Yours

Documentary from the world's archives

625–672 of 6,306 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 1930’S KODAK CINEGRAPH NATURE DOCUMENTARY “ GOLDEN EAGLES ” FALCONER FALCONRY 55294 Documentary This silent Kodak Cinegraph educational / documentary film takes a brief look at the Golden Eagle. Kodak began selling Cinegraph films in 1927 for home use… Internet Archive CHAIRMAN MAO TSE-TUNG LIFE & LEGACY DOCUMENTARY FILM COMMUNIST CHINA 47774 Documentary Mao Tse-tung: Life and Legacy is a short film on the political life of the Chinese leader, primarily focusing on post-World War II developments. The film… Internet Archive Congolaise 1950 · Feature · 1 h 8 min AKA Savage Africa The expedition that shot this Ethno-exploitation film was sponsored by the French Government and the Museum of Man, for the purpose of… Internet Archive POLAND 1938-1945 WWII DOCUMENTARY & TRAVELOGUE MOVIE 75734a Documentary This late 1940s black and white documentary film is about Poland from 1938-1945; an International Film Foundation, Julien Bryan Production, narrated by Merce… Internet Archive " THE GLORY TRAIL " 1960s DOCUMENTARY PORTRAIT OF THE OLD WEST & PIONEER DAYS COWBOYS 42234 Documentary This 1960s era, black and white film takes us on a fascinating trip to the Old West where we visit the pioneers, wagoneers, pony express riders, miners,… Internet Archive 1940s WORLD WAR II BRITISH COMBAT CAMERA DOCUMENTARY FILM 48174 Documentary Made during WWII by the British Ministry of Information, CAMERAMEN AT WAR was produced by the Realist Film Unit with support of various newsreel companies,… Internet Archive WORLD WAR II WAR FILM 19 FIREPOWER DOCUMENTARY " HOW GOOD IS A GUN? " 25514 Documentary An official War Department film produced by the United States Army Signal Corps during WWII, “How Good Is A Gun?” opens with a scene from “a valley where… Internet Archive The Keystone 'Patrician' 1928 · Feature Internet Archive Ships That Bring Us Christmas — Filmic Walk | Seaport Winter Night 2025 · Home movie South Street Seaport, Manhattan — December 6, 2025 This filmic walk records the South Street Seaport and Brooklyn Bridge area during a quiet December night in… Internet Archive “THE ETERNAL LIGHT: THE REMNANT” 1969 JEWISH DOCUMENTARY HOLOCAUST & POSTWAR AFTERMATH DOCUMENTARY 56124 Documentary This 1969 episode of “The Eternal Light,” an NBC television series produced in conjunction with the Jewish Theological Seminary, represents part two of a… Internet Archive Filmic Walk - Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge in the Rain | Brooklyn, Video Walk 2026 · Documentary New York City, Brooklyn Bridge — July 6, 2026 This filmic walk crosses the Brooklyn Bridge during a nighttime rainstorm in New York City. The recording… Internet Archive " SPACE SHUTTLE: MISSION TO THE FUTURE " NASA DOCUMENTARY w/ JAMES DOOHAN STS-1 COLUMBIA 67245 Documentary This 1981 NASA documentary, narrated by James Doohan, covers the first mission of Space Shuttle Columbia, STS-1, shows the training of the crewmembers, and… Internet Archive Cornish Valley 1944 · Documentary · 16 min A 1944 British documentary showing farming in a rural part of Britain. Produced by Greenpark Productions for the Ministry of Information. Internet Archive " BRASILIA CITY OF HOPE " BRAZIL STANDARD OIL CO. DOCUMENTARY OSCAR NEIMEYER 18204 Documentary Dating to 1960 and produced by the Standard Oil Company, Tangent Films, Robert W. Schofield and Leona Carney, this profile of the new city of Brasilia shows… Internet Archive THE TRUTH ABOUT COMMUNISM DOCUMENTARY w/ RONALD REAGAN Part 2 49914 Documentary Part 2 of the 1962 documentary “The Truth About Communism” continues its explanation of the terror presented by the Soviet Union and its ideology. Narrated by… Internet Archive 1961 U.S. DEPT. OF DEFENSE COLD WAR DOCUMENTARY " COMMUNIST EUROPE " EASTERN BLOC NATIONS 58014 Documentary Communist Europe (AFIF 107) is a 1961 short film from the U.S. Department of Defense that gives viewers a look at the Communist satellite countries of eastern… Internet Archive LANDING VEHICLE TRACKED