The world's archives

1,777–1,824 of 3,191 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 A PACK TRAIN TRIP [ETC.] 1919 · Educational A PACK TRAIN TRIP [ETC.] Produced: 1919 Description Shows campers on a pack train trip through Washington's Mt. Baker National Forest in the northern Cascade… Internet Archive Electricity for the Modern Farm: A Plea For Betterment of the Farm Home / Mountains, Rivers, and Lakes 1919 · Educational Electricity for the Modern Farm: A Plea For Betterment of the Farm Home / Mountains, Rivers, and Lakes Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog… Internet Archive CUTTING UP [MEAT PACKING] 1919 · Educational CUTTING UP [MEAT PACKING] Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “No department of… Internet Archive Seattle, Washington / The Making of Shoes / Columbia River Highway, Washington 1917 · Educational Seattle, Washington / The Making of Shoes / Columbia River Highway, Washington Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the… Internet Archive Children Stage Victory Pageant at Belle Isle / Field Day, Belle Isle / Detroit Recreation Camp, Elizabeth Lake, Michigan 1918 · Educational Children Stage Victory Pageant at Belle Isle / Field Day, Belle Isle / Detroit Recreation Camp, Elizabeth Lake, Michigan 1918 Description The original catalog… Internet Archive Mt. Wilson, California / The Roosevelt Dam, Salt River, Arizona 1917 · Educational Mt. Wilson, California / The Roosevelt Dam, Salt River, Arizona Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive Panama Canal / The Story of Steel: The World's Greatest Industry / The Reawakening: Rehabilitating Disabled Veterans 1919 · Educational Panama Canal / The Story of Steel: The World's Greatest Industry / The Reawakening: Rehabilitating Disabled Veterans Produced: 1919 Description The original… Internet Archive The Truth About the Liberty Motor 1918 · Educational The Truth About the Liberty Motor Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Workers on… Internet Archive ACTIVITIES OF THE 42ND DIVISION IN WORLD WAR I 1918 · Educational ACTIVITIES OF THE 42ND DIVISION IN WORLD WAR I Covers: November 1918–December 1918 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/21249 Internet Archive TOWN TROPICS. PANAMA UNDER UNCLE SAM AND A TROPICAL SUN 1919 · Educational TOWN TROPICS. PANAMA UNDER UNCLE SAM AND A TROPICAL SUN Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads… Internet Archive President Wilson In Indianapolis / Army Trucks / River Rouge Plant / Model A Ford 1919 · Educational President Wilson In Indianapolis / Army Trucks / River Rouge Plant / Model A Ford Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the… Internet Archive Gar Wood and Speed Boat / Ship Construction / Industrial Plant Scenes / Winter Sports / Unloading an Ore Ship / Stunt Flying / Summer Camp / Safety Parade, Detroit, Michigan 1919 · Educational Gar Wood and Speed Boat / Ship Construction / Industrial Plant Scenes / Winter Sports / Unloading an Ore Ship / Stunt Flying / Summer Camp / Safety Parade,… Internet Archive COLORADO PLATEAU, GRAND CANYON OF THE COLORADO RIVER 1919 · Educational COLORADO PLATEAU, GRAND CANYON OF THE COLORADO RIVER Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as… Internet Archive [CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOG ISLAND SHIPYARD, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA] 1917 · Educational [CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOG ISLAND SHIPYARD, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA] Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor… Internet Archive Eventide / The Beaver / Canadian Porcupine 1919 · Educational Eventide / The Beaver / Canadian Porcupine Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: a.… Internet Archive Norfolk, Virginia / Fordson Plant / Mt. Lowe (Mountain Climbing in California) / California Ostrich Farm 1916 · Educational Norfolk, Virginia / Fordson Plant / Mt. Lowe (Mountain Climbing in California) / California Ostrich Farm Produced: 1916 Description The original catalog… Internet Archive Paul Wittgenstein: The First World War 1919 · Educational Paul Wittgenstein: The First World War Produced: 1919 ?–1934 Description This film contains partially edited footage. The agency provided description is as… Internet Archive Lumbering / Iron Ore and Transportation / Mountain Climbing in Canada 1919 · Educational Lumbering / Iron Ore and Transportation / Mountain Climbing in Canada Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor… Internet Archive Islands of the St. Lawrence: Seeing a Few Thousand Islands / Over the East River 1919 · Educational Islands of the St. Lawrence: Seeing a Few Thousand Islands / Over the East River Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the… Internet Archive FORD ANIMATED WEEKLY [DENVER, BOSTON, INDIANAPOLIS] 1917 · Educational FORD ANIMATED WEEKLY [DENVER, BOSTON, INDIANAPOLIS] Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as… Internet Archive TRIP TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA WITH THE FORD EDUCATIONAL WEEKLY,A 1917 · Educational TRIP TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA WITH THE FORD EDUCATIONAL WEEKLY,A Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive FORD ANIMATED WEEKLY 1916 · Educational FORD ANIMATED WEEKLY 1916 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: 