The world's archives

1,921–1,968 of 42,480 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 Diary of the Homecoming - 还乡日记 1947 · Short · 1 min A 1947 comedy of errors, as young couples come back to the confusing circumstances of a post-War, pre-Communist Shanghai. B&W, Mandarin Chinese. Internet Archive Human Reproduction 1947 · Film · Subtitles "The development of a foetus [fetus] is followed in detail, and the absence of a common bloodstream is emphasized." "presents vital information accurately and… Internet Archive Carnival 1946 · Feature Title: Carnival Summary: A dancer attempts to escape from the narrow conventions of society and from the fate foretold for her at her birth. Directed by:… Internet Archive 1948 1948 · Cartoon Public domain cartoons of 1948. Work in progress. Corrections on copyright status welcome. Internet Archive Superman - Electronic Earthquake 1942 · Cartoon A Native American scientist demands the return of Manhattan to his native people, or he will destroy the city with his electrically produced earthquakes. Internet Archive Out of the Storm 1948 · Feature Title: Out of the Storm Summary: A young man with financial problems works in the payroll office of a factory. One payday the payroll office is held up by an… Internet Archive Manhandled 1949 · Feature Title: Manhandled Summary: The secretary to a phony psychiatrist finds herself caught up in the murder of a patient's wife and realizes that her life is also… Internet Archive Superman - Billion Dollar Limited 1942 · Cartoon Superman must stop a gang of train robbers who use a super powered car to steal a train shipment of gold. Internet Archive Billion Dollar Limited 1942 · Cartoon · 8 min Superman must save a runaway train full of gold bullion from some bad guys who are doing their level best to rob it Internet Archive Valley of The Tennessee 1944 · Short · 28 min · Subtitles One of a series of films made for the Office of War Information primarily for propaganda purposes abroad, this film employs a narrative structure in… Internet Archive A Coy Decoy (1941) 1941 · Feature A Coy Decoy is a 1941 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon, directed by Bob Clampett. The cartoon was released on June 7, 1941, and stars Porky Pig and Daffy… Internet Archive 1946 - Strange Impersonation - Extraña interpretación - Anthony Mann 1946 · Feature 1946 - Strange Impersonation - Extraña interpretación - Anthony Mann For academic / educational use only Internet Archive 1941 1941 · Cartoon Public domain cartoons of 1941. Work in progress. Corrections on copyright status welcome. Internet Archive Dairy Industry, The 1942 · Film · Subtitles PRESENTS THE WORK INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION, PROCESSING & MARKETING THE PRODUCTS OF THE DAIRY FARM. Internet Archive The Milky Way 1940 · Cartoon · 7 min Title: The Milky Way Summary: The Three Little Kittens tie helium balloons to a basket and travel up to the Milky Way, which is filled with all the milk they… Internet Archive Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1882-1945 1945 · Film · Subtitles This biographical sketch of the late President Roosevelt starts with scenes of his funeral. The film then goes back to scenes of his entry into politics in… Internet Archive [Tacoma-Narrows Bridge Collapse] 1940 · Film · Subtitles Tacoma Span bridge collapse Internet Archive So This Is New York 1948 · Feature Title: So This Is New York Summary: A small town man inherits a significant fortune and takes his family to New York City. Urban culture shock takes the form… Internet Archive Notes to You (1941) 1941 · Feature Notes to You is a 1941 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Friz Freleng. The short was released on September 20, 1941, and stars Porky Pig. Watch on… Internet Archive Porky's Midnight Matinee (1941) 1941 · Feature Porky’s Midnight Matinee is a Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on November 22, 1941, and stars Porky Pig.… Internet Archive To Greater Vision 1944 · Film · Subtitles Shows the manufacture of glass for optical instruments and eyewear used in industry and war. Explains how eyes are treated and faulty vision is corrected. Internet Archive GUADALCANEL DIARY 1943 colorized 1943 · Feature Director, Lewis Seiler, Stars, Preston Foster,Lloyed Nolan, William Bendix. colorized Internet Archive To the shores of Iwo Jima 1945 · Short · 47 min An Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary, this 20 minute Technicolor production unfolds with graphic energy the nearly month long battle for Iwo Jima, a… Internet Archive Sharing Work At Home 1949 · Film · Subtitles A family cooperates to an unbelievable degree. Shows the importance of