of Boer Battery by British 1900 James H White Thomas Edison 1900 · Short · 1 min This film is a re-enactment of the resistance of the Gordon Highlanders, a British Army infantry regiment, to the oncoming fire of the Boer's advance during… Commons La lecon de musique (1909) 1909 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution Director: Segundo de Chomón Producer: Segundo de Chomón Production Company: Pathé Commons 2 Juli 1900 - Start des ersten Zeppelins 1900 · Short · 1 min history-vision.de auf facebook! Hol Dir täglich ein spannendes Ereignis der Weltgeschichte auf Deine Pinnwand! www.facebook.de/historyvision 2. Juli 1900 --… Commons L'obsession de l'or (1906) 1906 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution Produit par Pathé Frères en 1906. Metteur en scène non identifié. Images et trucages : Segundo de Chomón. Commons L'etang enchante (fragment, 1907) 1907 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution Fragment of a 1907 silent film L'etang enchanté (Pathé-Baby home cinema version) Commons Transformations elastiques (1908) - yt 1908 · Short · 1 min Production: Jean Durand. Photography and special effects: Segundo de Chomón. Performer: Joachim Renez. Distribution: Pathé. Commons Le Revenant (1903) 1903 · Short · 2 min Película muda francesa dirigida por Georges Méliès y distribuida por Star Film Company con el número de catálogo 501–502. Commons O Chryste zwróć swą bolesną głowę 1900 · Short · 2 min An arrangement of a Polish lyrical Lenten song for people learning to play, e.g. on the organ or keyboard. Instructional video with text of two verses and… Commons La fee aux fleurs (1905) - yt 1905 · Short · 1 min French silent film produced by Pathé, directed by Gaston Velle and photographed by Segundo de Chomón Commons Metamorphoses du papillon - yt 1904 · Short · 1 min Produced by Pathé Frères, directed by Gaston Velle, colorized by Segundo de Chomón in Barcelona (this copy is not colorized). Commons Demolishing and Building Up the Star Theatre (1901) 1901 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution Time lapse shot of the demolition of the Star Theatre in New York City. Produced by American Mutoscope and Biograph Company and preserved by the Library of… Commons Eruption volcanique à la Martinique - Méliès - 1902 1902 · Short · 1 min Éruption volcanique à la Martinique est un court métrage de Georges Méliès sorti en 1902 Commons Alchimiste Parafaragamus ou La cornue infernale 1906 1906 · Short · 2 min · Low resolution Director: Georges Méliès Producer: Georges Méliès Production Company: Star Film Company Audio/Visual: silent, Hand-coloured Commons Le scarabee d'or (1907) 1907 · Short · 2 min · Low resolution Director: Segundo de Chomón (1871–1929) Alternative names Birth name: Segundo Víctor Aurelio Chomón y Ruiz Description Spanish filmmaker Date of… Commons Cyrano de Bergerac (1900) 1900 · Short · 1 min Cyrano de Bergerac, a 1900 French short drama film based on Edmond Rostand's homonymous play. Directed by Clément Maurice and featuring Coquelin aîné in the… Commons Panorama of the Golden Gate (1902) 1902 · Short · 2 min · Low resolution "Panorama of the Golden Gate", a 1902 film showing a view from a steam engine of the Ferries & Cliff House Railway Commons Le sorcier arabe (1906) 1906 · Short · 2 min · Low resolution Director: Segundo de Chomón Writer: Segundo de Chomón Country: France Language: French Release Date: 1906 Commons L'album merveilleux (1905) - yt 1905 · Short · 2 min Production Pathé Frères. N° de catalogue : 1264. Mise en scène : Gaston Velle. Images et trucages : Segundo de Chomón Commons Les ombres chinoises (1908) 1908 · Short · 3 min · Low resolution Numéro de film : 2409 Genre : Scène à trucs Production : Pathé frères Édition : Pathé frères Réalisateur : Segundo de Chomón Interprètes : Julienne Mathieu… Commons La fee aux pigeons (1906) - yt 1906 · Short · 2 min Produced by Pathé Frères in 1906. Directed by Gaston Velle. Filmed by Segundo de Chomón. Commons Les devaliseurs nocturnes (1904) - yt 1904 · Short · 2 min Production : Pathé Frères ; scénario et mise en scène : Gaston Velle ; images et trucages : Segundo de Chomón. Commons San Francisco Earthquake aftermath, 1906 1906 · Short · 1 min San Francisco Earthquake aftermath. Views of destruction taken from a vehicle moving east down Market Street. Commons Le pêcheur de perles (1907) 1907 · Short · 7 min Directed by Ferdinand Zecca, filmed by Segundo de Chomón, distributed by Pathé Frères in 1904.