A public domain video
Considered the first narrative film, "The Great Train Robbery" was directed and photographed by Edwin S. Porter, a former cameraman for the Thomas Edison Company. Primitive by modern standards, the 10-minute action picture depicts 14 distinct scenes filmed at various locales in New Jersey intended to represent the American West. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson, the screen's first Western star, played several roles in the film, including a bandit and a train passenger. Audiences were thrilled and terrified to watch a gunman in medium close-up fire directly at the screen in the film's final scene ... although Porter suggested to exhibitors it could just as easily be shown at the beginning of the film instead. Named to the National Film Registry in 1990.




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The 20th Century Time Machine takes you back in time to the most important historical events of the past century. Watch documentaries, discussions and real footage of major events that shaped the world we live in today.
   • Video  

NASA’s Apollo 11 Original Mission Video of the Moon Landing as aired in 1969
   • NASA’s Apollo 11 Original Mission Vid...  

The Counterculture of the 1960s and the Youth Around the World
   • The Counterculture of the 1960s and t...  

Iran 'King of Kings' Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's Reign During the 1960s
   • Iran 'King of Kings' Mohammed Reza Pa...  

Remembering Vietnam: Twelve Critical Episodes in the Vietnam War
   • Remembering Vietnam: Twelve Critical ...  

The John Glenn Story (1962) - Academy Award Nominated Best Documentary Short.
   • The John Glenn Story (1962) -  Academ...  

The Coup that Overturned the Ngo Đình Diem Regime in Vietnam (1963)
   • The Coup that Overturned the Ngo Đình...  

The Battle of Russia (1943) - Nominated Film For Best Documentary
   • The Battle of Russia (1943) - Nominat...  

CIA'S Human Experiments With Mind Control: Project MK ULTRA
   • CIA'S Human Experiments With Mind Con...  

A Prophet in His Own Time: Ray Bradbury - Story of a Writer (1963)
   • A Prophet in His Own Time: Ray Bradbu...  

The Spanish Earth: Hemingway, Ivens, and the Spanish Civil War (1937 Poetic Documentary)
   • The Spanish Earth: Hemingway, Ivens, ...  

The American Response to Sputnik: The Launch of Explorer 1 - January 31, 1958.
   • The American Response to Sputnik: The...  

Listen to Britain: A Depiction of Life in England During WWII - Poetic Propaganda Film (1942)
   • Listen to Britain: A Depiction of Lif...  

A Tribute to John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning Day of Drums (1964)
   • A Tribute to John F. Kennedy:  Years ...  

Apollo 16: High-Speeding Rover in "Lunar Grand Prix" - Nothing So Hidden (1972 documentary)
   • Apollo 16: High-Speeding Rover in "Lu...