Ephemeral films

433–480 of 19,488 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 NASA KSNN - The Internet Film NASA Kids Science News segment explaining how the internet works. Internet Archive ZEMECKIS ON DRINK and DRUGS 1999 · Film IN THE 20 TH CENTURY, ZEMECKIS ON DRINK & DRUGS (Showtime 9-13-1999). Robert Zemeckis documentary on alcohol and drug prohibition, with David Courtwright,… Internet Archive Buried In Ice 1987 · Film "In 1845, two ships the EREBUS and TERROR, led by sir John Franklin, set out to complete the charting of the Northwest Passage. The 129 men aboard the two… Internet Archive We Won't Go Back 1989 · Film excerpted from a documentary prepared by the Bay Area Coalition Against Operation Rescue, showing the battles that took place in the late 1980s between… Internet Archive Pop Goes The Whistle 1960 · Commercial Is somebody crazy? Pop Goes the Whistle. Internet Archive The Titan: Story of Michelangelo 1950 · Educational Re-creates the life of Michelangelo (1475-1564), viewing the places he lived and worked. Examines his masterpieces-- "David," "Moses," the Medici monument,… Internet Archive The Great religions: Buddhism. 1962 · Educational · 16 min · Subtitles French version released under the title Les grandes religions: Le bouddhisme Producer, James Beveridge; writer and editor, David Millar; animation, Pierre… Internet Archive Have a healthy baby 1969 · Educational · 18 min · Subtitles A brief survey of human reproduction, particularly the sequence of development of the embryo and possibilities of damage Search Educational Film Journals at… Internet Archive "Our Town" and Our Universe 1959 · Educational · 27 min · Subtitles "Our Town" and Our Universe Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film This film introduces one of John Cheever's… Internet Archive Black history: Lost, stolen or strayed [Part 1] 1968 · Educational · 28 min · Subtitles This is a dramatic and searching examination of the confrontation between black and white. Narrated by Bill Cosby, the film reviews black American… Internet Archive Whole Earth's invisible colors. 1973 · Educational · 19 min · Subtitles Also issued in super 8 mm Videocassette also issued Summary Shows how multi - spectral sensing greatly expands man's ability to survey Earth resources and to… Internet Archive Mat Callahan Tour of San Francisco 1997 · Film Taxi driver Mat Callahan gives us a tour of San Francisco and his takes on labor, politics, culture, and community. Internet Archive Discovering the music of Africa. 1967 · Educational · 18 min · Subtitles Explores the rhythmic music of bells, rattles, and drums and shows how they are used today in Africa both as musical instruments and as a means of… Internet Archive The littlest angel. 1950 · Educational · 14 min · Subtitles Based on the book of the same title by Charles Tazewell Tells about a lonely little angel and his humble gift to the Christ child This film isn't in the… Internet Archive Understanding Stresses and Strains 1968 · Educational With study guide Producer, Ken Peterson; director, Les Clark Discusses the mental side of the health triangle, emphasizing how the pressures and worries of… Internet Archive Dazzle 1993 · Film "These spectacular computer-generated images are the result of years of programming from computer wizard James Shiflett. This unique kaleidoscope of… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "1. Vicky's Story" 1981 · 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 Expose Video Exposure 1990 · Film "Discover for yourself just how Expose has enticed and entertained its legion of admirers over the years...." Internet Archive Project Mathematica: Theorem Of Pythagoras 1988 · Film (May 19, 1988) This video about the theorem of Pythagoras was created for high school classrooms by the California Institute of Technology. Animated proofs of… Internet Archive The Spanish Civil War 1978 · Educational · 26 min · Subtitles Host narrator, Eric Sevareid A documentary presentation on the events of and the attitudes towards the Spanish Civil War Search Educational Film Journals at… Internet Archive Sentinels of silence 1973 · Educational · 18 min · Subtitles With teacher's guide Producer, Manuel Arango; director and writer, Robert Amram; narrator, Orson Welles; music, Mariano Moreno; photographer, James Freeman;… Internet Archive Williamsburg Restored (1951) 1951 · Educational · 29 min · Subtitles Shows the historical research and archaeological and architectural studies necessary for the authentic restoration and reconstruction of Colonial… Internet Archive Classic Dope 12 1995 · Film · Subtitles July 1995. Tom Petty “You Don’t Know How It Feels… so roll another joint.” Rolling Stones drugs. Sliders, Babylon 5, Seaquest DSV. Simple Minds, “Hypnotized,”… Internet Archive Nothing to Fear: The Legacy of FDR 1982 · Educational · 50 min · Subtitles Nothing to Fear: The Legacy of FDR The legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt is detailed by combining present day interviews with historical material. It examines… Internet Archive Devils, monsters, and dragons. 