The world's archives

1,873–1,920 of 3,051 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 [FORD FAMILY AND FRIENDS] 1916 · Educational [FORD FAMILY AND FRIENDS] Covers: ca. 1916–ca. 1922 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Several… Internet Archive STORY OF A LITTLE RIVER, THE 1919 · Educational STORY OF A LITTLE RIVER, THE Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Title… Internet Archive Ford Eagle Boats 1918 · Educational Ford Eagle Boats Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Eagle boat on transfer… Internet Archive Ford Tractor Demonstrations 1919 · Educational Ford Tractor Demonstrations Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Group of men… Internet Archive Lord Northcliffe at Ford Motor Company / River Rouge Plant and Ships 1917 · Educational Lord Northcliffe at Ford Motor Company / River Rouge Plant and Ships Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor… Internet Archive [NORTH WINDS MASONRY] 1919 · Educational [NORTH WINDS MASONRY] Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Views of Niagara Falls… Internet Archive CONVOY IN WORLD WAR I 1918 · Educational CONVOY IN WORLD WAR I Produced: 1918 Description Destroyers and a cruiser escort transports. Seaplanes greet the convoy as it nears a port in France. A… Internet Archive EXAMINATION OF ENLISTED MEN BY THE NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC UNIT AT CAMP LEE, VIRGINIA... 1917 1917 · Educational EXAMINATION OF ENLISTED MEN BY THE NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC UNIT AT CAMP LEE, VIRGINIA... 1917 Produced: 1917 Description Shows the unnatural gaits of draftees… Internet Archive FORD WEEKLY [SPEEDBOAT RACE],THE 1919 · Educational FORD WEEKLY [SPEEDBOAT RACE],THE 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Ford Educational… Internet Archive SCENES FROM CAREER OF GENERAL JOHN J PERSHING WWI 1914 · Educational SCENES FROM CAREER OF GENERAL JOHN J PERSHING WWI Covers: 1914–1918 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23979 Internet Archive OUR BRIDGE OF SHIPS 1917 · Educational OUR BRIDGE OF SHIPS Produced: 1917 Description Reel 1 Pres. Wilson and Chmn. of the U. S. Shipping Board, Hurley, speak. Trees are sawed, hauled to a sawmill,… Internet Archive Liberty Engine Unveiling Ceremony / Tractor Demonstrations 1918 · Educational Liberty Engine Unveiling Ceremony / Tractor Demonstrations Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive Tractor Demonstrations 1918 · Educational Tractor Demonstrations Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Crowd on top of hill… Internet Archive With the Fordson in New Jersey 1918 · Educational With the Fordson in New Jersey Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “In doing… Internet Archive [FORD FAMILY] 1918 · Educational [FORD FAMILY] ca. 1918–ca. 1927 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Footage coverage dates… Internet Archive FIRST "LUMBERJACK" REGIMENT: 10TH RESERVE ENGINEERS (FOREST) 1917 · Educational FIRST "LUMBERJACK" REGIMENT: 10TH RESERVE ENGINEERS (FOREST) Produced: 1917 Description Shows the training at American University Camp, Washington, D.C., of… Internet Archive [LIBERTY CAPRONI CA-5] 1918 · Educational [LIBERTY CAPRONI CA-5] Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Pilot in cockpit, men… Internet Archive THE SECOND FIELD BATTALION 1917 · Educational THE SECOND FIELD BATTALION Produced: 1917 Description On activities on the Mexican border at Brownsville, Tex. Shows mounted troops and pack mules, carrying… Internet Archive ASSEMBLING LIBERTY MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION... CAMP HOLABIRD, MD 1919 · Educational ASSEMBLING LIBERTY MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION... CAMP HOLABIRD, MD Produced: 1919 Description Reel 1 shows assembly and installation of the clutch, gear box,… Internet Archive WINGED GUARDIANS OF THE FOREST 1919 · Educational WINGED GUARDIANS OF THE FOREST Produced: 1919 Description Shows how Army-manned airplanes and balloons protect national forests from fires. A careless smoker… Internet Archive Aquarium / Lincoln Plant / Scrapping a Ship 1919 · Educational Aquarium / Lincoln Plant / Scrapping a Ship Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows:… Internet Archive [FORD CAMPING TRIP] 1918 · Educational [FORD CAMPING TRIP] Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Caravan of cars moving on… Internet Archive MADE GAME [MAKING SPORTS EQUIPMENT] 1919 · Educational MADE GAME [MAKING SPORTS EQUIPMENT] Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “A little… Internet Archive The Anglers: Trout Fishing on the Au Sable River 1918 · Educational The Anglers: Trout Fishing on the Au Sable River Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as… Internet Archive VISIT FOR LUTHER BURBANK, A. THE GREAT AMERICAN NATURALIST 1917 · Educational VISIT FOR LUTHER BURBANK, A. THE GREAT AMERICAN NATURALIST 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as… Internet Archive FORD ANIMATED WEEKLY, 1916 1916 · Educational FORD ANIMATED WEEKLY, 1916 Produced: 1916 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: 1. “Washington,… Internet Archive Canada Welcomes American Troops 1918 · Educational Canada Welcomes American Troops Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Boy Scouts… Internet Archive SCENES FROM THE CAREER OF GEN. JOHN J. PERSHING 1914 · Educational SCENES FROM THE CAREER OF GEN. JOHN J. PERSHING Covers: 1914–1918 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23965 Internet Archive FIGHTING WESTERN PINE BEETLES 1919 · Educational FIGHTING WESTERN PINE BEETLES Produced: 1919 Description Shows the activities of the Bureau of Entomology (Dept. of Agriculture) in eliminating the western… Internet Archive UNIVERSAL ANIMATED WEEKLY 1916 · Educational UNIVERSAL ANIMATED WEEKLY Produced: 1916 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “With one of the… 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: Officers… Internet Archive [RESIDENTIAL AREA CONSTRUCTION] 1919 · Educational [RESIDENTIAL AREA CONSTRUCTION] Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Captions:… Internet Archive [FORD HOSPITAL] 1919 · Educational [FORD HOSPITAL] Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Crowd standing in front of… Internet Archive THE MAKING OF A MAN-O-WARSMAN (AT GREAT LAKES) Great Lakes, Illinois 1917 · Educational THE MAKING OF A MAN-O-WARSMAN (AT GREAT LAKES) Great Lakes, Illinois Produced: 1917 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/87590 Internet Archive `HOOPING UP', MAKING CASKS AND BARRELS 1919 · Educational `HOOPING UP', MAKING CASKS AND BARRELS Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The… Internet Archive (ARTILLERY DEMONSTRATIONS IN FRANCE, 1918.) 1918 · Educational (ARTILLERY DEMONSTRATIONS IN FRANCE, 1918.) Produced: 1918 Description Reel 1, horses draw 75- and 155-mm guns Into position. Infantry and cavalry units… Internet Archive Big Trees / Yellowstone Park / Where and How Fords Are Made, Parts 3-5 1917 · Educational Big Trees / Yellowstone Park / Where and How Fords Are Made, Parts 3-5 Produced: 1917 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor… Internet Archive AMERICA AT PLAY 1918 · Educational AMERICA AT PLAY Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Have you ever been to Coney?… Internet Archive Charlie Chaplin's The Fireman 1916 · Commercial "The Fireman" (1916) is a silent comedy featuring the hysterical Charlie Chaplin as a firefighter. Internet Archive COMPANY E, FIRST TELEGRAPH BATTALION, SIGNAL CORPS 1917 · Educational COMPANY E, FIRST TELEGRAPH BATTALION, SIGNAL CORPS Produced: 1917 Description On activities on the Mexican border at Brownsville, Tex. The company stands at… Internet Archive Soldiers Parading and On Train / Eagle Boats / Tank Testing / Tractor-Drawn Plow / Tractor-Drawn Combines 1919 · Educational Soldiers Parading and On Train / Eagle Boats / Tank Testing / Tractor-Drawn Plow / Tractor-Drawn Combines Produced: 1919 Description The original catalog… 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: “Learning how… Internet Archive The Making of a Man-O-Warsman / Making Gas Tanks for Automobiles 1916 · Educational The Making of a Man-O-Warsman / Making Gas Tanks for Automobiles Produced: 1916 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor… Internet Archive THE TELEPHONE SECTION 1917 · Educational THE TELEPHONE SECTION Produced: 1917 Description On Signal Corps activities at Brownsville, Tex. Shows vehicles and mounted troops of the section. A field… Internet Archive ASSEMBLING A STANDARD DODGE MOTOR, CAMP HOLABIRD, MD 1919 · Educational ASSEMBLING A STANDARD DODGE MOTOR, CAMP HOLABIRD, MD Produced: 1919 Description Reel 1 contrasts the efficiency of a well organized work bench with the loss… Internet Archive JOHN BURROUGHS AT RIVERBY AND SLABSIDES 1914 · Educational JOHN BURROUGHS AT RIVERBY AND SLABSIDES Produced: 1914 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “At… Internet Archive Detroit Parade 1916 · Educational Detroit Parade Produced: 1916 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: American flag superimposed on… Internet Archive [FORD ANIMATED WEEKLY] 1918 · Educational [FORD ANIMATED WEEKLY] Produced: 1918 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Ford Animated Weekly.…