WWII DOCUMENTARY FILM 81414 Documentary This “restricted” World War II-era black-and-white film was produced by the US Navy to introduce the viewer to the LTV — the Landing Vehicle Tracked (an… Internet Archive "LEST WE FORGET" (PART 1) WWII DOCUMENTARY FILM D-DAY TO V-E DAY 76804 Documentary Lest We Forget is a 1947 military documentary that consists of newsreels and government propaganda films, giving viewers a look at the fighting of World War… Internet Archive "SHIPWAYS" WWII BETHLEHEM STEEL VICTORY & LIBERTY SHIP PRODUCTION DOCUMENTARY MD86514 Documentary "Shipways" is a 1945 film presented by the Bethlehem Steel Company – Shipbuilding Division. The film chronicles the transformation of the Bethlehem Steel… Internet Archive PIONEER 5 DEEP SPACE PROBE 1960 NASA DOCUMENTARY " THE PATH OF VENUS " FILM ATLAS ROCKET 85064 Documentary This color educational film is about America's first deep space probe, Pioneer V. Animation depicts the path the spacecraft takes on its journey. This is… Internet Archive "GO FOR BROKE" WWII JAPANESE AMERICAN 442nd REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM DOCUMENTARY FILM 34302 Documentary This rare film shows the training of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army. The 442nd was a regimental size fighting unit composed almost… Internet Archive 1945 AFRICAN AMERICANS IN WWII U.S. NAVY FILM "THE NEGRO SAILOR" XD12654 Documentary The Negro Sailor is a 1945 documentary short film made for the U.S. Navy, which was segregated during WWII. It was directed by Henry Levin. The film attempts… Internet Archive THE RACE TO SPACE 1960s DOCUMENTARY ALAN SHEPARD JOHN GLENN 50444a Documentary The circa 1962 black-and-white film “The Race to Space” recounts exploration of the world and beyond, opening with a reference to the space race between the… Internet Archive "BIOGRAPHY OF JOSEPH STALIN" 1962 DOCUMENTARY SOVIET PREMIER XD2092 Documentary This episode of the television series ‘Biography’ showcases the Former Premier of Soviet Russia, Joseph Stalin. He reigned over Russia from 1922 until 1953.… Internet Archive “ THE BIG PICTURE: THE COBRA STRIKES ” U.S. ARMY KOREAN WAR DOCUMENTARY FILM 80754 Documentary This black-and-white film titled “The Cobra Strikes” is an episode in the U.S. Army documentary series “The Big Picture” and first aired in 1965. The series,… Internet Archive DISASTER AT SEA 1956 SINKING OF THE OCEAN LINER SS ANDREA DORIA DOCUMENTARY FILM 63824 Documentary This 1964 black and white documentary film “Survival! Andrea Doria” details the sinking of the SS Andrea Doria on July 25, 1956. It was produced by Official… Internet Archive FORMULA ONE RACE CAR DRIVER STIRLING MOSS "PORTRAIT OF A HERO" DOCUMENTARY FILM 46354 Documentary Sports International With Bud Palmer’s 1963 special, “Stirling Moss—Portrait of a Hero,” tells the story of British Formula One racing star Stirling Moss as… Internet Archive "CORREGIDOR TO IWO JIMA" WWII DOCUMENTARY 1945 U.S. OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IN PACIFIC THEATER 56374a Documentary "Corregidor to Iwo Jima" is an episode of the "Naval Workers Digest" released in 1945. The documentary presents the war in the Pacific in 1945, as the Allies… Internet Archive 7th Infantry Division 1949 · Short · 21 min Follows the 7th Infantry Division from the Aleutian Islands to Seoul Internet Archive 1960s WHALE HUNTING IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC DOCUMENTARY FILM HARPOONS & TNT 64774 Documentary Made for the home market, this Castle Films production depicts the dangerous job of whale hunting. The footage shown dates to the late 1950s / early 1960’s… Internet Archive Your Children And You 1946 · Documentary · 27 min 1946 British educational film, intended for parents. Produced by the Realist Film Unit for the Central Office of Information. Internet Archive " THE AMERICAN WOMAN IN THE 20th CENTURY " 1964 WOMEN'S HISTORY DOCUMENTARY PART 2 XD4978 Documentary From the 1900s to the 1960s, this 1964 documentary, produced by the great David Wolper, explores changes in American women's economic, political, and