The world's archives

1,921–1,968 of 18,145 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 Ingenuity in Action 1959 · Film · Subtitles This informative film made for hot rod fans explains the process involved in preparing and entering a car show, but at times comes across as an ethnographic… Internet Archive ''Sheriff of Cochise'' - Bank Robbery (1957, Drama) 1957 · TV · 25 min · Subtitles An episode of the 1950's drama "Sheriff of Cochise" called 'Bank Robbery'. Set in its own time, but please excuse the iPod picture quality (my internet is… Internet Archive Man Accused 1959 · Feature Title: Man Accused Summary: Just after he has become engaged to a baronet's daughter, Bob Jenson is arrested for robbery and murder. He breaks jail, tracks… Internet Archive Highway Hearing 1956 · Film · Subtitles A small town learns that it is to be bypassed by a new freeway that is due for construction. In a meeting attended by local government officials, town… Internet Archive Getting Along With Parents 1954 · Film · Subtitles Shows the conflict between six teen-agers and their respective parents in a situation designed to provoke discussion. Emphasizes that each generation must… Internet Archive [Caroline Mission] 1950 · Film · Subtitles St. Louis, Missouri: Catholic mission in the slums. 06:02:15:01 VS 1950s interracial group (African American and White children) of boys various ages from… Internet Archive Nation at Your Fingertips, The 1951 · Film · Subtitles Visible lines of transportation -- rivers, roads and rails -- traverse the landscape and enable the movement of people, freight and information in its… Internet Archive Herds West 1955 · Film · Subtitles Shows production of beef from the grasslands of the range to the feeding barns near big cities in the West. Points up the westward movement of cattle in… Internet Archive Holiday from Rules? 1959 · Film · Subtitles "Lord of the Flies" from an adult's point of view, starring four willful and confused children. Internet Archive ''Range Rider'' - Outlaw Territory 1953 · TV · 24 min · Subtitles An episode of the early 1950s western TV series. This episode benefits from being shot entirely outdoors. Guest actress Minerva Urecal is entertaining as usual. Internet Archive Waters of the Commonwealth 1950 · Film · Subtitles Shows the need for abatement of pollution of the streams and the accomplishments being attained by the Sanitary Water Board, Pennsylvania Department of… Internet Archive Hank Williams, Sr. and friends sing, "I Saw the Light" 1952 · Feature Hank Williams, Roy Acuff, June Carter and others sing the Gospel classic, "I Saw the Light" on "The Kate Smith Evening Hour" television show. Full episode… Internet Archive Driving Tips, Part 2 1958 · Film · Subtitles Warnings of drinking and driving, speeding, approaching a stopped school bus, the dangers of signal jumping "usually jumping into trouble", driving too… Internet Archive Sweet Tooth Sam (35mm Workprint) 1957 · Cartoon Sweet Tooth Sam is a 1957 Tom Terrific short by Terrytoons, and this workprint was found by Steve Sachfield of Thunderbean. Sam takes all of the candy, and… Internet Archive [News Magazine of the Screen, December 1950] 1950 · Film · Subtitles Assassination attempt on President Harry S. Truman. End of film: Celebrations of Christmas around the world Internet Archive New Orleans Uncensored (1955) 1955 · Feature William Castle directed this Sam Katzman production, a gritty crime thriller about a newly-discharged sailor who gets a job as a longshoreman in The Big Easy.… Internet Archive Quality Control in Modern Merchandising 1952 · Film · Subtitles TOUR THROUGH QUALITY CONTROL & TESTING LABS OF MERCHANDISER. TESTS (DESTRUCTIVE & NONDESTRUCTIVE) SHOWN. Internet Archive Social Acceptability 1957 · Film · Subtitles Correlation between social acceptability and successful adjustment and happiness of average adolescent. Emphasises responsibility of adults to provide… Internet Archive Your Hit Parade: 1955 New Years Eve episode (Classic TV, Pop Music) 1955 · TV · 29 min · Subtitles Another episode of the long-running United States television series "Your Hit Parade". This 1950s series featured singers performing covers of the hits of the… Internet Archive Of Town and Country 1955 · Film · Subtitles PRESENTS THE ICE CREAM INDUSTRY AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF TOWN & COUNTRY, POINTING UP FACTORS IN ECONOMICS & SCIENCE WHICH INFLUENCE THE… Internet Archive Chinatown At Midnight (1955) Hurd Hatfield - Film Noir Full Movie 1955 · Feature Chinatown at Midnight is a 1949 film directed by Seymour Friedman and starring Hurd Hatfield. He was best known for often playing characters of handsome,… Internet Archive Another "What's My Line" with guest Lucille Ball (Classic TV) 1954 · TV · 30 min · Subtitles Episode of the popular game show "What's My Line" with guest Lucille Ball. This is classic TV! Complete with Original commercials. Internet Archive In Our Hands, Part 3: How To Lose What We Have 1950 · Film · Subtitles "We can lose what we have in America by a lack of interest in our government, a lack of training needed to recognize false promises and false leaders, an… Internet Archive The Dark Angel 1951 · TV · Subtitles Tales Of Tomorrow ep The Dark Angel * Season: 1 * Episode: 