Ephemeral films

1,585–1,632 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 The Ascent of Man: 6 -- The Starry Messenger 1974 · Educational · 52 min Also issued as videotape Producer and director, Adrian Malone; writer and narrator, Jacob Bronowski Presents the story of man's early study of astronomy.… Internet Archive What Can We Do About It - Threat of Communism 1960 · Film Part of the Anti-Communism series, this film explores what the average citizen can do to stem the tide of Communism in their community. We digitized and… Internet Archive Ghosts of Cape Horn 1980 · Educational Title from data sheet Intended audience: Senior high school students through adults Issued also as videorecording Retraces the journey made by sailing… Internet Archive Russian Revolution 100th Anniversary Oct 25 2017 2017 · Film Few events in the past century equal the importance of the Russian Revolution. And yet we only know it through the fog of propaganda and fear, and the actual… Internet Archive The Heart of the Dragon: 1 -- Remembering 1983 · Educational · 54 min Documentary Anthony Quayle This program uses both original footage and archive material to present a broad overview of historic and modern China that serves… Internet Archive Italians In SF During WWII 2014 · Film Regina Alioto and her mother Josephine Firpo-Alioto describe how Frank Alioto (father and husband) worked with the Coast Guard during WWII and had to enforce… Internet Archive Summer of Love by Diamond Dave Whitaker 1999 · Film A Summer of Love poem/rap by San Francisco legend "Diamond Dave" Whitaker. Internet Archive A First Film on Insects 1981 · Educational Title from data sheet Intended audience: Grades 2-5 Issued also as videorecording An introduction to insects. Points out characteristics that distinguish… Internet Archive DOPE 241 1994 · Film · Subtitles Future,War, Jury Nullification, Astronaut History See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Butterfly Mystery 1956 · Educational · 9 min Follows the life cycle of the anise swallowtail butterfly. Shows the tiny eggs among the leaves of the anise plant, the caterpillars emerging from eggs and… Internet Archive Making Dances 1980 · Educational Title from data sheet Includes interviews, rehearsal, and performance sequences with seven contemporary choreographers: Trisha Brown, Lucinda Childs, David… Internet Archive Cree Hunters of Mistassini 1974 · Educational Produced for the program Challenge for change (Société nouvelle) in cooperation with departments and agencies of the Government of Canada Narrator, Boyce… Internet Archive Gay Games IV - From A to Q 1994 · Film Coverage of the 1994 Gay Games and 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York. Internet Archive Filmstrip: "What is a Bird?" 1977 · 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 Ski School. 1963 · Educational · 12 min · Subtitles Offers instruction in fundamental ski techniques, including the linked and pure christy, pole pivots, "valeling" or wedelning, sidestepping a turn, and jumps.… Internet Archive Meadowlark Lemon Presents The World 1979 · Educational · 14 min Meadowlark Lemon, star of the Harlem Globetrotters, uses a basketball to demonstrate in a humorous fashion global latitude and longitude, the meaning of… Internet Archive Mr. Symbol Man 1974 · Educational Also issued with magnetic sound track Producers, Bruce Moir, Bob Kingsbury Examines the system of symbol communication devised by Charles Bliss for use by… Internet Archive Herb Mills Solidarity And Morality 1995 · Film Herb Mills, retired Secretary-Treasurer of ILWU Local 10, describes here the solidarity among longshoremen on the job which gives rise to moral actors,… Internet Archive DOPE 454 2004 · Film · Subtitles Bush wins! Fallujah Arafat dies Peterson Guilty See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive DOPE 151 1990 · Film · Subtitles Hight costs of health care, Mitchum coke deal, Berkeley vs. Marijuana, Colombia war, kashmir war, Dienbienphu, Jerry Garcia, Study says youth are maladjusted… Internet Archive Design for manufacture. 1962 · Educational · 24 min · Subtitles Examines the tools and processes used to make parts called for in engineering drawings and blueprints. Compares conventional vs. automatic machines Search… Internet Archive Oh Boy! 1927 · Film Two-reel comedy with the “McDougall Alley Kids” about a rich boy who gets his comeuppance, preserved in collaboration with the New Zealand Film Archive and… Internet Archive Sweet Sixteen and Pregnant 1981 · Educational Title from data sheet Edited from the videorecording of the same name Intended audience: Ages 12 through adult Outlines options available to pregnant… Internet Archive Behind The Scenes At The Supermarket 1958 · Film Describes the activities involved in the operation of a large supermarket. Illustrates the many people and jobs necessary to help the supermarket serve the… Internet Archive Gold! 1978 · Educational · 58 min Produced by the National Geographic Society Relates the story of gold, the precious metal regarded by man for