Ephemeral films

2,065–2,112 of 19,489 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 Terence Trent Darby Live At Full House 1989 · Film Terence Trent d'Arby - Live at Full House Japanese tape. - description from box. 1 Rain 2 Never Turn my Back on you 3 Interview 4 If you Let me Stay 5 Wishing… Internet Archive Play it cool : a question of attitudes. 1970 · Film Demonstrates how police behavior can increase or diminish the hostility potential in everyday occurrences in law enforcement. Sequences illustrate such… Internet Archive Biography of the Unborn 1956 · Educational · 15 min Biography of the Unborn Study of a polecat's life during the course of one year includes birth, behavior of the young at various stages of development, play,… Internet Archive Unknown Chaplin: 3 -- Hidden Treasure 1983 · Educational · 26 min · Subtitles Unknown Chaplin: 3 -- Hidden Treasure, Reel 2 Reel 1 available here Third in a trilogy documenting the results of film archivists / directors Kevin Brownlow… Internet Archive Hey, Stop that! 1965 · Film An impressionistic slapstick satire on bomb shelters, military recruiting and gung-ho philosophy. This film can be purchased on DVD and higher quality… Internet Archive The Adams Chronicles: 6 -- John Adams, President (1797-1801) 1976 · Educational · 59 min Title from data sheet Prepared in conjunction with Jack Shepherd's book entitled The Adams chronicles Also issued as videorecording John Adams is sworn in… Internet Archive The Navaho: a study in cultural contrast. 1969 · Educational · 14 min · Subtitles With teacher's guide Educational collaborator, Harriet Smith Uses scenes describing family structure, traditions, ceremonials, and art forms of the Navajo… Internet Archive The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite 1992 · Film UARS (Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite) was launched in 1991 as the first satellite dedicated to understanding the dynamics of the ozone layer. This… Internet Archive Jurassic Giants: Dinosaurs and More 1991 · Film "Go on an archeological dig with the Smithsonian Institution's Dr. Michael Brett-Surman and uncover the myths and realities of Jurassic Giants!" --… Internet Archive Shakespeare's Theater 1960 · Educational · 13 min · Subtitles Presents the setting of London in 1600 as playgoers cross the Thames to the Globe Theatre in Southwark. Describes the location, audience, players,… Internet Archive "THE DRAMA OF METAL FORMING" 1959 METAL FOUNDRY & FORMING PROCESS SHELL OIL INDUSTRIAL FILM 72242 Film Created in 1959, "The Drama of Metal Forming" is an exceptional film that shows the forming of metal in a foundry. It was directed by Peter DeNormanville and… Internet Archive " THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR " VISTA DOME ADVENTURE 1950s PASSENGER RAILROAD TRAIN PROMO FILM 70922 Film Produced on behalf of the Burlington Route, Rio Grande, and Western Pacific Railroads, "The California Zephyr / Vista Dome Adventure" highlights the luxury… Internet Archive Marx for Beginners 1983 · Cartoon Title from data sheet Based on the book: Marx para principiantes / Rius A foreign film (England) Intended audience: Senior high school and college students… Internet Archive Notes of a Biology Watcher: a Film With Lewis Thomas 1982 · Educational · 59 min Notes of a Biology Watcher: a Film With Lewis Thomas Sheldon and Barbara Renan in separate, informal interviews talk about the breakup of their marriage, why… Internet Archive Drive In Intermission 21 Short · 6 min Still time to get something at the snack bar. Complete intermission show. Suggestion: insert this clip between two movies to make a double feature dvd. Internet Archive DOPE 251 1996 · Film · Subtitles New Year News, Pat Norman, Willie Brown See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive The Ropin' Fool 1922 · Educational · 20 min The Ropin' Fool Summary Features Will Rogers as Ropes Reilly, a cowhand who gets fired because he likes roping more than eating and even ropes in his sleep. Internet Archive Special Holiday Announcement Memorial Day (Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Special Holiday Announcement Memorial Day (Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :30 Sound: Yes Black and White Description: Black… Internet Archive Starmaker Training Series The Difficult Guest 2002 · Short · 24 min Internet Archive Trip Through The River Rouge Plant, A Film A tour of the immense Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Dearborn MI. This film can be purchased on DVD and higher quality versions of the film can be… Internet Archive Voyagers 1977 · Film Narrated by William Woodson and produced by JPL, this 25 minute movie looks at the Voyager program. The unmanned Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes were launched… Internet Archive DOPE 262 1996 · 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 Ceremonial Pipes 1957 · Educational · 16 min · Subtitles Ceremonial Pipes ./ia ryInterprets the symbolism and traditions of the sacred ceremonial pipe. Shows the making of an altar to WahKon - Tah, the center of the… Internet Archive Drive-in: Julie Andrews MPAA PSA Short · 1 min A short PSA in which Julie Andrews explains what the MPAA