8 * First Aired: 9/28/1951 Internet Archive Failed TV Pilot: "Meet The O'Briens" (1954) 1954 · TV · 24 min · Subtitles Failed TV pilot called "Meet The O'Briens". Made in 1954, This TV pilot seems more like a 40's comedy short than a 50's TV program. It's easy to see why this… Internet Archive Crisis in Levittown 1957 · Educational · 32 min The Black upper middle-class Myers family moves into all-white Levittown, PA in August, 1957, and are snubbed and mistreated, in this powerful landmark… Internet Archive The Hound Of The Baskeгvilles 1959 1959 · Feature When a nobleman is threatened by a deadly family curse on his newly inherited estate, detective Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate. Internet Archive 'Valiant Lady' - 8/December/1953 1953 · TV · 11 min · Subtitles An amazingly incomplete episode of the brilliantly campy soap opera "Valiant Lady". This show was performed live. Charming, exciting and watchable, this is a… Internet Archive The Tell-Tale Heart (1953) 1953 · Feature One of the most discussed and imaginative cartoons of any era. It tells the famous Edgar Allan Poe story of the deranged boarder who had to kill his landlord,… Internet Archive Greater Goal: Human Dividends from American Industry, The 1953 · Short · 23 min · Subtitles The Southern textile industry as a hotbed of enlightened industrial progress. Internet Archive ''The Spike Jones Show'' - Unsold Pilot 1952 · TV · 25 min · Subtitles A bizarre 1952 TV pilot for "The Spike Jones Show", a comedy/variety show. The pilot was not picked up, but Spike Jones did eventually host a series on TV: In… Internet Archive According to Plan: The Story of Modern Sidewalls for the Homes of America 1952 · Film · Subtitles The beauty and functionality of asbestos sidewalls. With a visit to Levittown, N.Y. and an interview with Norman Denny, vice president of materials for Levitt… Internet Archive The Information Machine or Creative Man and the Data Processor 1958 · Film · Subtitles Applies graphic sensitivity to medium in cartoon form, and traces the history of storing and analyzing information from the days of the cavemen to today's age… Internet Archive Salt of the Earth (1954) 1954 · Feature At New Mexico's Empire Zinc mine, Mexican-American workers protest the unsafe work conditions and unequal wages compared to their Anglo counterparts. Ramon… Internet Archive The Man With A Cloak (1951) Joseph Cotten, Barbara Stanwyck, Louis Calhern, Leslie Caron 1951 · Feature The Man with a Cloak is a 1951 American FILM NOlR crime-drama directed by Fletcher Markle and starring Joseph Cotten, Barbara Stanwyck, Louis Calhern, and… Internet Archive Marriage Today 1950 · Film · Subtitles Shows how two young couples have built lasting marriages by a clear analysis of their mutual aims and cooperation in achieving them. One couple, university… Internet Archive World For Ransom (1954) Dan Duryea, Patric Knowles, Gene Lockhart, Reginald Denny, Nigel Bruce, Marian Carr 1954 · Feature World for Ransom is a 1954 American FILM NOlR drama directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Dan Duryea, Patric Knowles, Gene Lockhart, Reginald Denny, Nigel… Internet Archive Weight Reduction Through Diet 1951 · Film · Subtitles Film by the National Dairy Council about how to lose weight by adjusting daily caloric intake. Discusses the dangers of being overweight and the importance of… Internet Archive Murder on the Screen 1958 · Short · 21 min · Subtitles Tracking down those responsible for damaging motion picture film. Internet Archive Navajo Canyon Country 1954 · Short · 11 min · Subtitles Culture and life of Dine' people in the 1950s. Internet Archive Red Dust 1952 · TV · Subtitles Tales Of Tomorrow ep Red Dust * Season: 1 * Episode: 31 * First Aired: 5/2/1952 Internet Archive Story of Light, The 1954 · Film · Subtitles HISTORY OR VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH MAN HAS OBTAINED LIGHT, FROM EARLY USE OF FIRE TO ELECTRIC LIGHTING. FEATURES STRINGLESS PUPPETS PRODUCED BY JOOP GEESINK. A… Internet Archive Dead Right 1950 · Film · Subtitles Tells about a pedestrian accident victim who may have been legally right, but was almost killed - and remains wheelchair-bound. Internet Archive Life Is a Lark at Willow Grove Park 1956 · Film · Subtitles Features bands playing at music stand; plus 20 minute film of amusement park, rides and circus. Internet Archive ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' - Pilot 1955 · TV · 28 min · Subtitles This is the pilot that was made to get "local" televsion personality Lawrence Welk picked up as a network series. One of the most "square" things you'll ever… Internet Archive Civil War, The 1954 · Film · Subtitles Pictures important military events of the war, stressing social, economic and geographical factors. Animated drawings and color photography used. Internet Archive Wild Life in the 49th State 1959 · Film · Subtitles Promo for camping equipment made from duPont synthetic fibers. "Your name is Walter Berlet. You make your living in part as a naturalist. But long ago you put… Internet Archive Destination Big House 1950 · Feature Title: Destination Big House Summary: School teacher Janet Brooks innocently involves herself in a scandal while spending the week-end alone in the mountain…