centuries as a symbol of supremacy worth… Internet Archive Medical Quackery PSA Film A public service announcement warning of quack medical devices.. To license this film and get a higher quality version for broadcast/film purposes, contact… Internet Archive This Is... Elk Country 1967 · Film So this is Elk Country! Schlitz did a series of sportsman films featuring hunting and fishing in various remote locations. In this film, we see hunters… Internet Archive Raj Gonds. [motion picture] 1982 · Educational · 53 min Produced by the BBC Examines the customs of the Raj Gonds, once a rich and powerful people who ruled a large area in central India, but who now live on… Internet Archive Metrics For Measure 1975 · Educational · 13 min · Subtitles Metrics For Measure Uses an animated story about an inchworm in order to introduce the background and characteristics of the metric system. Search Educational… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "The Mystery Of Magnets" 1990 · 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 Frank Film 1973 · Educational Voiceover on both soundtracks: Frank Mouris For use with 16mm film projector Combines animated sequences with two narrative sound tracks to create a series… Internet Archive Three Approaches to Psychotherapy 1: Dr. Albert Ellis 1968 · Educational 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 Lenora 1980 · Cartoon · 13 min · Subtitles Lenora This animated film is the story of a sloppy girl who learns about cleanliness in a unique way. Search Educational Film Journals at Media History… Internet Archive Almos' a Man 1978 · Educational Sound accompaniment compatible for manual and automatic operation Adapted from the motion picture of the same title Script adaptation, Richard P. Creyke An… Internet Archive DOPE 435 2004 · Film · Subtitles Elvis drugs, Pot Clubs, Gay Marriage, Reefer Madness Bush on pot, Miles Davis, Steroids, Angel Raich. See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive The Making of a Continent: Part 3 The Price of Gold 1983 · Educational · 58 min · Subtitles The Making of a Continent: Part 3 The Price of Gold Examines the traumatic geologic events that led to the shaping of the North American continent. Focuses on… Internet Archive The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg 1980 · Educational · 40 min Title from data sheet Also issued as videorecording Robert Preston, Fred Gwynne, Tom Aldredge, Frances Sternhagen Executive producer, Robert Geller ;… Internet Archive The Secret World of Odilon Redon (1840-1916) 1973 · Educational First released in Great Britain Examines the life, work, and techniques of nineteenth-century artist Odilon Redon. Includes Redon's own comments on his work Internet Archive "HIGHWAYS OF AGONY" INFAMOUS DRIVER'S EDUCATION SCARE FILM 61704 Educational One of the all time most infamous of the highway safety scare film genre, HIGHWAY OF AGONY was made by Highway Safety Films of Mansfield, Ohio. This was the… Internet Archive Vietnam: Journal of a War 1966 · Educational Title from producer's catalog An objective documentary film which records the deeds and doubts of American fighting men in Vietnam and studies the Vietnamese… Internet Archive Elvis 1977 · Educational This is a filmed version of a television special directed by Steve Binder Elvis Presley is shown in concert performing some of his great songs such as "Love… Internet Archive Madeline and the Bad Hat 1960 · Educational Based on the book of the same title by Ludwig Bemelmans An animated film in which the Spanish ambassador's son, Pepito, who cages any wild animal he can… Internet Archive CARRIER OPERATIONS AT SEA 1944 ESSEX CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER TBM AVENGER HELLCAT HELLDIVER 21704 1944 · Short · 13 min This black & white film "Carrier Operations at Sea" details the life of the crew aboard a fleet aircraft carrier operating in the Pacific during WWII in 1944.… Internet Archive American Farmer 1954 · Educational · 26 min · Subtitles Pictures a city boy's experiences working on a farm in the summer. Emphasizes modern methods and machinery and the role of the farmer as scientist, machinist,… Internet Archive Check It Out 1983 · Educational Title from data sheet Intended audience: Ages 8-14 Issued also as videorecording Looks at the offerings of the library as young people have enlightening… Internet Archive The Summer We Moved to Elm Street 1968 · Educational · 28 min Studies a nine - year - old girl at a time when she feels left out of life because her family has moved to a new neighborhood where everything is different… Internet Archive Lorang's Way 1977 · Educational · 1 h 6 min Note: With English subtitles 2359 feet Credits; Producers, directors, David MacDougall, Judith MacDougall; photographer, David MacDougall; sound Judith… Internet Archive Rural Electrification 1940 · Film RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN OHIO features three films commissioned by Rural Electrification Administration for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and created by…