What it does
CriticalPast supplies archival footage and still images from historical films. Its library includes decade and subject browsing, HD master options and separate Standard and Premium licences.
Prices appear below each video player. Save candidates with Add to Lightbox, then open My Lightboxes and choose Order Masters to select the codec and frame rate. Guest purchases are supported; an account adds saved lightboxes and up to 25 free full-resolution screeners per month, with a watermark and timecode.
Video licences are priced per clip. For example, a six-minute film of the Second Special Service Battalion departing Quebec lists USD 295 for Standard or USD 345 for Premium, each a one-time clip purchase. The FAQ separately lists 1,382 × 960 JPEG stills at USD 20 per image for Standard and USD 30 for Premium. Its USD 5 personal-use option does not permit publication.
Standard covers one production; Premium permits reuse in other productions. Both leave additional privacy, publicity and trademark permissions to the customer. A full-resolution screener helps assess the original footage before choosing an unmarked ProRes or XDCAM master.
Strengths
- Full-resolution screeners show the footage before a master purchase.
- Guest checkout and several HD codec and frame-rate choices are available.
Watch out for
- Standard licensing is limited to one production.
- Third-party rights can require clearance beyond the footage licence.
Best for
- Documentary editors ordering historical footage and stills
Sources
- CriticalPast: Archive Footage and Public Domain Vintage Stock Footage (Oct 27, 2026)
- CriticalPast.com: Frequently Asked Questions (Oct 27, 2026)
- CriticalPast.com: License Agreement (Oct 27, 2026)
- Second Special Service Battalion departs Quebec for the Second Boer War (Oct 27, 2026)