Ephemeral films

2,209–2,256 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 Childhood of the Chimpanzee 1960 · Educational · 29 min Childhood of the Chimpanzee Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Discusses the child's major emotions--fear,… Internet Archive TRIBULATION 99 2015 · Film A short clip of Craig Baldwin's film Tribulation 99 . Used by permission and courtesy of Craig Baldwin. Internet Archive Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales" 1987 · Educational Adapted from the Dylan Thomas poem "A Child's Christmas in Wales." We journey back in time to join Geraint in his exploits and adventures in the small Welsh… Internet Archive Sniffy Escapes Poisoning 1967 · Film Animated. Attempts to prevent accidental poisoning which continues to be a major hazard to the pre-school and primary grade-level child. Speaks directly to… Internet Archive How Many Days to America?: A Thanksgiving Story 1990 · Educational "How many days to America?" a little girl asks repeatedly as the small boat in which her family has fled their village crosses the open ocean. But it is her… Internet Archive Squatters: The Other Philadelphia Story 1984 · Educational Title from data sheet Intended audience: Junior high school through college students and adults Issued also as videorecording Discusses the squatters… Internet Archive Blockbuster Customer Service 2000 VHSRip 2000 · Film Blockbuster Customer Service Internet Archive DOPE 227 1993 · Film · Subtitles Needle Exchange, Pot Legalize, 60 mins heroin, DEA series, Tim Leary interview, Billie Holiday, Joe McNamara, Karen Norman, Craig Noble pot film See scans of… Internet Archive Epileptic Seizure Patterns 1963 · Educational · 24 min · Subtitles Uses original artwork to show historical aspects of epilepsy and various types of epileptic seizures in actual patients Internet Archive What's in a story? 1963 · Educational · 13 min · Subtitles -----Another issue. b&w Executive producer, Donald L. Sykes Summary Investigates what a story can tell readers. Uses the fable of The Milkmaid And Her Pail… Internet Archive Color and Texture in Aluminum Finishes 1956 · Film Film from the leading American producer of aluminum illustrating the versatility of the material in building and design. Color and Texture in Aluminum… Internet Archive The Mechanical Paradise. [motion picture] 1980 · Educational · 32 min Title from data sheet Also issued as videorecording Writer and narrator, Robert Hughes Explores Western art during the period 1870-1914 and shows how the… Internet Archive The Sorrows of Gin 1979 · Educational · 28 min Directed by Jack Hofsiss. Produced by Ann Blumenthal and Peter Weinberg for WNET Stars Edward Herrman, Sigourney Weaver, Eileen Heckart, and Rachel Roberts… Internet Archive Cassette: "The Romance of the Pan Flute" 1982 · 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… Internet Archive City of Coral 1983 · Educational · 58 min Presents a unique look at a Caribbean coral reef. Explores the reef's ecological environment, the ecosystems within the environment, and the inhabitants of… Internet Archive J.T. 1970 · Educational · 22 min · Subtitles J. T. Reel 2 Reel 1 available here A dramatization in which, through his devotion to an old wounded alley cat, a lonely boy learns what is real and important… Internet Archive Fun Of Making Friends 1950 · Film Discusses the values of friendships and how to make and keep friends. Joey learns to make friends with Barney and Betty. DIRECTOR: Ted Peshak; CAMERA: Dale… Internet Archive How To Write Effectively 1950 · Film Three students follow the rules of effective writing to promote a school party--they make sure the material is complete, clear in purpose, accurate and the… Internet Archive Pietro Alioto Ice Cream And Prohibition 2014 · Film Regina Alioto describes her great-grandfather Pietro Alioto and his successful candy and ice cream store on Lombard and Mason in San Francisco. Internet Archive The Reformation: Age of Revolt 1973 · Educational · 23 min Producer Robert Slote; collaborator, Andrzej Kaminski Describes the political, social, and religious conditions of sixteenth century Europe. Interprets the… Internet Archive Ascent of Man: World Within World, Part 2 (1973) 1973 · Educational · 17 min Ascent of Man: World Within World, Part 2 (1973) Explores the world within the atom and traces the history of the men and ideas that have made 20th century… Internet Archive Iyomande: The Ainu Bear Festival 1935 · Educational Producer, Takeshi Kashiwagi; director, Kyosuke Kindaichi A documentary film which records the religious bear festival ceremony of the animistic Ainu people… Internet Archive Chilly Dilly Pickles (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Chilly Dilly Pickles (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :26 Sound: Yes Black & White Description: Ad for Chilly Dilly… Internet Archive DOPE 221 1993 · Film · Subtitles Needle Exchange, Pot Legalize, 60 mins heroin, DEA series, Tim Leary interview, Billie Holiday, Joe McNamara, Karen Norman, Craig Noble pot film See scans of… Internet Archive Great Silence 1976 · Film Presents a fable with the use of puppets on what happens to everyday life when people lose the power of speech. This