Ephemeral films

1,297–1,344 of 19,486 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 Crustaceans: Lobsters, barnacles, shrimp, and their relatives 1956 · Educational · 13 min · Subtitles Crustaceans SummaryDiscusses the ./ia metad, functions, habitats and economic value of crustaceans. Explains processes of food - gathering, reproduction,… Internet Archive Witch Doctor 1952 · Educational 8 min Full screen (1.37:1), HFA Item no. 12859 Full screen (1.37:1), HFA Item no. 11625 Full screen (1.37:1), HFA Item no. 13374 Full screen (1.37:1), HFA… Internet Archive The World at War: 6 -- Banzai! Japan 1931-1942 1974 · Educational · 25 min · Subtitles The World at War: 6 -- Banzai! Japan 1931-1942, Reel 2 Reel 1 available here An elderly Japanese couple are shown going through the religious ritual they have… Internet Archive A Better New York City 1937 1937 · Film On Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects in New York City. Shows warehouses and streets under construction in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Wharves are… Internet Archive DOPE 149 1990 · Film · Subtitles Ryan White Children AIDS, AIDS prisons, Cheech and Chong, Mapplethorpe, Traffik, Coca crop Substitution protests, Mike Rossman on FSM, Ken Blum alcoholism… Internet Archive Chicano from the Southwest. 1970 · Educational · 15 min · Subtitles Magnetic sound track With teacher's guide Collaborator, Julia Gonsalves Illustrates the life-style of a typical rural Mexican-American family, and examines… Internet Archive Duro Ladipo 1967 · Educational · 29 min Produced in collaboration with the Federal Film Unit of Lagos, Nigeria Executive producer, Lane Slate; editors, Itzhak Barouch, Henry Dor'e, Eugene Marner;… Internet Archive Gurkha country 1968 · Educational · 19 min · Subtitles Shows the work of a cultural anthropologist in the Bhuji River Valley of Nepal by examining a five-month expedition. Includes views of activities in the… Internet Archive Six American Families: The Pasciaks of Chicago 1976 · Educational · 58 min Also issued as videotape Producer and director, Mark Obenhaus; writer and narrator, Paul Wilkes Documents the life of a blue-collar, Polish-Catholic family… Internet Archive Ways of Seeing: Camera and Painting 1974 · Educational · 32 min Title from Educational film locator. -- 1st ed. -- New York : Bowker, 1978 Writer and narrator, John Berger In this first part of his overall critique of… Internet Archive The Long Search: Protestant Spirit U.S.A. 1977 · Educational · 29 min · Subtitles The Long Search: Protestant Spirit U.S.A., Reel 2 Reel 1 available here Visits various Protestant churches in Indianapolis and observes how services are… Internet Archive The Medieval Manor 1956 · Educational · 20 min The Medieval Manor Points out the tensions and conflicts of the Middle Ages, and shows how the architecture of the cathedrals reflects the uneasy balance of… Internet Archive The Young art: children make their own films 1971 · Educational · 19 min · Subtitles Demonstrates how to set up and run a filmmaking class for young students. Shows students developing their ideas; shooting, splicing, and editing film; and… Internet Archive The Peter Tchaikovsky Story (1959) 1964 · Educational · 30 min Presents a biography of Peter Tchaikovsky which relates the struggles, loves, failures, and successes of his life. Includes excerpts from his music. Internet Archive Physiology of reproduction in the rat 1954 · Educational · 19 min · Subtitles Title from container; production credits from other sources Richard J. Blandau and Anthony Canedo ; University of Washington School of Medicine Search… Internet Archive Psychics, Saints, and Scientists 1972 · Educational · 33 min · Subtitles Parapsychologist Thelma Moss introduces the field of psychic phenomena and acts as mistress of ceremonies for a discussion by scientists who are responsible… Internet Archive Follow My Leader 1988 · Educational Based on the book of the same title by James B. Garfield The story of a young boy who must learn to cope with a handicap when he is permanently blinded by an… Internet Archive DOPE 249 1995 · Film · Subtitles Future Fear, Ebola, Future War, Cryonics, TL See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Filmstrip: "Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary, Part 2" 1980 · 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 The Ascent of Man: 4 -- The Hidden Structure 1974 · Educational Also issued as videotape Producer and director, Adrien Malone; writer and narrator, Jacob Bronowski Chemistry is traced from its beginnings in Oriental… Internet Archive Language By Gesture 1966 · Educational · 28 min Language By Gesture Ansel Adams and Beaumont Newhall of Eastman House analyze the photographs of Edward Weston, Cartier-Bresson, Edward Steichen, Alfred… Internet Archive Wheat Farmer, The (2nd Ed) 1956 · Educational · 13 min Portrays life, work and problems of a wheat farmer. Shows preparation of soil, planting and harvesting. Considers the farmer's role as an operator of a… Internet Archive Right Out of History: The Making of Judy Chicago's "Dinner Party" 1980 · Educational Follows the creation of the Dinner party, a monumental artistic tribute to women of achievement throughout history. The exhibit consists chiefly of painted… Internet Archive