The world's archives
3,121–3,168 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 Ones | Films for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool. |
|---|---|
| Kids | Cartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature. |
| Tweens | Documentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures. |
| Teens | Everything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower. |
| Adult | Sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage. |
Internet Archive
''Pantomime Quiz'' - Misc 1951 episode
An episode of the long-running early television series "Pantomime Quiz", a simple game show. Possibly aired 2 April 1951. Celebrities are: Jean Wallace,…
Internet Archive
When Magoo Flew (1954)
Mr. Magoo sets off to go to the movies but goes to an airport by mistake and gets on a plane thinking it to be a theater. Little does Magoo know the man he is…
Internet Archive
"The Buccaneers" The Instrument of War
"The Buccaneers" The Instrument of War Original Air Date: 29 May 1957 (Season 1, Episode 37)
Internet Archive
''Telephone Time'' - Chico and the Archbishop
Half-hour anthology series episode. This one stars Harry Bartell and Ricky Vera and is a period drama. In this episode, a parish priest tries to help a…
Internet Archive
''Shower of Stars'' - High Pitch
An episode of the television series "Shower of Stars". This musical comedy episode features Tony Martin, Marguerite Piazza, William Frawley, and Vivian Vance.…
Internet Archive
''Four Star Playhouse'' - A Matter Of Advice
An episode of the popular 1950s anthology series. This episode stars David Niven, and is a comedy in which Niven plays a doctor. This episode has also been…
Internet Archive
''What's My Line'' - 23 September 1956
An episode of popular 1950s game show "What's My Line". Mystery guests are the June Taylor dancers, and William Holden. Complete with original commercials for…
Internet Archive
5 Fingers (1952)
During WWII, the valet to the British Ambassador to Ankara sells British secrets to the Germans while trying to romance a refugee Polish countess. Watch on…
Internet Archive
Kvinnor bakom taggtråd (1950)
Under 1930-talet bosätter sig den amerikanska författaren Agnes Newton Keith på norra Borneo tillsammans med sin brittiske make Henry. När japanska trupper år…
Internet Archive
West Coast Hails First World Series, 1959/10/05
Los Angeles Coliseum (glitch) - White Sox vs LA Dodgers in first baseball World's Series on West Coast (partial newsreel).
Internet Archive
Date with the Angels - Double Trouble
A fun episode of "Date with the Angels", a short-lived (1957-1958) sitcom starring Betty White! She has two roles in this episode, playing ordinary housewife…
Internet Archive
Trick or Treat
The cartoon, which takes place on Halloween night, follows a series of pranks between Donald Duck and his nephews with Witch Hazel.
Internet Archive
Ercole e la regina di Lidia (1959)
En route to Thebes for an important diplomatic mission, Hercules drinks from a magic spring and loses his memory. He spends most of the movie in the pleasure…
Internet Archive
''Do You Trust Your Wife'' - 24 July 1956
An episode of the classic television comedy game show "Do You Trust Your Wife", with host Edgar Bergen. Contains the original commercials for L&M cigarettes…
Internet Archive
''The Original Amateur Hour'' - Misc episode 1
An episode of "The Original Amateur Hour", which despite the name was a half-hour series. All acts are US army personnel.
Internet Archive
''All Star Revue'' - 2 February 1952
An episode of NBC's live variety series. This episode features Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson, Elsa and Waldo, Chet Allen, Rosalie Allen and many other people. The…
Internet Archive
Friday the 13th (1953)
Friday the 13th is a Terrytoons cartoon directed by Mannie Davis. Watch on RetroFlix: https://retroflix.org/friday-the-13th-1953/
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: Deer Hunt, Kumbrabow State Forest, 1956]
Pictured are "Mr. Holley, Ernie Holley, Bill Bryant, Pete Stanley, Willard Holley, and Don"
Internet Archive
[Home movie: 098638: New York in 1953, Niagara Falls, horse races]
Reel from 1953 with three beautiful minutes of Times Square neon signage at night, skyscraper views of daytime Manhattan, a trip to the horse races, and then…
Internet Archive
Twilight Zone "Next Week" Promos (Season 1, 1959-60)
Clips of Rod Serling teasing/previewing next week's Twilight Zone episode, as originally seen on the network TV first-run episode broadcasts. S1E01 - "Where…
Internet Archive
'Meet Corliss Archer' - Harry's Cold
Episode of the 1954-1955 sitcom "Meet Corliss Archer" called 'Harry's Cold'. Original Broadcast Date: Unknown! Starring Ann Baker, Mary Brian, John Eldredge,…
Internet Archive
Rock 'n' Roll Revue (1955)
Rock'n Roll Revue is a 1955 American film directed by Joseph Kohn. The film was compiled for theatrical exhibition from the made-for-television short films…
Internet Archive
''The Milton Berle Show - 24 April 1956
