Ephemeral films

1,825–1,872 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 Photography: The Day Books of Eedward Weston - The Strongest Way of Seeing 1966 · Educational · 29 min Photography: The Day Books of Eedward Weston - The Strongest Way of Seeing Describes the provisions of Public Law 94-142, the Education For All Handicapped… Internet Archive DOPE 481 2005 · Film · Subtitles Pain, Alito, State of Union Bush Lies, Stardust. See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Across Five Aprils: War and Hope 1990 · Educational This is part two of a two part program. Part one, A Time To Choose, can be viewed here (LINK). Based on the novel by Irene Hunt Written and directed by Kevin… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "What is a Mammal?" 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 An American Time Capsule 1969 · Educational · 3 min Music by Sandy Nelson Originally produced as a motion picture in 1968 An iconographic film that uses over 1300 images to relate the history of the United… Internet Archive Being Abraham Maslow 1972 · Educational Presents an interview with psychologist Abraham Maslow as he reflects on his ideas, on man, and on the human potential movement Internet Archive Black Tide 1979 · Educational · 56 min Title from data sheet Also issued as videorecording Discusses the impact of the oil spill caused by the grounding of the tanker Amoco Cadiz on the coast of… Internet Archive Wild Careers 2001 · Film "From animal trainers veterinarians, to research biologist and wildlife photographers...meet dedicated people from all over the world who work with and for… Internet Archive Orthographic Projection 1969 · Educational · 18 min Orthographic Projection Summary Explains shape description and shows how different objects look when viewed from different angles. Includes a summary of the… Internet Archive DOPE 250 1995 · Film · Subtitles Prison Costs, 3 Strikes, Mayoral Run-off, Willie Brown See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Drive In Intermission 12 Short · 7 min Time to go to the snack bar. A complete intermission film. Suggestion: insert clip between two movies when making a drive-in double feature dvd. Internet Archive Turn The Other Cheek 1958 · Film Molly's upset now her best friends Carol and Sue can't play together. Molly's dad suggests that the catty squabble can be solved by following Jesus's advice… Internet Archive Dolphin 1979 · Educational · 59 min Dolphin Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Pictures the Mormons as a minority group driven westward to find… Internet Archive Zoos of the World 1970 · Educational · 50 min Zoos of the World Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film SummaryTravels around the globe to some of the best… Internet Archive Mole and the Umbrella 1973 · Educational · 8 min Tells a story about a mole who finds an umbrella, is carried by the wind to the location of a melon dealer, and escapes by using the umbrella when the melon… Internet Archive Sherri Bramlett: The Complete Workout 1986 · Film "30 Minutes of muscle toning and strengthening. This video will help you burn calories and get rid of unwanted fat while working out to great music. Please… Internet Archive Infinite horizons, space beyond Apollo. 1979 · Educational · 27 min Title from data sheet A documentary which celebrates the 10th anniversary of America's landing on the Moon and probes 30 to 100 years into the future of man… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "Deficiencies and Imbalances" 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 Women in Prison 1974 · Educational · 23 min Examines the condition of women in prisons. Shows how women are often treated brutally in prison and explores plans which put women offenders under community… Internet Archive Cold War Confrontation 1977 · Educational A study of the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War Script writer, John Tusa ; historical consultant, Christopher Hill ; researcher, Anita Sterner ; producer,… Internet Archive The Jilting of Granny Weatherall 1980 · Educational · 58 min Describes the expeditions of Lewis and Clark as recounted in their journals of their explorations. Internet Archive Shiva in GG Park 1998 · Film How a shrine to Shiva emerged in Golden Gate Park in the form of a cement pylon. Internet Archive Cary Grant: The Leading Man 1988 · Educational Directed by Gene Feldman; written and produced by Gene Feldman and Suzette Winter He became the embodiment of wit and urbane sophistication, one of motion… Internet Archive The Garden of Eden 1981 · Educational Produced and directed by Lawrence R. Hott and Roger M. Sherman for the Nature Conservancy Describes the critical importance of maintaining biological… Internet Archive It’s Everybody’s Business 1954 · Film Animated history of the American economic system told from a pro–free enterprise