The world's archives

1,153–1,200 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 Korea circa 1901, by Burton Holmes 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 Cauchemars et doux reves (1908) 1908 · Short · 4 min · Low resolution Direction, cinematography and special effects by Segundo de Chomón. Interpret: Juliette Matthieu. Distributes by Pathé Frères Commons Humorous Phases of Funny Faces 1906 · Short · 3 min · Low resolution Humorous Phases of Funny Faces is a silent cartoon by J. Stuart Blackton (January 5, 1875 - August 13, 1941) in the year 1906. It features a cartoonist… Commons Foottit-chocolat-couleur-chaises-guillaume-tell-echasses-policeman 1900 · Short · 3 min Foottit et Chocolat, clowns at Nouveau cirque, Paris. Acrobats on a chair ; William Tell ; The British Policeman Commons Princess Nicotine 1909 · Short · 5 min · Low resolution Comedic short that pits a smoker against a tiny fairy, brought to life through early special effects. Preserved by the Library of Congress. Production… Commons Guillaume Tell (1903) 1903 · Short · 5 min Directed by Lucien Nonguet, produced by Pathé Frères, stencil coloured by Segundo de Chomón's workshop Commons La valise de Barnum (1904) - yt 1904 · Short · 3 min Produit par Pathé Frères en 1904. Réalisé par Gaston Velle. Numéro de catalogue : 1051. Métrage : 125 m. Mise en couleurs : atelier de Segundo de Chomón à… Commons Leo Tolstoy-1908 1909 · Documentary · 4 min 1908 - Leo Tolstoy celebrating his 80th birthday. Filmed in Yasnaya Polyana, by Aleksandr Osipovich Drankov. Video also features: his wife Sofya Andreevna… Commons Edwin S. Porter (1906) Dream of a Rarebit Fiend 1906 · Short · 6 min · Low resolution 7-minute 1906 silent film by Edwin Stanton Porter, based on Winsor McCay's comic strip Dream of the Rarebit Fiend Commons Dream of a Rarebit Fiend (Edwin Stanton Porter) 1906 · Short · 7 min Film Dream of a Rarebit Fiend (1906) by Edwin Stanton Porter, based on the comic strip Dream of the Rarebit Fiend by American cartoonist Winsor McCay. Commons Un Jour de paye (1906) 1906 · Short · 4 min French silent short. Produced by Pathé Frères (n°1535), directed by Charles Lucien Lépine, cinematography and special effects by Segundo de Chomon. Commons Lucky Jim 1909 · Short · 6 min · Low resolution Lucky Jim, 1909 silent movie by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, directed by D.W. Griffith and Marion Leonard, screenplay by Stanner E. V. Taylor,… Commons Albert Capellani-La belle et la bete-1908 1908 · Short · 30 min La belle et la bête, film de Albert Capellani réalisé en 1908. Extrait de 4 min d'un film de 11 min dont l'original est perdu. Commons L'ecrin du Raja (1906) 1906 · Short · 6 min · Low resolution Director: Gaston Velle & Segundo de Chomón Producer: Segundo de Chomón & Gaston Velle Production Company: Pathé FIlms Audio/Visual: no sound, hand-coloured Commons Les fleurs animees (1906) - yt 1906 · Short · 4 min Production Pathé Frères, 1906, n° catalogue 1373. Mise en scène : Gaston Velle. Images et trucages : Segundo de Chomón. Commons Le Matelas de la mariée (1906) 1906 · Short · 5 min French silent short. Produced by Pathé Frères (n°1585 ), directed by Charles-Lucien Lépine, cinematography by Segundo de Chomon. Commons L'Araignee d'or (1908) 1908 · Short · 8 min · Low resolution Réalisateur : Segundo de CHOMON Durée : 8' 12" Genre : film à truc Son : muet sonorisé Tirage : peint au pochoir Producteur : Pathé Frères Compositeur :… Commons Rescued from an Eagle's Nest (1908) 1908 · Short · 7 min American silent short action-drama film with D. W. Griffith and Henry B. Walthall. Commons BEN HUR-1907-silent- A Kalem Film 1907 · Short · 10 min · Low resolution Ben Hur is a 15-minute-long 1907 silent drama film, the first film version of Lew Wallace's novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, one of the best-selling books… Commons La Belle au bois dormant (1909) 1909 · Short · 11 min · Low resolution Directors: Albert Capellani, Lucien Nonguet ; photography : Segundo de Chomón ; starring Julienne Mathieu. German subtitles. Commons The Burglar's Slide for Life (1905) 1905 · Short · 5 min The Burglar's Slide for Life (1905). Production Company: Edison Manufacturing Company Release Date: July 1905 (USA) Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1 A burglar escapes… Commons Le pied du mouton (1907) 1907 · Short · 12 min · Low resolution Edition : Pathé frères Réalisateur : Albert Capellani Directeur de la photographie : Segundo de Chomón Commons La poule aux oeufs d'or (French intertitles, 1905) 1905 · Short · 13 min Production : Pathé Frères, 1905, n° catalogue 1311, 280 m. Mise en scène : Gaston Velle (ou Albert Capellani) ; images et trucages : Segundo de Chomón ;… Commons Lines of White on a Sullen Sea (1909) 1909 · Short · 12 min · Low resolution Lines of White on a Sullen Sea is a 1909 American silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. this copy is from the Internet archive, uploaded by the Silent… Commons La poule aux oeufs d'or (spanish intertitles, 1905) 1905 · Short · 17 min Production : Pathé Frères, 1905, n° catalogue 1311, 280 m. Mise en scène : Gaston Velle (ou Albert Capellani) ; images et trucages : Segundo de