Documentary from the world's archives

1,921–1,968 of 6,832 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. Nothing is left out for being sexual: sexual content and nudity are for adults, placed by what the archive files a film as, never by a word of its title alone (The Naked City is a police film). A film filed as pornography is listed for adults without its picture and plays nowhere yet, as the law where it would play asks for a proof of age this site does not have. A sexual depiction of a child, drawn ones too, is listed nowhere.

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 content, pornography, nudity and nudism, striptease, sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, beheadings, atrocity footage.
Internet Archive Dame Sian Phillips The Wonder Of Wales 1990s Full Welsh Tourist Board VHS Tape Documentary 1994 · Documentary Dame Sian Phillips narrates this rare 1994 Welsh Tourist Board VHS Tape Cassette on the wonders of Wales. Internet Archive Sacramento TV — KVIE 6 / CBS 13 — Documentaries, Drama, News & Commercials — February 2018 2018 · Commercial Complete unedited VHS recording digitized from a home-recorded tape. KVIE Public Television (PBS) and KOVR CBS 13 (CBS), Sacramento–Stockton–Modesto,… Internet Archive The Natural Wonders Of Europe 1992 · Documentary This documentary, directed by Jean-Marc Dauphin, is about exploring the major natural curiosities of Europe. Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] Wings: Warplanes Documentary Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive Nostalgia WWII Video Library #6 (1942) 1080p Commercial · 2 min Produced by the U.S. War Department, this collection of short documentaries features soldiers on the front line during World War II. Internet Archive Chicago White Sox: A Visual History (1987) Documentary · Subtitles Title: Chicago White Sox: A Visual History Year: 1987 Source: VHS Description: Chicago White Sox: A Visual History is a 1987 documentary chronicling the… Internet Archive Opening to Memphis Belle (Documentary) 1986 VHS 1986 · Documentary Here's the order: 1. 1985 Video Treasures Presents Logo 2. Start of the Documentary Open Images Telling Our Stories: Stonard Lungu 2010 · Documentary · 24 min Some listeners will remember Stonard Lungu (Malawi’s own Ali Farka Toure, Woody Guthrie or Bob Dylan, according to the filmmaker) for his often out-of-tune… Internet Archive Q.E.D. - Superspecs - May 20th, 1997 1997 · Documentary Q.E.D. - Superspecs - May 20th, 1997 - MP4 Video Size: 384x288 Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum, Latin for "that which was to be demonstrated") was the name of… Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] Apollo 13: The True Story Documentary Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive Q.E.D. - Superspecs - May 20th, 1997 - MP4 1997 · Documentary Q.E.D. - Superspecs - May 20th, 1997 - MP4 Video Size: 384x288 Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum, Latin for "that which was to be demonstrated") was the name of… Internet Archive Wings Over Water (Documentary Pt 2, 1986) Documentary Wings Over Water (Documentary, segment 2) Produced in 1986. History of Naval Aviation and its relationship to American Foreign policy. From VHS capture. Internet Archive Daytime’s Greatest Weddings: All My Children (1993) 1993 · Documentary Daytime’s Greatest Weddings: All My Children Host: Susan Lucci (ABC Video, 1993) Running Time: 52 Minutes All My Children The one and only Susan Lucci (Erica… Internet Archive Exploring Nevada: Centennial Ranches 2006 · Documentary A DVD from the Nevada State Library , which was recorded on VHS to begin with. Exploring Nevada - Centennial Ranches The name Nevada has long evoked romantic… Internet Archive Gangsta Gangsta: The Tragedy of Tupac Shakur (1998) 1998 · Documentary This is a documentary about Tupac Shakur. The sound isn't clear because it's from an old VHS tape. Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] The Learning Channel: Secrets of the Mummy Documentary Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive B'Dum B'Dum - Buzzcocks / Magazine 1978 · Documentary Presented by Tony Wilson, the programme featured insightful interviews with Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto. These were intercut with live performances from… Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] Vietnam War with Walter Cronkite: 3, The Elusive Enemy; The Tet Offensive Documentary Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive [Vintage TV] Magical Mystery Tour; IL State Redbirds v. DePaul Blue Demons 1985-12-07 (WGN Chicago w/ ads) Documentary · Subtitles Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive Q.E.D. - How To Win Grand Prix - May 29th, 1996 - MP4 1996 · Documentary Q.E.D. - How To Win Grand Prix - May 29th, 1996 - MP4 Video Size: 640x480 Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum, Latin for "that which was to be demonstrated") was… Internet Archive Bob Marley And The Wailers - Caribbean Nights (1984) (VHS rip) 1984 · Documentary Bob Marley And The Wailers - Caribbean Nights (1984) (VHS rip) Internet Archive Biography 1987 · Commercial Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by… Internet Archive Lifepulse A Natural Thriller VHS 