1971 · Educational · 19 min · Subtitles Videotape on reel and videocassette also issued With teacher's guide by Alice M. Schwartz and learning resources kit Reveals how people in different… Internet Archive Bear Country 1952 · Educational Technicolor Producer, Walt Disney ; Directed and written by James Algar ; Narrator, Winston Hibler ; Music, Paul Smith ; Photographlers, Alfred G. Milotte,… Internet Archive Our Solar System 1992 · Educational A brief introduction to the solar system by children for children. Internet Archive Lewinsky Interview from 20/20 1999 · Film · Subtitles Monica Lewinsky Interview on 20/20 with Barbara Walters See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Shaping San Francisco opening 1996 · Film Using the well-worn image of Yerba Buena cove in 1847, this animation dramatizes the rapidity with which it filled up after the Gold Rush, with a voiceover… Internet Archive Hardware Wars 1977 · Educational · 12 min A spoof of the space epic, Star Wars, created with special effects made from household appliances available in any hardware store. Cinematography, John Fante,… Internet Archive Guilty by reason of race. 1972 · Educational · 51 min · Subtitles Examines the conditions of fear and prejudice which resulted in the internment of American citizens of Japanese ancestry during World War II. With guide… Internet Archive W.C. Fields: World's Funniest Man 1985 · Film Three short films starring W.C. Fields: The Dentist (1932) The Golf Specialist (1930) The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933) 57 minutes. Black and White. Internet Archive Mahatma Gandhi 1955 · Film Documents Mahatma Gandhi's life and shows his achievements. Presents scenes of his preaching non-violence, demonstrations following Gandhi's arrest, Gandhi's… Internet Archive I, Leonardo Da Vinci 1966 · Educational · 51 min · Subtitles I, Leonardo Da Vinci reel 2 Film biography of Leonardo da Vinci, the great Renaissance man, points out the enormous influence of his ideas and innovations as… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "The Scooby-Doo Gang in "Help Wanted" Part 1: Résumé: The Foot in the Door" 1979 · 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 Teddy Roosevelt in SF 1903 · Film Difficult to discern, but President Teddy Roosevelt is in a procession heading up Van Ness in this short clip. Internet Archive Oceanography the study of oceans 1970 · Educational · 16 min · Subtitles Discusses the scientific disciplines involved in oceanography, including meteorology, physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. Search Educational Film… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "1. How To Get Gonorrhea" 1974 · 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 Stalin and Russian History 1928 - 1953 1977 · Educational · 30 min Stalin and Russian History 1928 - 1953 Discusses the problem of the child leaving mother and home to start nursery school, and presents an approach which has… Internet Archive Mai Zetterling's Stockholm 1978 · Educational · 51 min · Subtitles Also issued as videocassette Made in Canada Producer and director, John McGreevy Swedish actress Mai Zetterling offers a look at Stockholm Internet Archive Nature's Strangest Creatures 1963 · Educational · 14 min Nature's Strangest Creatures Early childhood play reflects environment and home life. Close family relationships also emphasized. Internet Archive Women Inside. [Motion picture] 1980 · Educational · 26 min Title from data sheet Also issued as videorecording Producer, Elisabeth Fink Benjamin, Mark Benjamin; editor, Bill Moyers Examines life within a women's… Internet Archive The Shock of the New: The Landscape of Pleasure part 2 1979 · Educational · 32 min · Subtitles Narrated and written by Robert Hughes. Produced by the BBC and Time-Life Television Discusses impressionism, the liberation of color, and a new freedom of… Internet Archive The Electric Grandmother 1982 · Educational · 48 min Title from data sheet Maureen Stapleton, Edward Herrmann, Tara Kennedy, Robert MacNaughton, Charles Fields, Paul Benedict Based on: I sing the body electric… Internet Archive Three Approaches to Psychotherapy 3: Dr. Aaron Beck 1986 · Educational Dr. Aaron T. Beck uses his techniques of cognitive therapy with the same client seen in the other segments Internet Archive General Strike newsreel 1 1934 · Newsreel Original Pathe News newsreel footage describing the unfolding General Strike in breathless and fearsome tones. Another similar newsreel . Internet Archive The Day The Universe Changed: 3 -- Scientific Imagination in the Renaissance 1986 · Educational · 53 min Title from data sheet Host, James Burke In two parts Ages 16 through adults Shows the startling changes that grew out of the study of Arab optics. From… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "Diplodocus Meets the First Bird" 1976 · 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…