Ephemeral films

2,497–2,544 of 19,487 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 Rumplestiltskin Short · 10 min Marionette puppet version of the tale about a little man who grants a miller's daughter the gift of spinning straw into gold. She learns that such a gift… Internet Archive Picasso: A Painter's Diary, 1 -- The Formative Years 1980 · Educational Producer and director, Perry Miller Adato Profiles the life and work of Pablo Picasso from the age of fourteen when he qualified for advanced classes at the… Internet Archive Intermission 1 (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Drive-In Movie Ads Title: Intermission 1 (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :38 Sound: Yes (enhanced) Color Description: Peppy song sung by vocal… Internet Archive Cougar 1984 · Educational VHS format Based on the novel "An American ghost" by Chester Aaron Mathew Vipond, Kim Hauser, Angus MacInnes, Wayne Best As flood waters sweep his house… Internet Archive Jacob Sheynin April 21, 2015 Julie Hernandez IPOC Member And Shellmound Peace Walker 2015 · Film Julie Hernandez, IPOC member and Shellmound Peace Walker is interviewed by Jacob Sheynin about her experiences on the 4-5 Peace Walks that have taken place… Internet Archive Boy on a skateboard 1984 · Educational Shows the adjustment of a handicapped boy who has no legs and how an ordinary skateboard gave him real mobility and access to the real world VHS format Internet Archive The Freedom to Choose: A Spotlight on Speech 1900 · Educational Produced by the Clarke School for the Deaf Attempts to answer some of the questions most frequently asked by parents of deaf children, including how to… Internet Archive 1925 ETHNOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY FILM " GRASS " MIGRATION OF BAKHTIARI TRIBE OF PERSIA / IRAN XD13934 Documentary Dating to 1925, this silent film "Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life" is one of the earliest ethnographic documentary films ever made. This version runs 57… Internet Archive Any Boy - USA 1953 · Film MISTER WHISKEY' Explains that he is not allowed to pilot a plane, drive an engine or steer a ship on the high seas because he lacks good judgment, stamina,… Internet Archive "MECHANIZED DEATH" 1961 LEGENDARY DRIVER'S EDUCATION SCARE FILM 43804 Educational Created in 1961 by the Highway Safety Foundation and Safety Enterprises, Inc., "Mechanized Death" is a legendary driver's education scare film that… Internet Archive How the Animals Discovered Christmas 1983 · Educational · 12 min Animated Christmas story. This film isn't in the public domain. The copyright is owned by Phoenix Learning Group, Inc. For information on using footage of… Internet Archive Let's Go to the Movies 1950 · Educational Presented by members of the motion picture industry Presented a general picture of the background, development, and technical advances of the motion picture… Internet Archive Marco Polo's Travels 1955 · Educational · 17 min Introduces secondary school students to the career of Marco Polo, showing how he, as a lad of 17, set out from Venice for the empire of the Mongol conqueror… Internet Archive Behind The Scenes At The Airport 1947 · Film Boy on 1940's airplane; inside the hangar; crews working on propellers; plane on runway; inside the control tower; pilot with charts; crew and food service… Internet Archive The Beatles, Vol 1 There Are Places I Remember 2003 · Film The first installment of a five-part documentary series. Includes interviews with John Lennon's sister Julia Baird and the original members of the Quarrymen,… Internet Archive DOPE 461 2004 · Film · Subtitles Elvis drugs, pot clubs, gay marriage, Reefer Madness Bush on pot, Miles Davis, steroids, Angel Raich, Kate Winslet, Tsunamis in Asia. See scans of liner notes… Internet Archive The Seas of Liberty Short · 28 min A scenic cruise along the Hudson and the East River in New York is used to discuss the history of the U.S. Navy, from its earliest era to the present.… Internet Archive Mobile Lab : Any Questions? 1974 · Short · 8 min Describes the curriculum of a mobile science laboratory traveling from high school to high school in Washington, DC. Shows how the program demonstrates that… Internet Archive DOPE 377 2003 · Film · Subtitles Ed Rosenthal's sentence, Hillary Clinton on Letterman See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive DOPE 490 2006 · Film · Subtitles Bonds H.R #714+15, diabetes drug, Top Model Danielle. See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Sue's Leg: Remembering the Thirties 1976 · Educational Producer, Emile Ardolino; director, Merrill Brockway Choreographer Twyla Tharp and her company perform her creation entitled Sue's leg, to the music of the… Internet Archive Slime Molds: 1 Life Cycle 1961 · Educational · 24 min Slime Molds: 1 Life Cycle Takes the viewer into the field and laboratory to present the techniques involved in collection, cultivation, and use of the… Internet Archive Himalayan farmer. 