1. Parade, automobile, truck and… Internet Archive Military Tank Demonstration / Military Parade 1916 · Educational Military Tank Demonstration / Military Parade Produced: 1916 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows:… Internet Archive TRIP TO SANTA CATALINA ISLAND WITH FORD EDUCATIONAL WEEKLY, A 1917 · Educational TRIP TO SANTA CATALINA ISLAND WITH FORD EDUCATIONAL WEEKLY, A Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive Geography / On Foot With the Army and Navy: Making Shoes 1919 · Educational Geography / On Foot With the Army and Navy: Making Shoes Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads… Internet Archive Picnic On Beach / Hereford Cattle 1916 · Educational Picnic On Beach / Hereford Cattle Produced: 1916 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: a. Group of… Internet Archive America At Play / Made Game (Making Footballs) 1918 · Educational America At Play / Made Game (Making Footballs) Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as… Internet Archive Yellowstone Park 1917 · Educational Yellowstone Park 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Waterfall - men climbing up the face… Internet Archive [BOY SCOUT ACTIVITIES] 1919 · Educational [BOY SCOUT ACTIVITIES] Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Caption: “Rice… Internet Archive The Cheat (1915) 1915 · Feature I've been researching newly public domain films from 1929 and earlier, so I'm uploading the best possible copies that I can find. The Cheat is about a woman… Internet Archive ANGLERS: TROUT FISHING ON THE AU SABLE,THE 1918 · Educational ANGLERS: TROUT FISHING ON THE AU SABLE,THE 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Isaak… Internet Archive Seminole Indians of Florida / Water Power / Coal Mining / Loading Ford Automobiles Aboard a Steamship, River Rouge Plant 1919 · Educational Seminole Indians of Florida / Water Power / Coal Mining / Loading Ford Automobiles Aboard a Steamship, River Rouge Plant Produced: 1919 Description The… Internet Archive Geography 1919 · Educational Geography Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Geography-The Earth: What Is It?… Internet Archive RED CROSS [WORLD WAR I ACTIVITIES] 1918 · Educational RED CROSS [WORLD WAR I ACTIVITIES] Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “There’s… Internet Archive The Social Secretary (1916) Norma Talmadge 1916 · Film The Social Secretary (1916) Directed by John Emerson Starring: Norma Talmadge With: Kate Lester, Helen Weir, Gladden James, Herbert French, Eric von Stroheim,… Internet Archive The Making of a Man-O-Warsman 1917 · Educational The Making of a Man-O-Warsman Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Infantry… Internet Archive THE BATTLE OF ANCRE 1919 · Educational THE BATTLE OF ANCRE Produced: 1919 Description On the British Army. Reel 1, supplies are unloaded at a railhead. Brit. and Australian troops take positions.… Internet Archive Indianapolis, Indiana / President Woodrow Wilson in Indianapolis, Indiana / Recreation at Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan 1916 · Educational Indianapolis, Indiana / President Woodrow Wilson in Indianapolis, Indiana / Recreation at Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan Produced: 1916 Description The… Internet Archive Children's Activities / Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, Pennsylvania 1917 · Educational Children's Activities / Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, Pennsylvania Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive Lumbering / Children in School / The Anglers: Trout Fishing on the Au Sable River 1919 · Educational Lumbering / Children in School / The Anglers: Trout Fishing on the Au Sable River Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the… Internet Archive All for Safety / Dairy Farm / At Home in the Water / Dairy Farm 1918 · Educational All for Safety / Dairy Farm / At Home in the Water / Dairy Farm Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive Silverware Making / Nature's Classics / Silverware Making 1919 · Educational Silverware Making / Nature's Classics / Silverware Making Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads… Internet Archive Yellowstone Park 1917 · Educational Yellowstone Park Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Geyser flow entering a river… Internet Archive Boy Scouts 1919 · Educational Boy Scouts Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Boys sitting in classroom, teacher… Internet Archive Chu-Chu (The Making of Chewing Gum) / De-Light (The Making of Light Bulbs) / A Genuine Panama / Seminole Indians of Florida / To "Suit" a Man (The Making of Men's Clothing) 1919 · Educational Chu-Chu (The Making of Chewing Gum) / De-Light (The Making of Light Bulbs) / A Genuine Panama / Seminole Indians of Florida / To "Suit" a Man (The Making of… Internet Archive GIVE HER GAS 1918 · Educational GIVE HER GAS Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Mr. Whiffle has invested the… Internet Archive KILAUEA. THE WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO 1917 · Educational KILAUEA. THE WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows:… Internet Archive Water Power / Seminole Indians of Florida / Water Power 1916 · Educational Water Power / Seminole Indians of Florida / Water Power Produced: 1916 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads…