Technology in the world's archives
49–96 of 4,359 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 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 content, pornography, nudity and nudism, striptease, sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, beheadings, atrocity footage. |
Internet Archive
Radio at War
Communications and communicators facilitate World War II.
Internet Archive
Dem Bones
"This machinima, made in March 2005, was inspired by the very funny and surreal "Dry Bones" hospital scene in the Dennis Potter play "The Singing Detective".…
Internet Archive
Decorating Unlimited
"While today's home phone decor might include an understated mobile device dock and maybe an old cordless, back in the 1950s the new mode was candy-colored…
Internet Archive
Classic TV Commercial for a UNIVAC computer
A classic Television commercial for a UNIVAC computer. This commercial is from a 5 February 1956 CBS-TV telecast. It also promotes CBS-TV's weather service.…
Internet Archive
Magic in the Air (1955)
Introduces television and explains the workings of early television technology.
Internet Archive
Red vs. Blue - Episode 00 - Introduction
This machinima film introduces the players that perform in Red vs. Blue: The Blood Gulch Chronicles. This piece of machinima is made entirely in Bungie's…
Internet Archive
MIT 6.00 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming, Fall 2008
This subject is aimed at students with little or no programming experience. It aims to provide students with an understanding of the role computation can play…
Internet Archive
Deserter
A veteran soldier deserts his post, as another tries to find him. "Deserter" was written and directed by Nicholas Werner, a Stanford student in film & media…
Internet Archive
Diary of a Camper
The Rangers' "Diary of a Camper" (1996) is considered the first complete work of machinima (then known as Quake movies). Here is a snippet from my (HEL)…
Internet Archive
Panama by Air (Reel 4)
Part of a six-reel film on the construction of the Panama Canal.
Internet Archive
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 was the first computer for many families. This program looks at what you can do with the famous C-64. Demonstrations include The Wine…
Internet Archive
Fifties Advertising: UNIVAC Computer Commercial (5 February 1956) (Ad 2 of 2)
Another curious example of 1950's advertising, in this case a promo for the UNIVAC computer, produced by Remington Rand. This commercial interestingly aired…
Internet Archive
The Story of Television
Narrative and graphic description of the birth of television by RCA, featuring David Sarnoff. Shows efforts of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in the…
Internet Archive
Nothing Compares2u
Half-Life 2's FacePoser has clearly opened up some interesting possibilities for machinima, ranging from facial expression to lip synching. Here, Dxvid puts…
Internet Archive
Beginning Responsibility: Lunchroom Manners
The rude, clumsy puppet Mr. Bungle shows kids how to behave in the school cafeteria - the assumption being that kids actually want to behave during lunch.…
Internet Archive
Warthog Jump
Experimenting with the Halo physics engine, Randall Glass blows the hell out of the Warthog. And some Marines.
Internet Archive
New York World's Fair (Part 6)
Amateur film of the New York World's Fair (1939-40). Reel 6. From intertite at head: "This reel is not of exhibits or buildings but of some of the…
Internet Archive
Crystals Go To War
Film about the manufacture of radio crystals during World War II. Includes footage of quartz crystals and women workers at Reeves Sound Laboratories cutting…
Internet Archive
The Macintosh Computer
An in-depth look at the early Apple Macintosh computer, available software and hardware add-ons. Originally broadcast in 1985. Guests: Joanna Hoffman, Apple;…
Internet Archive
Computer Games
Computers are creating an entirely new platform for playing games, between humans or between humans and computers. Guests: Trip Hawkins, Electronic Arts; Bill…
Internet Archive
Amiga and Atari
How much computer can you get at the bottom end of the market - comparison between the Commodore Amiga and the Atari 520ST. Guests: Rick Geiger, Commodore;…
Internet Archive
The Information Machine or Creative Man and the Data Processor
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
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality started out as a science fiction concept in the early 1950s. Now, VR has become a kind of holy grail - lots of promises and claims, few…