An episode of NBC's series "The Milton Berle Show". Once television's top-rated show (as "Texaco Star Theater"), but by 1956 the ratings were declining. But,…
Internet Archive
Chance of a Lifetime - Misc 1955 episode
An episode of the 1950s talent contest series "Chance of a Lifetime", which was hosted by Dennis James. This episode features a traditional pop vocalist…
Internet Archive
Back to Life
Internet Archive
''The Dinah Shore Chevy Show'' - 17 May 1957
An episode of Dinah Shore's popular NBC variety series. Guest stars are Art Carney, Betty Hutton, Boris Karloff. Lots of music and comedy. Before you ask for…
Internet Archive
Major Religions of the World: Development and Rituals
Major Religions of the World: Development and Rituals An animated training film which reviews the basic principles of salesmanship and demonstrates an…
Internet Archive
Meet Corliss Archer - The Boatbuilders (1954)
An episode of the 1954-1955 sitcom "Meet Corliss Archer". In this episode, Dexter and Corliss want to build a boat, but their respective fathers decide to…
Internet Archive
''Cavalcade of Stars'' - 2 September 1950, 19 August 1950
The surviving footage from two episodes of DuMont's variety series "Cavalcade of Stars" starring Jackie Gleason. To my knowledge, neither episode survives…
Internet Archive
Lisbon (1956)
For Capt. Robert John Evans, smuggling black-market goods is nothing out of the ordinary. But one day he's hired by Aristides Mavros for a more involved…
Internet Archive
''Range Rider'' - The Crooked Fork
Not sure of the exact date, but this is episode 7 of the syndicated western series aimed at kids.
Internet Archive
Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)
A mismatched couple's marital problems come to the surface when the husband develops an interest in their pretty boarder. Watch on RetroFlix:…
Internet Archive
Maya Are People
Many explorer-adventurer hosts of historical/cultural films viewed their subjects as "objects" (e.g. C. Ernest Cadle and Carveth Wells), their colonialist…
Internet Archive
Shield for Murder (1954)
A crooked detective masterminds a robbery then fights to keep his money. Watch on RetroFlix: https://retroflix.org/shield-for-murder-1954/
Internet Archive
''The Pat Boone-Chevy Showroom'' - 5 December 1957
Pat Boone, plus his guests Stubby Kaye and The Fontane Sisters. A Christmas episode set in a fictional department store.
Internet Archive
Teenagers from Outer Space (1958)
A young alien falls for a pretty teenage Earth girl and they team up to try to stop the plans of his invading cohorts, who intend to use Earth as a…
Internet Archive
''Frankie Laine Time'' - 24 August 1955
Variety series. Frankie Laine starts off by singing "Mule Train", complete with whip. His guests include singer Sheila Bond, comedienne Jean Carroll, and…
Internet Archive
''Kraft Music Hall'' - 17 December 1958
An episode of "Kraft Music Hall", an NBC variety series. Hosted by Milton Berle, this episode also features Eydie Gormé and Walter Pidgeon. Lots of music and…
Internet Archive
''Ford Star Jubilee'' - Together with Music
An episode of "Ford Star Jubilee" originally telecast 22 October 1955 on CBS, and featuring Mary Martin and Noel Coward. Very basic television, with very few…
Internet Archive
Date with the Angels - Shall We Dance
An episode of the 1957-1958 TV sitcom "Date with the Angels", starring Betty White. In this episode, Gus & Vicki decide to hold a small party, but problems…
Internet Archive
''The Ed Wynn Show'' - 25 February 1950
An episode of "The Ed Wynn Show". His guests are Elsa Lanchester, and Reginald Gardner.
Internet Archive
Fortune in Two Old Trunks, A (Part II)
The origin of California's prune (now officially called "dried plum") industry.
Internet Archive
[Home Movies: "Trailer Vacation Month of July 1951 / 2775 mi. / Cost 210.00"]
Some good road trip footage; many good trailer shots Big Basin (California) State Park Lake of the Woods Headin' South Shasta Lake Park Lassen National Forest…
Internet Archive
99 River Street (1953)
A former boxer turned taxi driver earns the scorn of his nagging wife and gets mixed up with jewel thieves. Watch on RetroFlix:…
Internet Archive
Guilty of Treason (1950)
The story of Cardinal Josef Mindzhenty, a Roman Catholic cardinal from Hungary who spoke out against both the Nazi occupation of his country during World War…
Internet Archive
Spellbound Hound (1950)
Mr. Magoo invites a friend to his lakeside cabin, unaware that a bloodhound has pursued an escaped convict to that isolated location. Watch on RetroFlix:…
Internet Archive
''Four Star Playhouse'' - To Die at Midnight
An episode of popular 1950s anthology series "Four Star Playhouse" titled "To Die at Midnight". Dick Powell stars in this episode, which was originally…
Internet Archive
Oedipus Rex: 1-- The Age of Sophocles
Oedipus Rex: 1-- The Age of Sophocles SummaryPresents a discussion by Bernard Knox on the customs, culture and philosophy of the ancient Greeks. Explains the…