The world's archives

1,681–1,728 of 42,240 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 Undercover Man 1942 · Feature Title: Undercover Man Summary: A bandit who robs both Americans and Mexicans is causing each side of the border to blame the other. Hoppy has to settle… Internet Archive The Great Flamarion (1945) [P&M] 480p (830MB) 1945 · Feature This is the highest-quality version of this film that I was able to find online -- in this case, on bittorrent. At the time of uploading, this far exceeds the… Internet Archive Cheyenne Takes Over 1947 colorized (Lash Larue) 1947 · Feature Ordered to take a vacation, US Marshal Cheyenne Davis (Lash Larue) and his sidekick Fuzzy Jones (Al St. John) head for the Lobos ranch, but receive a chilly… Internet Archive Kentucky Pioneers 1941 · Film · Subtitles This film shows representative aspects of the early pioneering movement into the Kentucky territory. This is the life of our country in the 1780's picturing… Internet Archive Mission Accomplished: The Story of the Flying Fortress 1942 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Chronicles one of the early (autumn 1942) bombing runs of B-17s over Europe. Internet Archive Glamour Gal 1945 · TV · 16 min · Subtitles Glamour Gal tells the Story of a 105mm Gun Crew On Iwo Jima It documents the activities of a Marine gun crew (G Battery) from the 5th Marine Division and… Internet Archive Hangover Square (1945) Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders 1945 · Feature Hangover Square is a 1945 FILM NOlR directed by John Brahm, based on the 1941 novel Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton. The film stars Laird Cregar, Linda… Internet Archive Mr. Bell 1947 · Film · Subtitles Shows Alexander Graham Bell working with his deaf pupils and experimenting with the telephone and the wax cylinder record for the phonograph. His wide… Internet Archive Marriage Wows 1949 · Cartoon · 6 min The stars of this "Screen Song" cartoon are Bertha and Edgar. They are getting married and the song sung is "For Me and My Gal". Downloaded from Public Domain… Internet Archive Lady in Distress 1940 · Feature Title: Lady in Distress Summary: A passerby witnesses a murder through the windows of a passing train. He then tries to track down the killer. Directed by:… Internet Archive Things Happen at Night 1947 · Feature · 56 min A young girl finds herself possessed by the spirit of a mischievous demon. Internet Archive Home on the Range 1942 · Film · Subtitles The contribution of the western range country to the war effort: wool and mutton, beef and leather. The film shows the western ranges, the sheep and cattle,… Internet Archive The Way Ahead 1944 · Feature World War II drama that follows a group of British draftees, starting with their rigorous basic training, and ending with their deployment in North Africa. Internet Archive Broadway Limited 1941 · Feature · 1 h 14 min Title: Broadway Limited Summary: A publicity stunt staged on a train known as the Broadway Limited creates problems because of an unknown baby that was part… Internet Archive Build Your Vocabulary 1948 · Film · Subtitles Shows the need for an understanding of the value and techniques of learning new words. Dramatizes the story of a father, who, after finding himself at a loss… Internet Archive School House in the Red 1945 · Educational · Subtitles Educational film about the restructuring of public education, primarily the merging of smaller schoolhouses in rural areas into larger and improved schools. Internet Archive Seven Doors to Death 1944 · Feature · 1 h Title: Seven Doors to Death Summary: A shot rings out in a darkened apartment; a woman screams and flees, tricking architect Jimmy McMillan into giving her a… Internet Archive The Frozen Ghost (1945) 1945 · Feature The Frozen Ghost is a 1945 horror film directed by Harold Young. The movie stars Lon Chaney Jr. as a mentalist named Gregory Lamb , who becomes embroiled in a… Internet Archive American Portrait 1940 · Film · Subtitles Tells the story of improvements and better ways of life which have come into being during the last one hundred years. The story centers around a life… Internet Archive East of Piccadilly 1941 colorized (Judy Campbell) 1941 · Feature A homicidal maniac, who is strangling young women in London's West Side, is being sought by both Scotland Yard and a young reporter/writer (Judy Campbell).… Internet Archive Hurricane Smith 1941 · Feature Title: Hurricane Smith Summary: Rodeo rider Hurricane Smith is wrongly convicted of murder and robbery, but escapes and creates a new and happy life for… Internet Archive Inside the Law 1942 · Feature · 56 min A silly poverty-row farce about a gang of pickpockets that decides to run a bank. Update: I removed most of the crackle from the audio. Internet Archive Wheels A-Rolling: 100 Years of Railroad Progress 1948 · Film · Subtitles Documentation of pageant at Chicago Railroad Fair (1948). From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Railroad_Fair The Chicago Railroad Fair was an… Internet Archive Once Upon a Dream 1949 · Feature Title: Once Upon a Dream Summary: Chaos ensues when a woman wakes up believing that a romantic dream about her new servant is reality. Directed by: Ralph… Internet