Snowy, Chilly, Motley...and Me: A Personal View of Pets 1981 · Educational · 26 min · Subtitles Snowy, Chilly, Motley...and Me: A Personal View of Pets, Reel 2 Reel 1 available here Biologist/filmmaker John Paling captures the behavior of a pedigree… Internet Archive Nuremberg Trials 1973 · Educational · 30 min Views the war crimes trials at Nuremberg, evaluating the evidence that showed the involvement of the defendants and giving the verdict of the special… Internet Archive Totem 1963 · Educational One of Emshwiller's experimental films utilizes split-frame photography and superimposition of images to show a complex modern dance interpretation of the… Internet Archive Let's Sing!: John Langstaff Sings With Children Ages 3-7 1997 · Film "For use in homes, schools, day-care settings and libraries" -- description from box. Internet Archive Snack Bar Animation 1 (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Snack Bar Animation 1 (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :10 Sound: No Color Description: A short animation (no sound) of… Internet Archive Printmaking: four artists, four media. 1968 · Educational · 17 min · Subtitles Illustrates the four main methods of printmaking: serigraph, woodcut, lithograph, and intaglio. Examines the techniques and materials used in each and shows… Internet Archive Diagnostic Procedures in Tuberculosis 1940 · Educational · 13 min This film courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). DIRECTOR: Edgar Ulmer, Ph.D. SPONSOR: National Tuberculosis Association.… Internet Archive World of the Weed 1968 · Film Traces the history of marijuana, its travels to all parts of the world, and its derivatives. Discusses the legal and moral problems associated with its use.… Internet Archive Another to Conquer 1941 · Educational · 22 min Film courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) DIRECTOR: Edgar. G Ulmer. SPONSOR: National Tuberculosis Association / U.S. Office of… Internet Archive Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad 1965 · Educational · 25 min · Subtitles Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Reel 1 Reel 2 available here Discusses the Underground Railroad, emphasizing the role of Harriet Tubman in the… Internet Archive Hidden San Francisco Stop E 13 Carving Hills 2020 · Film In February 2020, Pluto Press published Hidden San Francisco: The Guide to Lost Landscapes, Unsung Heroes, and Radical Histories by Chris Carlsson. This… Internet Archive Each Child Is Different 1954 · Film This film was made for teachers as a reminder that learning disabilities and less-than-ideal home environments can affect students' performance and behavior.… Internet Archive The Twelve Days of Christmas 1976 · Cartoon Title from data sheet An animated illustration of the traditional song of the Christmas season, The twelve days of Christmas. For elementary grades Internet Archive Filmstrip: "Filmstrip 2: Animals in the Forest" 1970 · 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 Drive-in: Welcome To The Drive-in Short · 1 min A brief clip welcoming patrons to the drive-in. Suggestion: insert this clip at the very beginning of your double feature dvds Internet Archive Three approaches to psychotherapy. [motion picture] 1965 · Educational · 31 min Describes Client-centered therapy as practiced by Carl Rogers, Gestalt therapy as practiced by Frederick Perls, and Rational-emotive therapy as practiced by… Internet Archive AIDS 87 JUL The Nature Of Things 1987 · Film · Subtitles AIDS, Nature of Things, Origins of the Disease, The AIDS Connection, July 1987. See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive The Belle of Amherst 1979 · Educational Title from data sheet Julie Harris (Emily Dickinson) Adviser, Charles Nelson Reilly Adapted from the play: The belle of Amherst / by William Luce Intended… Internet Archive Pampers Commercial 2026 · Commercial Pampers commercial for television. Help us get more films like this online! This film was digitized and uploaded thanks to contributions from this project:… Internet Archive Strategy for productive behavior 1969 · Educational · 19 min · Subtitles With leader's guide Saul Gellerman discusses the approaches of behavioral science to motivation and how these approaches can be used by management Internet Archive Let My People Live 1938 · Educational · 13 min This film courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). DIRECTOR: Edgar Ulmer. SPONSOR: The National Tuberculosis Association.… Internet Archive Music Makers of the Blue Ridge 1965 · Educational · 48 min A study of life in mountain areas of the Eastern United States, as revealed in folk music and dances. Includes scenes of isolated areas in western North… Internet Archive George Will on Islais Creek 1999 · Film Lifelong Bernal Heights resident George Will describes growing up in the marshland near the Old Clam House on Bayshore Blvd. in the 'teens. Internet Archive Visual Perception 1959 · Educational · 18 min Dr. Hadley Cantril discusses his investigations at the Perception Demonstration Center at Princeton University of the effects of some of our assumptions on… Internet Archive The Iroquois 1993 · Film · Subtitles "A fascinating study of North American Indians accurately portraying their history, culture, and way of life today."-- description from box.