rating system is and what the ratings mean. Suggestion: insert this clip before the previews when… Internet Archive Millionaires of Poverty Gulch 1964 · Educational · 28 min Depicts the gold rush days in Colorado and the problems of a sudden increase in wealth and population. Traces the rise and fall of the small mining town of… Internet Archive Save the Panda 1983 · Educational · 58 min Save the Panda Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film A study of the nature and cause of schizophrenia, the… Internet Archive Schizophrenia: Simple Type Deteriorated 1952 · Educational Demonstrates characteristic symptoms of chronic simple schizophrenia. Presents a female patient, psychotic for more than ten years, who exhibits typical… Internet Archive Child Psychiatry: Autism's Lonely Children (1952) 1952 · Educational · 21 min An episode of the television program Spectrum Date is production date Last inspected: 199609. Condition complete; .3% shrinkage/scratched Produced by David… Internet Archive Harry Hay on 1934 SF Strike 1996 · Short Harry Hay, venerable co-founder of modern Gay movement, tells about being in crowd during 1934 waterfront strike in San Francisco, how militia was shooting… Internet Archive Musical Animation (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial · 1 min Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Musical Animation (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- 1:00 Sound: Yes (enhanced) Color Description: This is a color animated… Internet Archive Why? Files: Case Of The Phenomenal Weather 2001 · Film In “The Case of the Phenomenal Weather”, students can join the tree house detectives as they plan a trip to the Caribbean and encounter problems trying to… Internet Archive Irish Boy, Story of Sean 1972 · Film Illustrates rural life in Ireland as exemplified by the life of a family living on a small dairy farm. Compares rural life with urban life in Ireland. For… Internet Archive Promotion Bypass 1958 · Film An older employee responds appropriately when he is told that the big promotion is going to a younger, more educated employee. Heres another film in the… Internet Archive Rice farmer in Thailand 1969 · Educational · 18 min · Subtitles Edited version of the motion picture made by Institut für Film und bild, Munich Shows the ancient ceremonies at the beginning of planting season and at… Internet Archive Battle Of The Year:International Breakdance Contest 1999 · Film "Official Battle Of TheYear 1999 Video Documentation." Breakdance Crews include: Bag of Trix, Five Amox , Fresh in Attack, South African Allstars et.al. Internet Archive Circus Day in Our Town 1949 · Educational · 15 min Circus Day in Our Town Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film SummaryGives a behind - the - scenes look at a… Internet Archive DOPE 459 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 Mission Sonic Boom 1959 · Film This film was shown on television and at civic groups near air force bases in response to complaints by the public. Unnerving residents in jet flight paths,… Internet Archive Million To One, A 1961 · Film Shows a flea pulling a massive dry ice puck, thus demonstrating the small force needed to move a nearly frictionless body. Includes a short excerpt from the… Internet Archive Ballet Robotique 1983 · Educational Title from data sheet Camera, Reed Smoot ; editor, Marshall Harvey ; music, David Spear Presents a nonverbal fantasy of robots from the General Motors… Internet Archive The Royal archives of Ebla [motion picture] 1980 · Educational · 58 min · Subtitles Title from data sheet Intended audience: Junior high school students through adult Issued also as videorecording Recounts the history of the religious Ebla… Internet Archive Deep Hearts 1979 · Educational · 25 min VHS Produced by Robert Gardner for the Harvard University Film Study Center Young men from the Bororo Fulani tribe of nomads in the Niger Republic of Africa… Internet Archive Lion 1971 · Educational Producer, Peter Chermayeff Shows the physical strength and beauty of the lion. Tells how the male lounges in the shade, while the female goes out to get the… Internet Archive Education as Intellectual Discipline 1961 · Educational · 29 min Dr Arthur Bestor, Professor of history at the University of Illinois, comments on the importance of a disciplined mind and outlines the methods of obtaining… Internet Archive Russian X-Ray Film 1962 · Educational Examines standard Russian, spoken by three native male speakers. Illustrates palatalization and consonant clusters as well as vowel allophones that go with… Internet Archive The Age of Intelligent Machines 1987 · Educational Cataloged from contributor's data Camera, Burleigh Wartes ; editor, Kathryn Barnier ; music, Paul Moravee Junior high school students through adults Host… Internet Archive Balance Beam For Girls 1971 · Film Portrays a combination of mounts, dismounts, floor skills and a variety of stunts ranging from beginning, medium to superior difficulty. Demonstrates spotting… Internet Archive Cassette: "Deep Sleep" 1998 · Film SEEKING SOUND FILMSTRIPS FOR PRESERVATION. Sound filmstrip was a 35mm film-based still image educational media format used in schools and industry. I am the…