Archive How the Ear Functions 1940 · Film · Subtitles OUTLINES STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN EAR, SOUND WAVES ARE BRIEFLY EXPLAINED. ANIMATION REVEALS FUNCTION OF TYMPANIC MEMBRANE & OSSICLES OF EAR BONES &… Internet Archive A Double Life (1947) Directed by George Cukor, Starring Ronald Colman, Signe Hasso, Shelley Winters, Edmond O'Brien 1947 · Feature A Double Life is a 1947 FILM NOlR which tells the story of an actor whose mind becomes affected by the character he portrays. It stars Ronald Colman, Signe… Internet Archive 1949 1949 · Cartoon Public domain cartoons of 1949. Work in progress. Corrections on copyright status welcome. Internet Archive Code of Scotland Yard 1947 · Feature · 1 h 27 min Title: Code of Scotland Yard Summary: Descius Heiss is a French expatriate, and former Devil's Island prisoner, with two passions; driving shrewd bargains in… Internet Archive Cowboy from Sundown 1940 · Feature · 53 min A Tex Ritter western. Dave O'Brien appears also. Internet Archive Original Films of Frank B. Gilbreth 1945 · Film · Subtitles Essentially a summary of work analysis films which were taken by Frank B. Gilbreth between 1910 and 1924 showing a number of industrial operations from which… Internet Archive Ed Gardner's DUFFY' S TAVERN (1945 All Star Cast, Tavern) 1945 · Feature · 1 h 32 min TAGLINES : 01) Biggest Star Party in Hollywood History 02) Radio Riot Show Screened by Paramount 03) Meet Archie and the Gang at DUFFY'S TAVERN (print ad -… Internet Archive Radio and Television 1940 · Film · Subtitles Appraisal. Good for (1) showing occupations in radio and television, (2) giving impressions of the nature of the work and the training required in various… Internet Archive The Battle of Midway (1942) 1942 · Feature The Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942, filmed as it happened. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive, in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film… Internet Archive Wild Fowl In Slow Motion 1947 · Film · Subtitles 00: Fowl flying in air Duck with babies swimming in water Mallard ducks floating over waves Duck dunks head into water Bird flying - shot from below - large… Internet Archive Pride of the Bowery 1940 · Feature · 1 h · Subtitles You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page . Internet Archive Heritage for Victory 1940 · Film · Subtitles Some good shots to be logged.Telephones World War II home front Man tells the story of American communications from Gray & Barton, Edison and Bell and the… Internet Archive All This and Rabbit Stew (1941) 1941 · Feature All This and Rabbit Stew is a 1941 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Tex Avery. The cartoon was released on September 13, 1941, and features Bugs Bunny.… Internet Archive Wonderland Of Vision 1948 · Film · Subtitles Provides a detailed explanation of the anatomy of the eye, the process of creating eyeglasses, and the importance of regular eye examinations. It highlights… Internet Archive The Return Of The Whistler 1948 Film-noir/Mystery ★★★(CC) 1948 · Feature · 1 h 2 min · Subtitles The Return of the Whistler is a 1948 American mystery film noir based on the radio drama The Whistler. Directed by D. Ross Lederman, the production features… Internet Archive This is Robert: A Study of Personality Growth in a Preschool Child 1942 · Film · Subtitles Traces the development of Robert, an aggressive, "difficult", yet appealing child, from his arrival in nursery school at two up through his first year in a… Internet Archive The Impatient Patient (1942) 1942 · Feature The Impatient Patient is a 1942 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Norman McCabe. The cartoon was released on September 5, 1942, and stars Daffy… Internet Archive Attitudes and Health 1949 · Film · Subtitles Demonstrates how self-confidence and right attitudes are necessary to good health. Reveals how attitudes toward seemingly unrelated happenings, such as… Internet Archive Roads South 1943 · Short · 17 min · Subtitles Compares various modes of transportation in Latin America and explains why airways have been widely developed. Internet Archive Katy's Love Affair 1947 · Feature Title: Katy's Love Affair Summary: The fortunes of an upper-class British family are followed through three wars and four generations. Directed by: Herbert… Internet Archive The House I Live In 1945 · Film · Subtitles Advocacy film commissioned by the civil rights organization to discourage ethnic and racial prejudice at the end of World War II. Frank Sinatra, apparently… Internet Archive Printing 1947 · Film · Subtitles ILLUSTRATES THE OPPORTUNITIES & TRAINING AVAILABLE IN THE FIELD OF PRINTING. SHOWS HAND TYPESETTING, LINOTYPE, MONOTYPE, DISPLAY, MAKE-UP & LAYOUT. Vocational… Internet Archive Winners of the West 1940 colorized cliffhanger serial (Dick Foran) 1940 · Feature King Carter doesn't want the railroad to go through his territory, so he induces the local Indians into attacking the railroad crew. The head of the crew is… Internet Archive [World War II Films Compilation] 1942 · Film Content warning: This film contains graphic still images of violent death and disfigurement of humans. Compilation of three films - The Army Behind the Army,…