film can be purchased on DVD and higher… Internet Archive The Great Radio Comedians 1972 · Educational Producer-director, Perry Miller Adato Explores the lost art of radio comedy. Provides excerpts from Allen's alley, Fibber McGee and Molly, Jack Benny Show… Internet Archive To Live Until You Die: The Work of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross 1983 · Educational Biographical documentary Title from data sheet Narrator: Wendy Sakakeeny Film editor, Peter Evans ; cameramen, Louis Wolfers, Barry Ackroyd ; narration… Internet Archive A Visit With Tomie dePaola 1996 · Film "Tomie dePaola is an artist who writes and illustrates books for children. Every day he gets lots of letters from friends all over the world. If he visited… Internet Archive Olds Cutlass (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Olds Cutlass (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :29 Sound: Yes Color Description: A couple is cruising in their new Cutlass… Internet Archive The Okies: Uprooted Farmers 1975 · Educational · 24 min The Okies: Uprooted Farmers SummaryExamines the plight of American farmers who were forced off their farms by drought and foreclosure during the 1930's. Based… Internet Archive The River 1937 · Film On the cause and effects of floods and waste lands drained by the Mississippi River. Reel 1 traces the growing of the river from its sources to the Gulf of… Internet Archive Pigs! 1967 · Educational · 11 min · Subtitles Portrays the images and sensations evoked by a group of piglets sleeping, eating, and exploring a barnyard Kindergarten through Intermediate/Elementary Internet Archive Tennis: basic tactics for singles 1967 · Educational · 13 min · Subtitles Explains that the basic strategy for beginners is to keep the ball in play. Shows that placing the ball where opponent least expects it is good strategy.… Internet Archive Teenage Challenge 1958 · Film High school reporter Dave writes an essay for the school contest about the importance of finding God's will for his own life which causes quite a controversy.… Internet Archive The Boxer rebellion. [motion picture] 1967 · Educational · 21 min Directed by Nicholas Ray An excerpt from the 1963 feature film 55 Days at Peking. In 1900 a Chinese secret society, the Boxers, supported by the Dowager… Internet Archive The Rise of Adolf Hitler 1955 · Educational Produced by CBS. Narrated by Walter Cronkite A re-enactment, combined with newsreel footage, of Adolf Hitler's techniques for developing mass hysteria in the… Internet Archive Versailles, the lost peace. [motion picture] 1978 · Educational · 26 min Producer and writer, Anthony Potter; narrator, Eric Sevareid President Wilson's idealistic hopes for world peace through collective security clashed with the… Internet Archive Changing the Weather 1968 · Educational Produced by NET Surveys research on clouds and air currents, and ways they affect local weather conditions. Looks at an investigation of cloud composition,… Internet Archive Pterodactyls Alive? 1984 · Educational Title from data sheet Narrator, David Attenborough Originally shown on the television program: Wildlife on one Junior high school through college students… Internet Archive With Babies and Banners: Story of the Women's Emergency Brigade 1978 · Educational Producers, Anne Bohlen, Lyn Goldfarb, Lorraine Gray Combines archival footage and interviews with participants to trace the role of women in the formation of… Internet Archive Let's Go To The Circus 1949 · Film From ringside seats at the circus, children see aerial ballerinas, acrobats, clowns, horses and elephants. This film can be purchased on DVD and higher… Internet Archive The Long Search: 6 -- Orthodox Christianity: The Romanian Solution 1987 · Educational · 53 min Container title VHS format Videocassette release of the 1977 series Conceived and narrated by Ronald Eyre. Producer, Peter Montagnon. Director, Jonathan… Internet Archive Division Algorithms (1965) 1965 · Educational · 29 min · Subtitles Shows why many commonly used algorithms confuse elementary level students. Outlines meaningful division algorithms based on multiplication and subtraction.… Internet Archive A New leash on life 1988 · Educational · 14 min Discusses aspects of pet ownership, including quality time, a good home, investment, medical care, and other vital matters in a dog or cat's life. Internet Archive Aurora 7 1962 · Film Tells the story of the flight of astronaut M Scott Carpenter and his spacecraft Aurora 7. Compares the first manned flights in the air with the first manned… Internet Archive Dots 1948 · Educational Copyright: National Film Board of Canada. PUB 1949; REG 20Jun97; PA866-985. Reg. under GATT/URAA restoration On one copyright claim with: Begone dull care… Internet Archive U.S. Carrier Fights for Life 1942 · Newsreel · 4 min This short newsreel, produced for the home market, shows the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) under attack by Japanese Zeros during the Battle of the… Internet Archive Journey Through The Solar System, Episode 7: The Fourth Planet 1982 · Film Episode 7 of Journey Through the Solar System focuses on planet Mars. Mars has been the setting for many tales of science fiction. This program shows how…