The world's archives

97–144 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.
Internet Archive Conte de la Grand-Mère et Rêve de L'enfant 1908 · Short · 5 min The film begins with a grandmother reading a story to a small child before tucking him or her into bed (it's a bit difficult to tell which the tot is). No… Internet Archive La Chaise à Porteurs Enchantée 1905 · Short · 3 min A man stands in front of a backdrop painted with a nature scene. From a fan, he conjures a costume, then a woman appears inside it. An assistant carries in a… Internet Archive Le Thaumaturge Chinois 1904 · Short · 3 min A Chinese conjurer stands next to a table, it becomes two tables. A fan becomes a parasol, lanterns appear and disappear. The conjurer spins the open parasol… Internet Archive San Francisco Earthquake Aftermath, Part 6 1906 · Short · 3 min · Subtitles Riding down Market Street to inspect the destruction. Internet Archive The Eclipse 1907 · Short · 9 min The original French title is Eclipse de soleil en pleine lune . IMDb Page This short can also be found here . Internet Archive Die Macht der Hypnose AKA The Power of Hypnosis 1908 · Feature Internet Archive François Ier et Triboulet 1907 · Short · 4 min This is a five minute short film from Georges Méliès. Like most of his films, Méliès himself appears in the movie--as the jester. He bounces about and tries… Internet Archive L'alchimiste Parafaragaramus ou la Cornue Infernale 1906 · Short · 3 min A wizard sleeps at a table in his well-appointed sitting room. From a drawer in the table, a snake appears. The snake begins a series of transformations: he… Internet Archive "The Sealed Room" (1909) director D. W. Griffith, starring Arthur V. Johnson 1909 · Feature · Subtitles This gem is presented by Silent Hall of Fame. Please visit https://silent-hall-of-fame.org/ to support our non-profit mission and the legacy of silent movie… Internet Archive Sorcellerie Culinaire 1904 · Short · 4 min A cook has his hands full with three mischievous devils, who pop in and out of his kitchen. Director: Georges Méliès Stars: Georges Méliès Also Known As (AKA)… Internet Archive "Airy Fairy Lillian Tries On Her New Corsets" (1905) cinematographer Billy Bitzer 1905 · Feature This gem is presented by Silent Hall of Fame. Please visit https://silent-hall-of-fame.org/ to support our non-profit mission and the legacy of silent movie… Internet Archive Création de la Serpentine 1908 · Short · 5 min Creation of the Serpentine starring Loie Fuller by Segundo de Chomón Internet Archive Le Scarabe d'or 1907 · Short · 2 min 1907 Segundo de Chomón Le Scarabe d'or (The Golden Beetle) Note: This film is often incorrectly attributed to Ferdinand Zecca, a very talented comtemporary… Internet Archive Le Tripot Clandestin 1905 · Short · 3 min A combination gambling den and bawdy house is set up so that croupiers, patrons, prostitutes, and the owner can quickly change it all into a mercantile… Internet Archive Robert Macaire et Bertrand 1906 · Short · 10 min Robert Macaire et Bertrand aka Robert Macaire and Bertrand USA/UK aka Robert Macaire és Bertrand Hungary aka Robert Macaire et Bertrand, les Rois des… Internet Archive Das Sandbad AKA The Sand Bath 1906 · Feature Internet Archive Le Mariage de Victoire 1907 · Short · 8 min "How Bridget's Lover Escaped" ("Le marriage de Victoire") is a comedy from Georges Méliès. It begins with a man (I think he's a fireman) in he kitchen--making… Internet Archive How It Feels to Be Run Over 1900 · Feature Internet Archive Une nuit épouvantable 1905 · Short · 2 min Une nuit épouvantable aka Robert Macaire and Bertrand UK aka A Dreadful Night UK aka A Terrible Night USA Directed by Segundo de Chomón Country: France 1905… Internet Archive "A Trap for Santa" (1909) director D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer 1909 · Feature This gem is presented by Silent Hall of Fame. Please visit https://silent-hall-of-fame.org/ to support our non-profit mission and the legacy of silent movie… Internet Archive L'Obsession de l'or 1906 · Short · 3 min An artist is painting the portrait of a young woman dressed in a country costume in his attic studio. The landlord demands the rent, but the artist has no… Internet Archive The Monster 1903 · Short · 2 min Title: The Monster Summary: An Egyptian prince has lost his beloved wife and he has sought a dervish who dwells at the base of the sphinx. The prince