Educationals from the world's archives

241–288 of 20,948 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 Vietnam War 1971 · Educational · Subtitles National Archives - Vietnam War - National Security Council. Central Intelligence Agency. (09/18/1947 - 12/04/1981). - This newsreel film explores the… Internet Archive Palle Alone in the World 1950 · Educational · 16 min Palle Alone in the World Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film SummaryA story of a little boy who dreams that… Internet Archive Sun Flight: the Myth of Daedalus and His Son, Icarus 1966 · Educational · 7 min Tha late Gerald McDermott was an exceptional animator who made only five short animated films before he changed careers and became a Caldecott Award-winning… Internet Archive Japanese calligraphy. 1957 · Educational · 16 min · Subtitles Examines Japanese language symbols in art, rediscovered by the painter Pierre Alechinsky. Abstract Western art is compared to Japanese art, which has been… Internet Archive Excretory systems in animals. 1971 · Educational · 16 min · Subtitles Author and editor, George Vuke; photographers, George Vuke, Tom Held Compares the excretory systems of a variety of phyla. Points out principal excretory… Internet Archive Education is Everybody's Business 1960 · Educational · Subtitles Content advisory: Stylized animated figures make everyone look silly, but when mobilized to depict communities of color can produce racist visual tropes, seen… Internet Archive Picture In Your Mind 1948 · Educational · 16 min Sent by the U.S. government as a participant in the Marshall Plan with a specific mission to assist the French in re-gearing their animation studios, Stapp… Internet Archive Not Me Alone: Preparation for Childbirth 1970 · Educational · 31 min Presents one couple's experience with childbirth preparation classes, breathing exercises, labor, and delivery of their baby using the Lamaze technique, with… Internet Archive Directed by John Ford 1971 · Educational Producers, George Stevens, Jr., James R. Silke; director, Peter Bogdanovich; narrator, Orson Welles Reviews the achievements of director John Ford in a… Internet Archive Electronic labyrinth. 1967 · Educational · 15 min Formerly entitled THX 1138 4 EB Presents a nightmare impression of a world in which a man is trying to escape a computerized world which constantly tracks his… Internet Archive Light Of Your Life B Educational · Subtitles Internet Archive The Anderson Platoon 1969 · Educational · 1 h 4 min Documents the life of a small group of GI's as they fight against an unseen enemy in the jungle of Vietnam. Search Educational Film Journals at Media History… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "Part 4: Editing and Printing" 1978 · Educational SOUND FILMSTRIP IS AN AT-RISK MEDIA FORMAT. I am the only person on earth preserving American filmstrips. The media format is largely forgotten and very… Internet Archive Barbara's Problem Dogs 1982 · Educational · 25 min · Subtitles Barbara's Problem Dogs Reel 2 Reel 1 available here Dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse demonstrates remedies for common canine behavior problems such as car… Internet Archive Anglo-Saxon England. 1971 · Educational · 22 min · Subtitles Archeological adviser, Stanley E. West Outlines English history from the end of Roman rule around 410 to the Norman invasion in 1066. Presents the various… Internet Archive Worlds Apart 1967 · Educational · Subtitles The Office of Economic Opportunity and the Institute for Developmental Studies sponsored this film promoting early childhood education as a means to fight… Internet Archive Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom 1959 · Educational · 10 min Originally released in 35 mm. in 1953 With teacher guide Directors, C. August Nichols, Ward Kimball; story, Dick Huemer; animators, Ward Kimball, Julius… Internet Archive French and Indian War, The: Seven Years' War in America 1962 · Educational · 15 min This film uses a large collection of paintings on the French and Indian War to offer a vivid and realistic picture of key episodes, places, and people. It… Internet Archive Boys and Girls 1983 · Educational Title from data sheet Adapted from the short story of the same name by Alice Munro A foreign film (Canada) Intended audience: Ages 10-18 Issued also as… Internet Archive Australia's Animal Mysteries 1983 · Educational · 59 min · Subtitles Title from data sheet Camera, Joe Seamens ; editor, Lisa Palattella ; music, Gerald Fired Intended audience: General Issued also as videorecording Shows… Internet Archive The Last Great Race on Earth 1982 · Educational · 53 min · Subtitles The Last Great Race on Earth Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary Documents the 19./ia mearod Trail… Internet Archive Fashion Horizons 1940 · Educational · Subtitles Combines airplane trips and fashion. Heavy on the fashion. • 42:93- 1:04:38 Still shot of a shiny silver airplane floating in the sky above the clouds—the… Internet Archive Psychiatric Interview No. 18: Evaluation for Diagnosis 1967 · Educational Shows a brief interview with a young man, a student, who demonstrates negativism in a catatonic schizophrenic Internet Archive The Hunters. [Motion picture] 1958 · Educational · 44 min Director, John Marshall in collaboration with Robert Gardner; narrator and photographer, John Marshall A study of the