Ephemeral films

97–144 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 Frank Lloyd Wright 1958 · Educational With teacher's guide Architect Frank Lloyd Wright discusses his theories of functional architecture, and analyzes contemporary styles, tracing them back to… Internet Archive It's Potty Time. 1991 · Film "Helpful Hints: Use a Potty-chair. Try Switching to training pants. Dress your children in clothes they can remove themselves. Allow your children to help… Internet Archive Roots: 8 -- Chicken George, Part 1 1977 · Educational · 31 min · Subtitles Roots: 8 -- Chicken George, Part 1, Reel 1 Reel 2 available here Chicken George earns his name as he becomes a well respected gamecock trainer. Kizzy hears of… Internet Archive Welcome Animation (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Welcome Animation (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :43 Sound: Yes Color Description: A color animated film welcoming the… Internet Archive The White Seal 1974 · Educational A story about a white seal named Kotick who learns how to get along in his Arctic environment during his herd's first migration. For elementary grades Other… Internet Archive My Mother Was Never a Kid 1980 · Educational · 46 min · Subtitles Teenage Victoria who has a knack for getting into trouble and feels totally misunderstood by her mother, suddenly finds herself back in the forties where she… Internet Archive In Search of Ancient Astronauts 1973 · Educational · 26 min · Subtitles In Search of Ancient Astronauts Reel 1 Reel 2 available here Examines the theory that the Earth once had visitors from outer space as it explores the clues… Internet Archive Nuclear Strategy for Beginners 1984 · Educational · 58 min · Subtitles Nuclear Strategy for Beginners Looks back over the four decades of the atomic age to try to understand how the modern world has acquired an arsenal of over… Internet Archive DOPE 042 1987 · Film · Subtitles AIDS jokes, 7000-lb pot bust, AIDS neurosyphilis, Stonehenge Solstice, teen AIDS, AIDS & IVDUs MacNeil-Lehrer, Joyce Wallace test prostitutes, creationism,… Internet Archive Thread Of Life 1960 · Film A film about genetics and heredity in man, various traits are shown and the methods by which they are transmitted is explained. Subtitle files thanks to… Internet Archive Film Firsts, Part 1 (1960) 1960 · Educational · 26 min Film Firsts, Part 1 (1960) Includes classic silent films and footage of some of film's firsts, including the first cartoon, the first Tarzan, and excerpts… Internet Archive The Day After Trinity 1980 · Educational Narrator: Paul Frees Featuring: Haakon Chevalier, Hans Bethe, Frank Oppenheimer Edited by David Peoples, Ralph Wikke ; camera, Tom McDonough, David Espar,… Internet Archive Freeway Phobia 1965 · Educational · 29 min Freeway Phobia Summary Demonstrates proper freeway driving techniques. Describes various driving hazards, such as faulty car maintenance, loose objects within… Internet Archive A Time for Burning 1966 · Educational · 56 min A study of racial conflicts and understanding as portrayed in Omaha, Neb., when the pastor of an all-white Augustana Lutheran Church took an initial step… Internet Archive Franco (1963) 1963 · Educational · 25 min Attributes Francisco Franco's rise to power in Spain to his charismatic personality and to the disturbed internal condition of his country. Sketches Franco's… Internet Archive The Jolo Serpent-Handlers 1977 · Educational · 19 min An in-depth portrait of a snake cult in Jolo, W. Va. Depicts a snake hunt in the mountains, two serpent-handling services, and a prayer vigil for a victim of… Internet Archive Short Time Intervals 1960 · Film PSSC Physics Films Series Presents a study of the extension of senses to deal with very short time intervals. Timing devices--moving cameras, pen recorders… Internet Archive Mother Goose Gospel: Video Vol. 1 1989 · Film Gospel interpretation of a variety of children's songs. "A Live Action Sing-Along Video" Internet Archive MYSTERY POIROT 1994 · Film · Subtitles MYSTERY: POIROT “Peril at End House” 9-13-1994. Cocaine a major part of plot as 2 cokies try to grab inheritance. Also: “The Million Dollar Bond Robbery.”… Internet Archive Don't Spread Germs (Jet Propelled Germs) 1948 · Short · 1 min Amusing health propaganda trailer on the dangers of sneezing. NHS in 1948. Public health. Public Health Campaign Films. Post War era. Humorous cartoon… Internet Archive Water Birds 1957 · Educational · 28 min Water Birds Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Members of several northern California Indian tribes… Internet Archive Antonia: a Portrait of the Woman 1974 · Educational · 55 min Antonia: a Portrait of the Woman Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary Presents a portrait of Antonia… Internet Archive Private SNAFU - The Home Front 1943 · Cartoon · 4 min Private Snafu imagines the good times his family is having back home while he's stationed in the Arctic. Technical Fairy First Class shows that even his… Internet Archive Un Chien andalou. 1960 · Educational · 16 min · Subtitles First released in France in 1928 Title in English: The Andalusian dog With English and French subtitles Director, Luis Buñuel; screenplay, Salvador Dali,… Internet Archive Love those Trains 1984 · Educational · 58 min · Subtitles Title from data sheet Camera, James Lipscomb, Carl Kriegeskotte ; editor, Victor Kanefsky ; narrator, James Witmore Issued also as videorecording Presents… Internet Archive A Film about film editing. 