co-operation in maintaining a happy family life. Internet Archive The Red House (1947) 1947 · Feature The Red House is a 1947 American psychological horror film directed by Delmer Daves and starring Edward G. Robinson , Lon McCallister, Judith Anderson, Rory… Internet Archive Art in San Francisco 1942 · Educational · Subtitles Surveys the art scene in San Francisco in the early years of World War II. Includes scenes of the Montgomery Block and its art studios; scenes of… Internet Archive 1949 - The Accused - La acusada - William Dieterle - VOSE 1949 · Feature For Academic / Educational Use Only derechonoir.wordpress.com t.me/agendasociocultural Internet Archive C-Man (1949,) Dean Jagger, John Carradine 1949 · Feature C-Man is a 1949 American semidocumentary crime film noir directed by Joseph Lerner featuring Dean Jagger, John Carradine, Lottie Elwen and Rene Paul. Gail… Internet Archive Death to Weeds 1947 · Film · Subtitles NEW PESTICIDES, INCORPORATING 2-4-D, ARE SHOWN. GOOD CROP-DUSTING. BEFORE-AND-AFTER SCENES OF CROPS & FIELDS. "DEATH SENTENCE" TO WEEDS AT START. TIME-LAPSE… Internet Archive Trimming Beets 1942 · Film · Subtitles Title: "We Can Beet Hitler Like This" Poster with comic sketch of Hitler is pelted with pink paint or biomas. Title: "But We Can Do More to Defeat Hitler and… Internet Archive Silent War: Colombia's Fight Against Yellow Fever, The 1945 · Short · 9 min · Subtitles Military-style mobilization against epidemics. Internet Archive Red Spy Films. Chambers Farm Yields Top Secret Documents, 1948/12/06 1948 · Newsreel · Subtitles "Washington: Evidence found on the Maryland farm of Whittaker Chambers, forging a new link in the chain of spy data, is examined by Congressman Nixon and… Internet Archive Meet the Wildcat 1940 · Feature Title: Meet the Wildcat Summary: Magazine photographer Ann Larkin is snapping photos at Mexico's National Museum when she sees Brod Williams steal a painting… Internet Archive The Ox Bow Incident (1943) 1943 · Feature The Ox-Bow Incident is a Western film that examines themes of justice, morality, and mob mentality. Set in 1885 Nevada, the story begins with two cowboys, Gil… Internet Archive Mr. Bell (Part I) 1947 · Short · 13 min · Subtitles Dramatization of the invention of the telephone. Internet Archive Jesse James at Bay 1941 · Feature · 52 min Jesse James' double is pillaging the countryside. Internet Archive To Conserve Our Heritage 1940 · Film · Subtitles Essentially a conservation film (re: wildlife and erosion), the reel also goes on to promote the fur and sporting (hunting/fishing) industries. Opens with… Internet Archive Mighty Columbia River, The 1947 · Short · 9 min · Subtitles Hydroelectric power, shipping, irrigation and salmon fishing. Internet Archive Foney Fables (1942) 1942 · Feature Foney Fables is a 1942 Merrie Melodies short directed by Friz Freleng. Watch on RetroFlix.org: https://retroflix.org/foney-fables-1942/ Internet Archive Hoosier Line 1940 · Film · Subtitles Promotional film about Indiana and its railroads. 0849 Begins with the development of Indiana told from Eurocentric perspective. Opens with historical… Internet Archive 91:an Karlsson (1946) 1946 · Feature · Subtitles En militärfars om 91:an Karlssons och 87:an Axelssons kamp om hembiträdet Elviras gunst. Dessutom bjuds det på diverse mer eller mindre fantastiska äventyr i… Internet Archive Meet Your Federal Government 1946 · Short · 15 min · Subtitles Reviews the structure and function of the federal government, as seen through the eyes of a high-school senior. Explains the nature and functions of each of… Internet Archive Fresh Hare (1942) 1942 · Feature Fresh Hare is a Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Friz Freleng, written by Michael Maltese, and produced by Leon Schlesinger. It was released… Internet Archive The Woman in the Window (1944) 1944 · Feature A seductive woman gets an innocent professor mixed up in murder. Watch on RetroFlix.org: https://retroflix.org/the-woman-in-the-window-1944/ Internet Archive The Girl Who Dared 1944 · Feature Title: The Girl Who Dared Summary: A young woman seeking adventure, and several other people have to outwit a mysterious killer on a remote island. Directed… Internet Archive Porky's Ant (1941) 1941 · Feature Porky’s Ant is a 1941 Looney Tunes short directed by Chuck Jones. Watch on RetroFlix.org: https://retroflix.org/porkys-ant-1941/ Internet Archive Fire 1946 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles The benefits and dangers of fire. Internet Archive Detour (1945) 1945 · Feature The life of Al Roberts, a pianist in a New York nightclub, turns into a nightmare when he decides to hitchhike to Los Angeles to visit his girlfriend. Watch…