The world's archives

1,873–1,920 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 Kingdom of Plastics, The 1945 · Film · Subtitles Illustrates the properties and uses of both thermoplastic and thermosetting compounds in the 'FOURTH KINGDOM' of plastics. Internet Archive D.O.A. (1949) 1949 · Feature Frank Bigelow is about to die, and he knows it. The accountant has been poisoned and has only 24 hours before the lethal concoction kills him. Determined to… Internet Archive Birth of An Oilfield 1948 · Film · Subtitles Shows how an oil well is drilled and crude oil is brought up from the ground and started on its way to the refinery. While live action is used to show… Internet Archive Kingdom of Plastics, The 1945 · Film · Subtitles Illustrates the properties and uses of both thermoplastic and thermosetting compounds in the 'FOURTH KINGDOM' of plastics. Internet Archive Man to Man 1947 · Film · Subtitles INSTRUCTION IN SALESMANSHIP, PRESENTED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ONE MAN'S EXPERIENCE. Salesman points to easel with these signs: "Don't Sell the Steak; Sell the… Internet Archive Democracy at Work in Rural Puerto Rico 1940 · Short · 19 min · Subtitles Life and development in rural Puerto Rico. Internet Archive Happy Motoring Ahead! 1945 · Film · Subtitles 15:01:51:01 VS bus and cars passing Esso gas station; cars pulling out of gas station. 15:03:49:08 Father in shirt and tie reading newspaper with young boy on… Internet Archive Big News of 1941 - The Editors of Universal Newsreel present dramatic highlights of an epochal year, 1941/12/24 1941 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) Help For Democracies - America's answer - ships, tanks, guns and planes for the brave actions fighting aggression. As the Arsenal of Democracy, the U.S.… Internet Archive Patty Garman, Teen-ager 1946 · Film · Subtitles Depicts the 4-H work of Patty Garman such as caring for animals, cooking and sewing. Internet Archive Laura ( 1944) HD Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price 1944 · Feature Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews in film noir. Internet Archive Welding Operator, The 1942 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Methods of welding and occupational prospects for welders. Internet Archive The House I Live In 1945 · Short · 11 min The House I Live In was a 1945 short film written by Albert Maltz and made by producer Frank Ross and actor Frank Sinatra to oppose anti-Semitism and… Internet Archive Your Social Security 1940 · Short · 17 min · Subtitles How the system works. Internet Archive Cattle Stampede 1943 colorized (Buster Crabbe) 1943 · Feature Billy the Kid (Buster Crabbe) and Fuzzy Jones (Al St. John) are on the run from riders who hope to cash in on the reward money for their capture. They agree… Internet Archive Allied Vise Tightens On Rhineland, 1944/12/07 1944 · Newsreel · Subtitles (1) "Strasbourg, capital of Alsace-Lorraine, is captured by the Americans and the French. Flooded canals testify to the unruly weather being encountered. Tons… Internet Archive [Amateur film: San Francisco] 1940 · Home movie · 12 min · Subtitles Pre-World War II San Francisco scenics. Internet Archive Tobaccoman's Sixth Sense, The 1949 · Film · Subtitles A very good film detailing the processes used in quality control of tobacco (produced by Lucky Strike). Shots include: tobacco field; tobacco farmer… Internet Archive The Upturned Glass 1947 · Feature Title: The Upturned Glass Summary: A British brain surgeon punishes the murderess of his lover. Directed by: Lawrence Huntington Actors: James Mason, Rosamund… Internet Archive Day of Wrath (1943) 1943 · Feature "Day of Wrath" (original title: "Vredens Dag") is a notable Danish film directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer , released in 1943 during the Nazi occupation of… Internet Archive Today I Hang 1942 · Feature · 1 h 4 min Title: Today I Hang Summary: Henry Courtney, a wealthy importer is found murdered and the famous DeNormand necklace has been stolen. The false testimony of… Internet Archive Air Transportation 1947 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Workings of a commercial airline before air travel became a mass phenomenon. Internet Archive East Side Kids 1940 · Feature · 1 h Title: East Side Kids Summary: A young street kid grows up and becomes a cop when he realizes that crime doesn't pay. One of his childhood friends is in… Internet Archive LA LUZ QUE AGONIZA - (1944) VOSE 1944 · Feature Título original: Gaslight Estrenos: En los Estados Unidos, el 4 de mayo de 1944 en Nueva York. En México se estrenó el 25 de diciembre de 1944 en el enorme… Internet Archive Duties of A Secretary 1947 · Film · Subtitles The Underwood Corporation has produced a clever photoplay, to highlight the responsibilities of a competent secretary. The Duties of a Secretary was prompted… Internet Archive Twenty-Six Old Characters, The 1947 · Short · 20 min · Subtitles Development of writing and writing tools throughout history. Internet Archive How Motion Pictures Move And Talk 1940 · Talk · 11 min · Subtitles Explains the basic principles of motion pictures and, by animation, shows how sound is recorded on a strip of film. Internet Archive My Darling Clementine (1946) 1946 · Feature Three brothers stop off for a night in the town of Tombstone. The next morning they find one of their brothers dead and their cattle stolen. They decide to… Internet Archive The Wabbit Who Came to Supper (1942) 1942 · Feature The Wabbit Who Came to Supper is a 1942 Merrie Melodies cartoon featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. It was released on March 28, 1942, and directed by Friz… Internet Archive The Shanghai Gesture (1941) Gene Tierney, Walter Huston, Victor Mature, Ona Munson 1941 · Feature The Shanghai Gesture is a 1941 American FILM NOlR directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Gene Tierney, Walter Huston, Victor Mature and Ona Munson. It… Internet Archive The Timid Toreador (1940) 1940 · Feature The Timid Toreador is a 1940 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Bob Clampett and Norman McCabe. The short was released on December 21, 1940, and… Internet Archive Cry Of The City [1948] Dir. Robert Siodmak, Starring Richard Conte, Shelley Winters, Victor Mature 1948 · Feature You can find out more about this movie from Wikipedia and Film Nolr of the Week . Cry of the City is a 1948 black-and-white Film Noir directed by Robert… Internet Archive News Parade of 1945 1945 · Newsreel · 2 min · Subtitles 0557 PA8076 News Parade of 1945 35mm nitrate Internet Archive Daffy's Southern Exposure (1942) 1942 · Feature Daffy’s Southern Exposure is a 1942 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes animated short directed by Norman McCabe. The cartoon was released on May 2, 1942, and stars… Internet Archive Your Thrift Habits 1948 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Modern-day moral tale resembling Ben Franklin's autobiography. Internet Archive Doctor in Industry 1946 · Film · Subtitles Epic history of industrial medicine in the first half of the 20th century, showing how manufacturers and the medical profession came to terms with one another… Internet Archive Dangerous Millions 1946 · Feature Title: Dangerous Millions Summary: A shipping magnate hatches a plan for testing the worth of his heirs, none of whom he has ever seen. He summons them all to… Internet Archive Nighttime in Nevada 1948 · Feature · 56 min Title: Nighttime in Nevada Summary: The bad guy steals a gold mine from his partner and then murders him. Next he turns to rustling cattle. Directed by:… Internet Archive Tom Brown's School Days 1940 · Feature · 1 h 20 min Title: Tom Brown's School Days Summary: A young boy starts at Rugby boarding school. He is tormented by Flashman, the school bully. Directed by: Robert… Internet Archive Hop and Go (1943) 1943 · Feature Hop and Go is a 1943 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes animated cartoon directed by Norman McCabe and animated by Cal Dalton. The short was released on March 27,… Internet Archive City Fire Fighters 1947 · Film · Subtitles A fireman demonstrates fire fighting equipment & teaches children responsibility in preventing & controlling fires. Internet Archive Moonrise (1948) 1948 · Feature Moonrise is a 1948 American film noir crime film directed by Frank Borzage starring Dane Clark , Gail Russell and Ethel Barrymore . It is based on the 1946… Internet Archive Nutty News (1942) 1942 · Feature Nutty News is a 1942 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Bob Clampett. The short was released on May 23, 1942. Elmer Fudd’s voice can be heard as… Internet Archive Why Play Leap Frog? 1949 · Film · Subtitles WHY PLAY LEAPFROG?, the fourth in a series of economics films, shows through an animated Technicolor cartoon how increased wages based on increased… Internet Archive Victory Is Our Business 1942 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles Patriotic motivational film for World War II industrial workers. Internet Archive Too Late for Tears (1949) 1949 · Feature Through a fluke circumstance, a ruthless woman stumbles across a suitcase filled with $60,000, and is determined to hold onto it even if it means murder.… Internet Archive [Home Movies: Summers Collection: San Francisco, California, 1941] 1941 · Home movie · Subtitles Comprehensive film of San Francisco, California and vicinity shot in the summer of 1941. • 13:57:09:14- 13:57:32:12 Nice aerial series—in every shot we see… Internet Archive The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945) Directed by Robert Siodmak, Starring George Sanders, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ella Raines 1945 · Feature The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry is a 1945 American FILM NOlR drama directed by Robert Siodmak and starring George Sanders, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Ella… Internet Archive Porky's Cafe (1942) 1942 · Feature Porky Pig creates mechanical gadgets. He uses those gadgets to fix a meal for a very unusual little man at a restaurant. The cook at the restaurant is Conrad…