1974 · Educational · 14 min · Subtitles Illustrates some of the basic terms and techniques used in film editing Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Internet Archive Electric Eel 1954 · Short · 11 min Irwin Moon shows us the electric eel and demonstrates its amazing abilities to shock fish for food and to use "radar" to find the fish. To license this film… Internet Archive The Case of the UFOs 1984 · Educational · 30 min · Subtitles The Case of the UFOs Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary Examines the evidence for and against the… Internet Archive In Search of Ancient Astronauts 1973 · Educational · 26 min · Subtitles In Search of Ancient Astronauts Reel 2 Reel 1 available here Examines the theory that the Earth once had visitors from outer space as it explores the clues… Internet Archive Mystery of Time 1957 · Educational · 27 min On the surface, this film may seem like an average science film about time and space, but like most of films from the Moody Institute of Science, there is an… Internet Archive U.S. Navy of 1915 1915 · Film We are indebted to independent scholar Charles “Buckey” Grimm for identifying this 11-minute piece of the celebrated “lost” three-reel documentary U.S. Navy… Internet Archive Mother Love 1960 · Educational · 26 min Mother Love SummaryTests the reactions of a large colony of newborn rhesus monkeys to a variety of unusual and inanimate mother substitutes. These experiments… Internet Archive Circus Kids 1984 · Educational Portrays circus life through the eyes of Traci, an eleven-year-old girl whose grandfather owns Carson and Barnes Circus. Shows a typical day during the circus… Internet Archive River of Ice: Life Cycle of a Glacier 1967 · Educational Second edition Eastman color With study guide Shows the source, structure, and movements of a typical Alpine glacier; the relationship of climate to the… Internet Archive Blues Maker 1969 · Film Shows Mississippi blues singer, Fred Mc Dowell, singing and talking about his blues. Includes scenes of the area which helped to shape his country blues. To… Internet Archive Life in the 30's 1965 · Educational · 53 min · Subtitles Life in the 30's Summary Covers the Depression, FDR, Dust Bowl, 1936 election, 'RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY,' and the rise of Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito.… Internet Archive Radioactive Fallout and Shelter 1965 · Short · 28 min Teaches the individual how to take care of his medical and health needs in time of disaster when medical assistance might not be readily available. Presents… Internet Archive The World at War: 5--Barbarossa, June-December 1941 1974 · Educational · 56 min · Subtitles The World at War: 5--Barbarossa, June-December 1941 Russia's move into Romania brought her perilously close to Germany's only source of oil. Hitler's… Internet Archive Gemini II Reentry Mission 1972 · Film Shows the view of the spacecraft turning around, adapter jettison, re-entry control systems thrusters firing, parachute deployment and recovery of the… Internet Archive Land of the tiger 1985 · Educational · 58 min Shows tigers stalking, capturing, and devouring prey; marking territorial boundaries; mating; caring for young cubs; languidly resting; and loudly voicing… Internet Archive Why? Files: Case of the Barking Dogs 2000 · Film In The Case of the Barking Dogs, the tree house detectives have yet another mystery to solve. Many of the neighborhoods in Big City are experiencing a problem… Internet Archive 67000 Dreams 1972 · Educational · 31 min Depicts the travels of psychologist Carl Gustav Jung and explains the development of his major theories and concepts. Discusses the collective unconscious,… Internet Archive The Twisted Cross 1958 · Educational · 50 min The Twisted Cross Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary Uses the story of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi… Internet Archive The Day The Universe Changed: I it Started with Greeks 1986 · Educational · 54 min · Subtitles Title from data sheet Host, James Burke In two parts Ages 16 through adults Explains how the questioning, rational attitude of the ancient Greeks has… Internet Archive Timothy Leary and Robert Anton Wilson 1988 · Film This "homemade" video of interviews and conversations with Timothy Leary and Robert Anton Wilson is from the Michael Horowitz Archive. Internet Archive This Child Is Rated "X" 1971 · Educational · 52 min Producer, Martin Carr Examines the inequities of juvenile justice and the abuse of children's rights in America. Shows that the child who has committed a… Internet Archive The Shock of the New: Culture as Nature. 1980 · Educational · 29 min · Subtitles Title from data sheet Also issued as videorecording Writer and narrator, Robert Hughes Discusses why the 20th century brought about a major change in the… Internet Archive Limits to Growth 1973 · Educational · 55 min · Subtitles Videotape on reel and videocassette also issued With teacher's guide, by Osborn Segerberg, Jr Executive producer, Peter Hollander Examines the pros and…