perspective. Free enterprise, the narrator argues, can be traced to the Bill… Internet Archive Clinical Types of Mental Deficiency 1957 · Educational · 36 min Clinical Types of Mental Deficiency SummarySummarizes the environmental and genetic causes of mental deficiency. Cites typical cases of the eight major… Internet Archive Snack Bar Circus Animation (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Snack Bar Circus Animation (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :30 Sound: Yes Description: An animated color short titled… Internet Archive Bearskin 1983 · Educational Recreation of: The Bearskinner by the Brothers Grimm A young man triumphs over the machinations of evil forces through endurance, courage, and character. Set… Internet Archive The mystery of the Anasazi [motion picture] 1976 · Educational · 51 min Narrator, Terrence Currier Photographed by Peter Hoving ; film editor, Elvida Abella ; music by Newton Wayland Also issued as videocassette Originally… Internet Archive 1942 CHANNEL DASH by KRIEGSMARINE WARSHIPS SCHARNHORST GNEISENAU PRINZ EUGEN (Print 3) 20470a 1942 · Short · 6 min Made for the home market in Germany during WWII, this silent film "German warships break through the Channel" shows the "Channel Dash" operation of the… Internet Archive Basic Electricity: 1 -- What Is Electricity? 1982 · Educational Consultant, James M. McGrath, Lane Technical High School, Chicago Covers electrons and protons; negative, positive, and balance charges; free electrons;… Internet Archive Premature 1981 · Educational · 56 min · Subtitles Title from data sheet Intended audience: Senior high school through college and adult Filmmaker David Parry records on film for one and one-half years the… Internet Archive Donald's Fire Survival Plan 1984 · Educational Donald Duck and his nephews outline the necessary safety precautions, escape routes and emergency procedures that must be developed and followed in order to… Internet Archive Talking Turtle 1983 · Educational Produced by WGBH and the BBC for the Nova series and the British Open University Looks at the use of computers in the classroom through the eyes of… Internet Archive DOPE 370 2003 · Film · Subtitles Ed Rosenthal on Connie Chung, Peace Protests See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Early English Drama: "Quem Quaeritis," "Abraham and Isaac," "The Second Shepherd's Play" 1975 · Educational · 52 min Also issued as videocassette With textbook, teacher's guide, and two correlated filmstrips entitled The creative mind of the medieval period and Religious… Internet Archive Kent State: May 1970 1972 · Educational Narrator, E.G. Marshall Combines still photography and on-the-scene footage to document events from April 30 to May 4, 1970, leading up to the shooting of 13… Internet Archive Balance Ball Fitness: Beginner's Workout 2000 · Film "Based on the principles of yoga and Pilates, this unique Beginner's Workout introduces you to basic stretching and resistence movements that can help you… Internet Archive The Spirit of the Renaissance 1971 · Educational Producer, J. Barnes Explores the intellectual and artistic climate of Florence during the 14th and 15th centuries, against scenes from the daily life of a… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "Nutrition Planning" 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 DOPE 367 2003 · Film · Subtitles Shock video excerpts, go-pills, peace marches See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive The Freshman — Part 2 1925 · Educational · 40 min · Subtitles CLICK HERE to view part 1 (link). A comedy about the misadventures of a country boy who goes to college and, after many tribulations, saves the day when he… Internet Archive Hard Core Home Movie Clip 2015 · Home movie A short film clip from Greta Snider's Hard Core Home Movie . Used by permission of the artist Greta Snider. Internet Archive Ingmar Bergman 1974 · Educational In Swedish, with English subtitles Staffan Hedqvist, executive producer; Stig Bjorkman, director Shows Bergman at work on one of his films, The Touch.… Internet Archive Trains Into Outside Lands Emiliano Echeverria Sept 27 2023 2023 · Film As part of Shaping San Francisco's ongoing 25th anniversary celebration in 2023, long-time friends and collaborators at the Western Neighborhoods Project join… Internet Archive DOPE 265 1997 · Film · Subtitles PROP 215 Wins!, Dennis busted, Valerie Corral, Firing Line, Hong Kong, Mars Landing, War on Drugs, Flower Therapy raided, J. Morgan. See scans of liner notes… Internet Archive DOPE 308 1999 · Film · Subtitles Peter Tosh, Mayoral Debates, Dawn Passar, Seattle Riots. See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive 2 Jamin WORKOUT 2001 · Film "Gay will excite you with all new moves for Aerobics on and off the step....She will warm you up and take you through the latest moves for an advanced fun and…