The world's archives

145–192 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 Der Hausarzt - The Family Doctor 1908 · Feature Internet Archive Eine aufregende Jagd AKA An Exciting Hunt 1906 · Feature Internet Archive "The Great Jewel Mystery" (1905) 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 The Haunted Curiosity Shop 1901 · Short An old proprietor is startled by the sudden appearance of a skull. Just as he draws back from the uncanny object, the doors of a medieval wardrobe fly back… Internet Archive "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908) director D. W. Griffith starring Florence Lawrence 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 The Eclipse: Courtship of the Sun and Moon 1907 · Short · 9 min Title: The Eclipse: Courtship of the Sun and Moon Summary: As the clock strikes twelve, a weary astronomer attempts to answer the impertinent enquiries of his… Internet Archive Die Zaubereien des Mandarins AKA The Magic of the Mandarins 1908 · Feature Internet Archive Eine lustige Geschichte am Fenster AKA A Funny Story at the Window 1908 · Feature Internet Archive Robert Macaire and Bertrand 1906 · Short · 10 min The original French title is Robert Macaire et Bertrand, les rois des cambrioleurs . IMDb Page Internet Archive Santos Dumont Explaining His Air Ship To The Hon. C. S. Rolls 1901 · Short Santos Dumont Explaining His Air Ship to the Hon. C.S. Rolls is a short film made using a sequence of frames that shows the inventor Santos Dumont explaining… Internet Archive The Mysterious Retort 1906 · Short · 3 min The original French title is L'alchimiste Parafaragaramus ou la cornue infernale . IMDb Page A color fragment of this can be found here . Internet Archive "The Tired Tailors Dream" (1907) cinematographer Billy Bitzer 1907 · 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 Gambler's Choice, A 1909 · Film · Subtitles 1909 nickelodeon drama. This is an old Gaumont film about William Sheep, Gambler. Chess pieces move around the board autonomously in a dream sequence. Internet Archive San Francisco Earthquake Aftermath, Part 4 1906 · Film · Subtitles Scenes from an early newsreel of the fire and earthquake destruction of San Francisco in 1906 Internet Archive Electrocuting an Elephant 1903 · Feature Internet Archive San Francisco Earthquake Aftermath, Part 5 1906 · Film · Subtitles Scenes from an early newsreel of the fire and earthquake destruction of San Francisco in 1906 Internet Archive "Corner in Wheat" (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 "Girls Taking Time Checks" (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 L'enfant sur la barricade 1906 · Feature Synopsis Dans une cuisine parisienne, un garçon est chargé par sa mère de quérir une bouteille de lait au magasin d'à côté. Pendant ce temps, des gens… Internet Archive "The Red Man's View" (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 "The Paymaster" (1906) 1906 · 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 The Great Train Robbery (1903) Directed By Edwin S. Porter 1903 · Feature The Great Train Robbery (1903) Directed by Edwin S. Porter Director: Edwin S. Porter The Great Train Robbery is a 1903 American silent film made by Edwin S.… Internet Archive Les chiens savants 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Eine modern Ehe AKA A Modern Marriage 1906 · Feature Internet Archive La Boite a Cigares 1907 · Short · 4 min The Cigar Box (1907) Internet Archive "The Black Hand" (1906) cinematographer Billy Bitzer 1906 · 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 The Mermaid 1904 · Short · 3 min The original French title is La Sirène . IMDb Page Internet Archive The Mysterious Island 1905 · Short · 3 min The original French title is L’île de Calypso . IMDb Page Internet Archive "Balked At The Altar" (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 "The Day After" (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 "The Broken Locket" (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 Animation - Bimbo und der Autodieb 1900 · Cartoon · 3 min Short silent animation about a car thief and a monkey called 'Bimbo' who finally catch the thief with the help of some policemen. We discovered this movie and… Internet Archive "The Hero Of Liao Yang" (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 "Lucky Jim" (1909) director D. W. Griffith 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 "Fools Of Fate" (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 Vorbreitung auf das Rendez-vous - Preparing to Meet 1908 · Feature Internet Archive "The Black Viper" (1908) 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 The Impossible Voyage (1904) Directed By Georges Méliès 1904 · Feature The Impossible Voyage Original title card Directed by Georges Méliès Based on Journey Through the Impossible by Jules Verne Starring Georges Méliès Fernande… Internet Archive "The Cricket On The Hearth" (1909) director D.W. Griffith 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 "Sweet And Twenty" (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 "Resurrection" (1909) starring Arthur V. Johnson and Florence Lawrence 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 "The Mended Lute" (1909) director D. W. Griffith starring Florence Lawrence 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 "The Georgetown Loop" (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 "Romance of a Jewess" (1908) director D. W. Griffith starring Florence Lawrence 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 "The Little Darling" (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 "The Lost Child" (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 "The Adventures of Dollie" (1908) director D.W. Griffith starring Arthur V. Johnson 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 Le Spectre Rouge 1907 · Short · 9 min The Red Spectre