life and culture of primitive African… Internet Archive The Hunters [Motion picture] 1958 · Educational · 28 min Summary Presents a study of the life and culture of primitive African Bushmen as portrayed through the experiences of four aborigines and the giraffe which… Internet Archive Those Wonderful Dogs 1989 · Educational · 59 min · Subtitles From WorldCat: A beautifully photographed documentary about dogs: dogs' herding skills, dogs helping handicapped persons, dogs in combat, dogs in rescue… Internet Archive American music, from folk to jazz and pop. 1967 · Educational · 20 min · Subtitles Commentary by Duke Ellington Traces lesser streams of American music such as the hoedown, square dance, and hillbilly song. Tex Ritter at Nashville's Grand… Internet Archive Verniers 1941 · Educational · 18 min Verniers Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film SummaryUses animation to tell the principles of the Vernier… Internet Archive Trick or Treat 1952 · Educational The cartoon, which takes place on Halloween night, follows a series of pranks between Donald Duck and his nephews with Witch Hazel. Internet Archive English X-ray film. 1964 · Educational · 13 min · Subtitles Articulatory movements are shown by X-ray techniques. Prepared scripts illustrate selected phonetic features in the phonemic contrasts of the language, ending… Internet Archive Kiss Me Petruchio 1983 · Educational · 58 min Title from data sheet Meryl Streep, Raul Julia Made in 1979 Intended audience: Ages 14 through adult Issued also as videorecording Observes a performance… Internet Archive Major Religions of the World: Development and Rituals 1953 · Educational · 19 min Major Religions of the World: Development and Rituals An animated training film which reviews the basic principles of salesmanship and demonstrates an… Internet Archive The Hasidim 1972 · Educational · 29 min Explores the history, traditions and practices of the Lubavitch Hasidic Community of New York. Visits their synagogue, homes, school and other parts of their… Internet Archive Maya Are People 1951 · Educational · 22 min 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 America: 4--Inventing a Nation 1972 · Educational · 50 min · Subtitles America: 4--Inventing a Nation "The American Constitution, said 19th century British statesman William Gladstone, is 'the most wonderful work ever struck off… Internet Archive Island of Hope, Island of Tears 1989 · Educational · Subtitles National Park Service Island of Hope, Island of Tears AVA15996VNB1, 1992 (1989) From 1892-1954, Ellis Island was the port of entry for millions of European… Internet Archive America: 8--Money on the Land 1972 · Educational · 53 min · Subtitles America: 8--Money on the Land reel 2 Deals with the industrialization of the United States. Early inventors, like Edison, as well as lucky prospectors, found… Internet Archive Protein Synthesis: an Epic on the Cellular Level 1971 · Educational · 13 min Directed by Gabriel Weiss. One of the strangest, fun, and perhaps most unforgettable films in the science genre was this, produced by University of California… Internet Archive Oedipus Rex: 1-- The Age of Sophocles 1959 · Educational · 29 min 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… Internet Archive The Long Search: 11 -- Taoism: A Question of Balance 1978 · Educational · 53 min · Subtitles Also issued as videocassette Producer, Peter Montagnon; narrator, Ronald Eyre Examines the different types of religious beliefs that make up the spiritual… Internet Archive Facts About Projection 1950 · Educational · 10 min An old-timey set-up & projection techniques film, set in a school classroom. This film teaches the young projectionist how to put on a good show, and not trip… Internet Archive Introducing the mentally retarded 1964 · Educational · 22 min · Subtitles An introduction to mental retardation. Discusses types and levels of retardation, the education and training of the retarded child, and the importance of… Internet Archive The Day the Universe Changed: 6 - The Factor and Marketplace Rrevolution 1985 · Educational · 54 min VHS Written and presented by James Burke; produced by the BBC and RKO Pictures Locates the origins of contemporary consumer society in the English… Internet Archive Our Totem is the Raven 1971 · Educational · 21 min Dramatizes the ordeal of an Indian boy in his endurance and ritual ascent to manhood. Shows how Indian customs clash with twentieth-century values, by giving… Internet Archive The third pollution 1966 · Educational · 23 min · Subtitles Demonstrates principles of solid waste management. Describes the problems of collecting and disposing of refuse, garbage, and other solid wastes, and outlines… Internet Archive Spaces to live in. 1971 · Educational · 20 min · Subtitles Considers the organization and characteristics of planned spaces for community living in a study of the functional and aesthetic problems in the design of… Internet Archive Night of The Squid 1970 · Educational · 24 min · Subtitles Night of The Squid Reel 1 Reel 2 available here Traces the life cycle of the giant squid, and shows some of its antics and bizarre night life. Search… Internet Archive Kathak ( Dance of India ) 1945 · Educational · 9 min Kathak ( Dance of India ) SummaryPresents Malabar's age - old dance drama, the gorgeous spectacle of Kathakali. Explains the meaning of the Kathakali gesture…