promises… Internet Archive Le Reve des Marmitons 1908 · Short Le Reve des Marmitons (Dream of the Marmitons) by Segundo de Chomón released in 1908. Internet Archive Off to Bloomingdate Asylum 1901 · Short · 1 min The original French title is L’omnibus des toqués ou Blancs et Noirs . IMDb Page Internet Archive The Mysterious Retort 1906 · Short · 2 min The original French title of the colored and shortened print is Alchimiste Parafaragaramus ou la cornue infernale . IMDb Page Internet Archive "A Search for the Evidence" (1903) cinematographer Billy Bitzer 1903 · Feature This gem is presented by Silent Hall of Fame. Please visit https://silent-hall-of-fame.org/ to support our non-profit mission and the legacy of silent movie… Internet Archive Humorous Phases of Funny Faces 1906 · Cartoon · 3 min From Wikipedia: Humorous Phases of Funny Faces is a silent cartoon by J. Stuart Blackton in the year 1906. It features a cartoonist drawing faces on a… Internet Archive Cauchemar et Doux Reves 1908 · Short Cauchemar et Doux Reves [Sweet Dreams Intermingled with Nightmares] by Segundo de Chomón released in 1908 Internet Archive Fantasmagorie 1908 · Cartoon Wikipedia : Fantasmagorie is a 1908 French animated film by Émile Cohl . It is one of the earliest examples of traditional (hand-drawn) animation , and… Internet Archive Satan in Prison 1907 · Short · 5 min The original French title is Satan en prison . IMDb Page Internet Archive La Colle Universelle 1907 · Short · 5 min A peddler of "the best glue" sets up his outdoor stall. A crowd gathers for a demonstration. As he gives his pitch, two observant cops decide drive off his… Internet Archive Le Courant Eléctrique 1906 · Short · 1 min A grocer electrifies his goods to prevent thieves from running off with his ware. Unfortunately, the current can't tell the difference between thieves and… Internet Archive Aufregende Lektre AKA Stimulating Reading 1908 · Feature Internet Archive "The Widow And The Only Man" (1904) cinematographer Billy Bitzer 1904 · Feature This gem is presented by Silent Hall of Fame. Please visit https://silent-hall-of-fame.org/ to support our non-profit mission and the legacy of silent movie… Internet Archive Lebender Marmor AKA Living Marble 1908 · Feature Internet Archive A Mesmerian Experiment 1905 · Short · 3 min The original French title is Le baquet de Mesmer . IMDb Page Internet Archive Der Angler AKA The Fisherman 1906 · Feature Internet Archive "An Awful Moment" (1908) director D. W. Griffith 1908 · Feature This gem is presented by Silent Hall of Fame. Please visit https://silent-hall-of-fame.org/ to support our non-profit mission and the legacy of silent movie… Internet Archive [San Francisco Earthquake Aftermath, 1906] 1906 · Film · Subtitles VS aftermath of 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Footage from moving vehicle driving down street; tents pitched along street, horse drawn carriages, demolished… Internet Archive Beim Fotografen AKA At the Photographers 1908 · Feature Internet Archive The Sealed Room 1909 · Short · 11 min "The Sealed Room" is a story by Edgar Allan Poe set in the 16th Century in which a Count (Arhtur V. Johnson) has built a windowless room in his castle. It is… Internet Archive The Christmas Angel 1904 · Short · 9 min The original French title is Détresse et charité . Internet Archive "President Roosevelt's Fourth of July Oration" (1903) 1903 · Feature This gem is presented by Silent Hall of Fame. Please visit https://silent-hall-of-fame.org/ to support our non-profit mission and the legacy of silent movie… Internet Archive Alice in Wonderland 1903 · Short · 8 min The first movie version of Lewis Caroll's novel "Alice in Wonderland", directed by Cecil Hepworth. The copy is bad, but - in some degree - watchable. Listed… Internet Archive Diana im Bade AKA Diana Bathing 1906 · Feature Internet Archive Satan s'amuse 1907 · Short 1907 Segundo de Chomón Satan s'amuse (Satan has fun) Internet Archive [Edison Newsreels: San Francisco Earthquake aftermath] 1906 · Newsreel · Subtitles Edison newsreels of San Francisco earthquake / falling buildings / taking away the hurt / troops marching along Van Ness Avenue with relief supplies / pan… Internet Archive L'aspirateur 1908 · Short · 3 min 1908 Segundo de Chomón L'aspirateur - The Vacuum Cleaner Director: Segundo de Chomón Country: France Language: French Release Date: 1 August 1908 (USA) Sound…