1991 2022 · Documentary Lifepulse A Natural Thriller VHS rip 1991 Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] The Sci-Fi Files: Spaceships And Aliens Documentary Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive BBC Video World (VHS Tapes) Documentary TV Documentaries Internet Archive Q.E.D. - Simon's Peace - June 12th, 1985 - MP4 1985 · Documentary Q.E.D. - Simon's Peace - June 12th, 1985 - MP4 Video Size: 640x480 Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum, Latin for "that which was to be demonstrated") was the… Internet Archive Arena - Dennis Potter Interview (1987) 1987 · Documentary An episode of Arena, originally broadcast on January 30th 1987, in which Alan Yentob interviews the screenwriter Dennis Potter about his life and how he… Internet Archive Life in the Undergrowth ★ 2005 BBC Nature Documentary with Subtitles, Book, and MKV 2005 · Talk Life in the Undergrowth ★ 2005 BBC Nature Documentary with Subtitles, Book, and MKV. I nicknamed this page "Bugs and Slugs" … 🤣 . _ . I found the original DVD… Internet Archive [Vintage TV] Great Railway Journeys of the World: Changing Trains; Grand British Experimental Railway Documentary · Subtitles Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive Astronomia L'Attività Solare 1997 · Documentary 5th Episode of the Astronomia series by Fabbri Video OCR Analysis: astronomia-l'attività-solare_cover_back.png: nent iaaiaiieamemeeeamenenineeenemeemmematia… Internet Archive DVD-6799 - Peter, Paul, & Mary - Tonight In Person 1965, Meet Noel Paul Stookey 1982 Documentary Recorded By: Mister T. Collection: The Mister T. DVD Collection Medium Type: DVD Uploaded Format: DVD ISO DVD-6799 - Peter, Paul, & Mary - Tonight In Person… Internet Archive Wildlife on One - S22E08 - Nightgliders (May 25th 1995) 1995 · Documentary I am happy to share with you a new Wildlife on One episode, S22E08 Nightgliders, as originally broadcast on May 25th, 1995, on BBC One! This is a very… Internet Archive Die Grosse Depression (Konstantin Faigle, 2005) [Subs English] (VHSRip) 2005 · Documentary Realistic-satirical documentary on how the authors of the film interpret a typical German situation. Great depression lies on the country like lead. What is… Internet Archive Time Wave Travel & Beyond: Seattle / Victoria / Vancouver (2002) [VHS] 2002 · Documentary YouTube upload: https://youtu.be/8yD0B9miMcc Time Wave® presents Travel & Beyond - The Ultimate Video Tour Destinations Seattle / Victoria / Vancouver… Internet Archive 1979.05.15 - WNBC - NBC Special Treat - How the Beatles Changed the World 1979 · Commercial Supplied & Digitized by: Agendath Video size: 704x480 FPS: 29.96 Run Time: 01:00:11 With Commercials This recording was provided to me as a VIDEO_TS folder.… Internet Archive Astronomia: Stelle con Compagni Oscuri 1997 · Documentary 24th episode of the Astronomia series by Fabbri Video. OCR Analysis: astronomia-stelle-con-compagni-oscuri_cover_back.png: ta z : 2 x : Sa + A aera eS “ a ‘… Internet Archive Budo: The Art of Killing 1978 · Commercial Budo: The Art of Killing is an award winning 1978 Japanese martial arts documentary created and produced by Hisao Masuda and financed by The Arthur Davis… Internet Archive Exploring Nevada: The Prospector's Eye Documentary A DVD from the Nevada State Archives , which was recorded on VHS to begin with. Exploring Nevada - Prospector's Eye Mining isn't new to Nevada. In fact, it… Internet Archive Q.E.D. - Simon's Triumph - April 5th, 1989 - MP4 1989 · Documentary Q.E.D. - Simon's Triumph - April 5th, 1989 - MP4 Video Size: 640x480 Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum, Latin for "that which was to be demonstrated") was the… Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook Documentary Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive Maverick's: Twenty Feet Under (1998) - Commercial VHS 1998 · Commercial Commercially produced VHS tape digitized for preservation. ⚠️ NOTE: This tape has no audio. The absence of audio has been confirmed by physical playback of… Internet Archive Fun Learning: Planets of the Sun Documentary ((Update: I was able to correct the syncing issues by getting a DVD recorder, recording the tape to a blank DVD, and then ripping the DVD. So enjoy!)) An… Internet Archive Marjoe 1972 · Commercial Part documentary, part expose, this film follows one-time child evangelist Marjoe Gortner on the "church tent" Revivalist circuit, commenting on the… Internet Archive Complete VHS Tape: The Civil War (Parts 8-9/9), The West E8, El Cid and Unknown Interview on AETN/PBS and ? [1990, 9/24/1996, 1988?, 19??] Documentary This tape has the conclusion to the "The Civil War" series (aired 1990), episode 8 of "The West" (aired 9/24/1996), part of "El Cid" (aired circa 1988) and a… Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] The True Story of Frankenstein, hosted by Roger Moore Documentary Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included… Internet Archive The Secret World Of The Japanese Swordsmith 1997 · Documentary vhs documentary on Japanese sword smithing Internet Archive A Taboo Identity 2017 · Commercial Internet Archive Real Vampires Exposed and Alien Abduction Documentary Double feature from a VHS rip - Real Vampires Exposed and Alien Abduction.