social… Internet Archive THE STORY OF GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR "I SHALL RETURN" DOCUMENTARY 46484 Documentary “I Shall Return” is an episode of The Greatest Drama that tells the story of General Douglas MacArthur, from his days at West Point until his forced… Internet Archive "CATTLE COUNTRY" 1944 DOCUMENTARY ON CATTLE INDUSTRY & BEEF PRODUCTION IN ALBERTA, CANADA 45724 Documentary One of a series of films released by the National Film Board of Canada under the "Canadian Work and Wealth" series and then distributed in the United States… Internet Archive GEORGE S. PATTON AND THE THIRD ARMY 1960 DOCUMENTARY FILM 25894 Documentary “Patton and the Third Army” is an episode of the documentary series “The Twentieth Century” originally airing March 20, 1960. Hosted by revered newsman Walter… Internet Archive PASSENGER PLANES & JET AIRPLANES 1958 DOCUMENTARY TV SHOW 74812 Documentary "Age of the Jet" dates to 1958 and is chock full of historic footage of aviation's earliest days, including excerpts from the film "Coast to Coast in 24… Internet Archive The Racing Cyclist 1966 · Documentary · 12 min A 1966 British documentary about bicycle racing and bicycles in general. Produced by an unknown production company for the Central Office of Information… Internet Archive 1940s GENERAL ELECTRIC DOCUMENTARY MANUFACTURE OF MAZDA LAMPS & LIGHT BULBS 65785 Documentary American Tempo is an industrial documentary detailing the manufacture of General Electric’s Mazda lamps and various other light bulbs. The film opens with… Internet Archive BRITISH NORTH BORNEO 1937 DOCUMENTARY FILM BY MARTIN JOHNSON 53894 Documentary Osa Johnson presents Martin Johnson’s last picture — “Borneo” — a 1937 film by the husband-and-wife team of documentary filmmakers captured during a trip to… Internet Archive Princess Margaret in Mauritius and East Africa 1957 · Documentary · 17 min A 1957 British documentary showing Princess Margaret on tour. Produced for the Central Office of Information. Internet Archive Matisse In Nice, 1917-1930 (1986) 2023 · TV Produced in associated with the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art, this PBS docuemntary looks at the French painter's works taken during his Nice sojourn. Internet Archive " YOUR SHIP IN ACTION " CLEVELAND CLASS LIGHT CRUISER WWII COLOR DOCUMENTARY FILM 20364 Documentary Presented by the U.S. Navy, this WWII-era color film "Your Ship in Action" shows the construction and launch of a Cleveland class light cruiser, USS Denver… Internet Archive FORD MOTOR COMPANY "THE AMERICAN ROAD" COLOR SEGMENT FROM 1970s 72712 Documentary Created in 1953, "The American Road" is an epic documentary that tells both the history of the automobile in America and the story of the Ford Motor Company.… Internet Archive "PARADISE DITCH" DELAWARE DIVISION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CANAL LEHIGH RIVER DOCUMENTARY Documentary Shot over a period of 25 years by one cameraman Roy Creveling, "Paradise Ditch" shows the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal. After the canal was no… Internet Archive National Geographic Super Sub Uss Texas Feature Focusing on the latest-generation submarine, the USS Texas, as well as other international subs, Super Subs tells the story of this incredible invention. Internet Archive PROSPECTING FOR PLACER GOLD 1849 CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH DOCUMENTARY 64444 Documentary Made by Arthur Barr, this short film shows some of the technologies used by prospectors to find gold in the 1849 California Gold Rush. At 2:00 , a prospector… Internet Archive Mrs T and Her Cabbage Patch 1941 · Documentary · 11 min A 1941 British documentary about a community restaurant in wartime. It also emphasises the importance of growing vegetables at home. The film was directed by… Internet Archive THE MYSTERY OF EASTER ISLAND RAPA NUI 1940s DOCUMENTARY FILM 53534 Documentary Produced by Simmel-Meservey and with a story by Jackson Winter, THE MYSTERY OF EASTER ISLAND is an obscure documentary look at the stone statues that populate…