Chomón ;… Commons Edgar Allan Poe - D.W. Griffith - 1909, American Mutoscope and Biograph - FLM17879 - OB 685469 1909 · Short · 8 min Title: Edgar Allan Poe Type: Silent / black and white Running time: 08:23 Screenwriter: Frank E. Woods (1860 – 1939) Cast: Linda Arvidson (poet's wife),… Commons Narren Grappen (The Jester) - Joker Film - 1908 - EYE FLM32962 - OB 685463 1908 · Short · 5 min Title: Dutch: Narren-grappen (Jokes from a Jester/The Jester) Genre: tricks, fantasy Running time:05:40 Synopsis: A (smoking) woman dressed as a jester… Commons Русская свадьба XVI столетия. (1909) 1909 · Short · 15 min «Русская свадьба XVI столетия» (1909) — российский немой художественный короткометражный фильм Василия Гончарова по мотивам пьесы Петра Сухонина «Русская… Commons Le Tour du monde d'un policier (1906) 1906 · Short · 15 min French silent colored short. Produced by Pathé frères (n°1443), directed by Charles-Lucien Lépine, cinematography and special effects by Segundo de Chomon. Commons The Red Man's View 1909 · Short · 14 min Silent film shot in New York State and distributed by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company Commons Le Fils du diable (1906) 1906 · Short · 15 min French silent short, produced by Pathé Frères (n°1403) directed by Charles-Lucien Lépine, cinematography and special effects by Segundo de Chomon. Commons The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) 1906 · Short · 20 min Fragment of The Story of the Kelly Gang, an Australian silent film, believed to be the world's first full-length narrative feature film. Commons Inauguración del Ferrocarril de Tehuantepec, Salvador Toscano (23-1-1907) 1907 · Documentary · 15 min A series of films produced by Mexican film director Salvador Toscano showing scenes of the inauguration of the Tehuantepec Railway, opened by President… Internet Archive Sherlock Holmes Baffled 1900 · Commercial Internet Archive The Impossible Voyage 1904 · Commercial Commons A Storm at Sea (1900) 1900 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution American short silent film. From Edison films catalog: "While our photographers were crossing the Atlantic Ocean a most wonderful and sensational picture was… Commons Buster and Tige put a balloon vendor out of business (1904) 1904 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution American short silent comedy film. From Edison films catalog: " "Shows an Italian balloon vender near the "Flat-iron" Building, New York City. Mrs. Brown and… Commons Panorama of Place de L'Opera (1900) 1900 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution American short silent film. From Edison's catalog : "The busiest square in all Paris. 75 feet. $11.25. " Commons Buster makes room for his mama at the bargain store (1904) 1904 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution American short silent comedy film. From Edison films catalog: "Shows a bargain counter in a department store and a large gathering of women examining goods.… Commons Laura Comstock's bag-punching dog (1901) 1901 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution American short silent film. From Edison's catalog : "This wonderful dog "Mannie," owned by the vaudeville star, Miss Laura Comstock, is a most learned animal.… Commons The messenger boy's mistake (1903) 1903 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution American short silent film. From Edison's catalog : "Cholly" wishes to call on his best girl and send her a large bouquet. To find out if the girl really… Commons "Dixie Flyer", by A.E. Henrich (1901) 1901 · Short · 3 min · Low resolution Original listing and sheet music here: https://musescore.com/user/36482158/scores/22857211?from=youtube_share Arthur E. Henrich (1878-1954) was a musician and… Commons Japanese Acrobats (1904) 1904 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution American short silent film. From Edison films catalog: "A Japanese juggler performs some marvelous juggling feats with a boy. Lying on his back on the floor,… Commons The Enchanted Drawing 1900 · Cartoon · 1 min · Low resolution The Enchanted Drawing. Cartoonist J. Stuart Blackton performs a vaudeville routine known as the "lightning sketch", supplemented by stop-camera tricks that… Commons Bird's-eye view of San Francisco 1902 · Short · 2 min · Low resolution As early as 1874, passenger balloon flights were being made over San Francisco. San Franciscans - and Americans in general - were fascinated with the thrills… Commons Esplanade des Invalides (1900) 1900 · Short · 2 min · Low resolution American short silent film. From Edison's catalog : "Beginning with the camera pointing toward the Invalides entrance, with the tomb of Napoleon in the… Commons Eastriverandbrooklynbridge1903-snd 1903 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution A clip from a historical video showing the East River (New York) with a bit of the Brooklyn Bridge shown at the end. This file contains film taken by Edwin S.… Commons Army pack train bringing supplies 1906 · Short · 1 min · Low resolution This film highlights the role of the United States Army in transporting supplies following the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco. The Army's relief…