Time-and spatially-resolved spectroscopy is used to study the early-time spectral features of the plasmas produced by h~gh~u~ent, capacitive discharges through thin silver films. Spectra are compared for several support gases including C02, He, and an Ar/O, mixture. Al1 measurements were made during the first 40 ps of the discharge. At atmospheric pressure for all three gases, spectra from support gas species show intense lines for only a brief interval between 10 and 30 ,us after the start of the discharge. Greatest intensity from silver tines always occurs at the film surface; while greatest intensity from support gas species occurs about 2.0 mm from the film surface. A magnetic field of a few kG normal to the electric field in the plasma and parallel to the thin film surface almost completely eliminates spectral lines from the support gas species.