Ephemeral films

2,353–2,400 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 Buddhism in China 1972 · Educational · 30 min Written and produced by Wan-go Weng for the China Institute in America Traces the development of Buddhism through maps, animation, museum pieces, and live… Internet Archive Insect Alternative 1978 · Educational · 58 min Insect Alternative Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary Investigates whether non - ./ia mal pest… Internet Archive Profile Toner 1998 · Educational Instructional video for the "Profile Toner 3-Minute Exerciser for your neck and face". Internet Archive Life on a thread 1973 · Educational · 20 min Shows the building of the geometric orb web and prey catching of the spider Araneus diadematus Cl. (Araneae, Araneidae). Shows details and overall patterns of… Internet Archive DOPE 438 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 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1960 · Educational John Barrymore This 1920 film with John Barrymore was the first great American horror film, and still is considered one of the top ten. The film was a… Internet Archive Photography: Dorothea Lange Under the Trees 1965 · Educational · 29 min Photography: Dorothea Lange Under the Trees Presents quotations from the Daybooks of Edward Weston to explain his inner feelings and shows photographs from… Internet Archive DOPE 220 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 Paging Women 1962 · Film In this proto-infomercial by SC Johnson Wax, we see what looks to be a woman’s TV show on the surface. Women learn fashion tips at the stylish NY Airport’s… Internet Archive Paris 1900 1948 · Educational Presents an overview of life in pre-World War I Paris using old French newsreels, theatre programs, early silent films, and Melies' trick films. Traces the… Internet Archive Learning About Leaves 1958 · Film Time lapse photography, animation and closeups explain how leaves are important to plants, animals and man. This film can be purchased on DVD and higher… Internet Archive Suddenly In Command 1977 · Film Explains duties of first mate when a boat operator becomes incapacitated. We digitized and uploaded this film from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive. Email us at… Internet Archive An invention called childhood motion picture] 1973 · Educational · 40 min Asserts that the notion of children as small, inefficient adults evolved into a postindustrial concept of a complex world called "childhood," in which… Internet Archive Prison 1971 · Educational Producer and director, Dick McCutchen; consultant, Prentice Williams Probes the value and reality of prison life as prisoner interviews bring out complaints… Internet Archive Color 1968 · Educational Designed to create heightened awareness of color in our environment. Avoids theoretical analysis, emphasizing instead the sensuous and emotional appeal of… Internet Archive Work Pays America 1937 · Film On Works Progress Administration (WPA) public works. Reel 1, highways and streets are graded and paved. A concrete bed is laid for an Atlantic City reservoir.… Internet Archive Cosmic Collision : Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 1994 · Film A discussion of the comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 which was torn apart by Jupiter's gravitational pull. To license this film and get a higher quality version for… Internet Archive The Bollo Caper 1986 · Educational Teleplay, Malcolm Marmorstein; producer, director, Rick Reinert Based on the story by Art Buchwald Optical sound track Issued also as videocassette Bollo,… Internet Archive Americas in Transition 1981 · Educational Title from data sheet Intended audience: High school through college students and adults Focuses on American military intervention in Nicaragua, Guatemala,… Internet Archive Egypt: Quest for Eternity 1982 · Educational · 58 min Title from data sheet Camera, Norris Brock, Mark Knobil ; editors, Barry Nye, Hyman Kaufman, Dina Pardau ; narrator, Richard Basehart ; music, Lyn Murray… Internet Archive The New Age of Architecture 1958 · Film Film commissioned by a leading architectural journal to discuss major trends in its field. Among the 16 architects, planners, and builders appearing are Eero… Internet Archive Kopje, a rock for all seasons [motion picture] 1982 · Educational · 54 min Title from data sheet Host and narrator, George Page Episode from the PBS television program: Nature Senior high school through college students and adults… Internet Archive So Far from India 1982 · Educational · 51 min Producer, director, Mira Nair A documentary about the world of a recently-arrived Indian immigrant, a subway newstand worker in Manhattan and the traditional… Internet Archive Wonder Of Our Body 1958 · Film Introduces Uncle Bob who operates a neighborhood fix-it shop where some boys bring a camera for repairs. Points out the similarities between the camera and… Internet Archive History of Flight: A Man's Reach Should Exceed His Grasp 1972 · Film The story of flight and our reach for new freedom through aviation and the exploration of space is presented. From the Wright Brothers’ flight at Kitty Hawk… Internet Archive Henry Phipps Goes Skiing 1978 · Educational · 53 min A sentimental comedy about a factory worker who wins a free ski-weekend to a swinging resort. Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for… Internet Archive DOPE 436 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 Black Mother, Black Daughter 1989 · Educational Executive producer, Shelagh MacKenzie, Germaine Wong ; script/narrator, Sylvia Hamilton ; cinematography, Dominique Gusset ; sound/sound editing, Jane Porter… Internet Archive Nate the Great Goes Undercover 1979 · Educational Producers, Nick Bosustow, Mitch Seltzer; director, Sam Weiss; ink and paint, Judi Cassell; voices, Sparky Marcus, Jimmy Gatherum, Kimberly Vaughn; music,… Internet Archive Silent Pioneers 1984 · Educational Elderly lesbians and gays speak out about their reclusive former lives and satisfying present relationships and discuss their part in making LGBT life what it… Internet Archive Herb Mills on the old waterfront 1995 · Film Herb Mills, former secretary-treasurer of ILWU Local 10, describes the lost landscape and culture of the old waterfront in San Francisco. Internet Archive Leisure Time: U.S.S.R. 1968 · Educational · 22 min · Subtitles "The working Russian has only in recent years had time for leisure activities. Now, as shown in this film, Russians enjoy sports and amusement parks, visit… Internet Archive A Silent Ride Around Bayview Hill 2020 · Film A silent bike ride around the top of Bayview Hill in San Francisco. Views to all directions, and a full circumnavigation of the upper road. Internet Archive And So They Live 1940 · Film Stark, realistic documentary showing poorly educated “mountain peoples” living in poverty and stricken with disease. Their solace comes in strong family bonds… Internet Archive The World at War: 13 -- Tough Old Gut, Italy November 1942 1973 · Educational · 30 min Produced by Ben Shephard ; written by David Wheeler ; narrated by Laurence Olivier Covers the Anglo-American advance from Sicily. The title is from General… Internet Archive Cave Dwellers of the Old Stone Age 1960 · Educational · 16 min With teacher's guide Also issued in b&w A visit to a museum, showing the cave dwellings of prehistoric men in the old stone age. Explains how the story of… Internet Archive DOPE 294 1999 · Film · Subtitles Clinton's Reply, Start of Art Kane's Jazz Photo See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Life On A Dead Tree 1957 · Film Dave and Tommy have found an old dead tree in the woods. As they explore it, they find that it is the home of many different plants and animals such as… Internet Archive Rebuilding Indian Country 1933 1933 · Film Reel 1, maps show the origin and history of the American Indian. Modern Indians work in Wisconsin's lumber industry, keep watch for forest fires, and clear… Internet Archive A Truck Driver Named Gret 1982 · Educational Title from data sheet Junior high school through college students and adults Presents a documentary profile of a thirty-eight-year-old wife, mother, and… Internet Archive The Ascent of Man: 9 -- The Ladder of Creation 1974 · Educational Also issued as videotape Producer and director, Adrian Malone; writer and narrator, Jacob Bronowski Explores the controversy around the theory of evolution… Internet Archive Italian Popcorn (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Italian Popcorn (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :27 Sound: Yes Description: An Italian popcorn vender talks about… Internet Archive Downwind / Downstream 1988 · Educational · 1 h · Subtitles Title on container: Downwind downstream Narrated by Peter Coyote ; music by Ray Lynch, Dan Fogelberg, Brian Eno and Kate Wolf VHS format Intended audience:… Internet Archive Verdun 1966 · Educational · 29 min Verdun Principle of the vernier scale and its application to a micrometer and to inside and outside calipers; how to use and read vernier micrometers and… Internet Archive Greatest Heroes of the Bible: Joseph In Egypt 1979 · Educational Costume drama of the Old Testament story of Joseph. His father's preference for him arouses the resentment of his brothers, who sell him as a slave into… Internet Archive Finding His Voice 1929 · Film Animated demonstration showing how the Western Electric motion picture sound system works. In this lively cartoon, “Talkie” brings “Mutie” to “Dr. Western,”… Internet Archive Rocket Ship 1936 · Educational · 1 h 8 min Flash, Zarkov and Dale travel through space to the planet Mongo to prevent Ming the Merciless from destroying the Earth. Flash enlists the aid of King Thun… Internet Archive The Pop Show 1966 · Film Experimental short from 1966. Features Gloria Steinem. Fred Mogubgub also animated Lifesavers commercials during the same time