Internet Archive
Gary Kildall Special
A profile on computer pioneer Gary Kildall and the important contributions he made to the PC industry including the true story on how IBM ended up using…
Internet Archive
High Tech India - Part One
India is the hot place now for companies to look at for new software development. The trend actually started more than fifteen years ago. This is an early…
Internet Archive
Year 1999 AD
Illustrates the life of a family of the year 1999 A.D. living in a house that is completely functional in terms of advanced technology. To license this film…
Internet Archive
Halo 2: The Movie -- episode 2 trailer
This is the trailer for episode 2, "Mombasa," from a project to make a feature-length machinima movie based on the Halo 2 videogame, and made in the same…
Internet Archive
Verdura
"Vegetables" Video and stop-motion animation are used to convince kids to eat vegetables. Made by a class of 10y olds. This video is part of an Italian school…
Internet Archive
Amiga 3000
For fans of the Commodore Amiga, the introduction of the new Amiga 3000 was big news, even though the price tag was nearly $4,000. This program looked at the…
Internet Archive
UNIX
AT&T's computer operating system is threatening to take over IBM's MS-DOS dominance. Guests: John Mashey, Bell Labs; Mark Sobell, Author; Bill Joy, Sun…
Internet Archive
Bill Gates Profile
An up close and personal profile of Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. Includes comments by John Gage, Sun Microsystems; David Kirkpatrick, Fortune Magazine; Tony…
Internet Archive
Men, Steel and Earthquakes
The anatomy of seismic energy and its destructive effects on structures.
Internet Archive
Wireless Technology
Wireless technology is rapidly evolving and playing an increasing role in the lives of people throughout the world. In addition, ever-larger numbers of people…
Internet Archive
The Matrix (Halo Remix)
This piece of machinima, performed entirely in the Xbox-based game Halo , recreates the first five and a half minutes of the 1999 blockbuster The Matrix ,…
Internet Archive
Thresh vs. Billox
The gamer known as Thresh made a name for himself in the mid nineties when he handily dominated a national tournament in id Software's Doom2, snatching the…
Internet Archive
Just a Spark
Chevrolet automobiles fight forest fires.
Internet Archive
Our Productive Land
From the Wealth of Our Nation series. Explains why soil is a valuable natural resource. Compares early-day farming and movement of crops to market with modern…
Internet Archive
[Through the Canal Bottom]
Scenes of the Panama Canal under construction.
Internet Archive
DVD 101
New computers are coming out with DVD drives built in. Do you need a DVD drive? We'll show you why this new format is great and how you can upgrade your old…
Internet Archive
Japanese PC's
A review of where major Japanese technology companies are in the PC hardware and software markets. Shot in Japan. Guests: Katsuro Miyakoda, Microcomputer…
Internet Archive
Low End Computers
A consumer's guide to the most popular low-cost home computers. Guests: Jack Tramiel, Atari; Leonard Tramiel, Atari; Frank Leonardi, Commodore; Gary Kildall,…
Internet Archive
Smart TV
As the computer and the television began to merge, we started seeing intelligent TV sets. This program looks at some examples. Demonstrations include the…
Internet Archive
The Voice Beneath the Sea
"Traces the establishment of the first telephone cable link beneath the Atlantic Ocean from North America to the British Isles and Europe. Scenes of the…
Internet Archive
Windows 95
It was the biggest ever launch of a software product with stores opening at midnight and buyers around the world waiting to get their hands on... an operating…
Internet Archive
Father Frags Best
A classic returns. One of the first machinima “hits” - before it was called machinima - is now available in a variety of video formats, as well as the…
Internet Archive
Earth Satellites — Explorers of Outer Space
"Explains how man-made satellites stay aloft, presents launching of a satellite, describes what we may learn from satellites, and suggests what to look…
Internet Archive
Operating Systems
A review of competing operating systems and their affect on software development. Guests: Gary Kildall, SRI; Tony Fanning, Hewlett Packard; Jean Yates, Yates…
Internet Archive
Quake2 Done Quick2
A recam of a series of speed runs through the single-player missions of id Software's Quake2, in the mind-blowing time of 21 minutes, 6 seconds. This…