1968 · Educational · 17 min · Subtitles Produced by John Hitchcock Depicts from a single high-status farmer's position some of the problems encountered in a stressful environment. In Musuri, Bhuji… Internet Archive Adventures in Art: Basic Art 1960 · Film Introduces basics of art. To license this film and get a higher quality version for broadcast/film purposes, contact A/V Geeks LLC . Internet Archive Cautious Twins, The 1960 · Film Animated "don't talk to strangers" film that rhymes. Cartoon propaganda fodder. Not in Locis or the book. Story of a boy and girl who are sent to the store… Internet Archive The Amish: A People of Preservation 1976 · Educational · 53 min Discusses various aspects of the Amish community, including its history, the world view beliefs of the Amish, and the simplicity of their lifestyle. Shows… Internet Archive A Charles Dickens Christmas 1956 · Educational · 21 min Film dramatizes one of the best-known incidents in English literature - the Christmas visit of Mr. Pickwick and his friends to Dingley Dell Farm. In the large… Internet Archive Martin Luther King, Jr.: Letter from Birmingham Jail 1988 · Educational Frantz Turner, Robert Guillaume Dr. King was arrested in 1963 for participating in a civil rights demonstration. While in jail he read a letter in the… Internet Archive Soldier's Home 1976 · Educational An adaptation of the story of the same title by Ernest Hemingway Executive producer, Robert Geller; director, Robert Young Returing home after World War I… Internet Archive Emotional Maturity 1958 · Film A dramatization of a high school boy's immature behavior. Shows some of the consequences when an adolescent fails to channel his emotions into positive… Internet Archive Air Force One: the planes and the presidents 1984 · Educational · 58 min A look at the airplanes called Air Force One and the presidents who flew in them, from Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan. Includes historical footage.… Internet Archive The Lilith Summer 1985 · Educational Title from data sheet Based on the novel of the same name by Hadley Irwin Intended audience: Ages 10-14 Issued also as videorecording A story about an… Internet Archive Behavior theory in practice. [motion picture] 1966 · Educational · 22 min Covers generalization, discrimination, positive and conditioned reinforcement, punishment and negative reinforcement, avoidance behavior, and intracranial… Internet Archive Pablo Picasso: The Legacy of a Genius 1981 · Educational Title from data sheet Longer version (88 min.) issued under same title Intended audience: Ages 15 through adult Issued also as videorecording… Internet Archive The Stone Carvers 1984 · Educational · 28 min Amidst the gargoyles of Washington (D.C.) Cathedral, some of the last remaining Italian-American stone carvers demonstrate their traditional skills and… Internet Archive Yanks Smash Truk 1944 · Newsreel · 9 min This short newsreel, produced for the home market, shows Operation Hailstone, the U.S. assault on "Japan's Pearl Harbor", the naval base at Truk. Footage… Internet Archive Operation Teapot - Tesla 28633 GMX HiRez 2017 · Film Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7cF9Oi0yzU Uploader: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Upload date: 2017-03-13 Internet Archive Basic Electricity: 2 -- How Electricity Is Produced 1982 · Educational Consultant, James M. McGrath, Lane Technical High School, Chicago Covers batteries; electron flow; chemical action; the cell; current measurement;… Internet Archive Rise of Hitler 1971 · Educational In Spanish Also issued as videorecording Surveys the background of Europe prior to World War II, beginning with the Versailles peace settlement of 1919 and… Internet Archive Weather Forecasting 1975 · Educational Produced in cooperation with the American Geological Institute With teacher's guide Collaborator, Miles Harris Examines the history of weather forecasting… Internet Archive Trout hatchery. 1970 · Educational · 14 min · Subtitles Contrasts the life of wild fish and hatchery-raised fish. Shows the stripping of eggs and sperm from adult fish by hatchery workers, the embryos, and the… Internet Archive Navy Our First Line of Defense 1935 · Short · 9 min "A Salute to the US Navy" circa 1935 featuring U.S. Navy fleet maneuvers at sea. Ships highlighted in this film are: The battleship USS California (BB-44),… Internet Archive The Adams Chronicles: 5 -- John Adams, Vice President (1788-1796) 1976 · Educational · 59 min Title from data sheet Prepared in conjunction with Jack Shepherd's book entitled The Adams chronicles Also issued as videorecording Shows how John Adams… Internet Archive Volleyball drills and techniques. 1962 · Educational · 13 min · Subtitles Provides an analysis of correct techniques, demonstrates elementary and advanced drills, and shows game play Summary Shows elementary and advanced drills in… Internet Archive 71462 NASA The 50th Year A Special Report Page Title 71462 Film Celebrating the 50th year of the Langley Research Center, this NASA film highlights the many innovations and discoveries made from 1917 through 1967. Langley… Internet Archive Freedom of the Seas 1918 · Educational · 7 min While the Battle of the Atlantic that took place during WWII is well known, the struggle to get troops, man and supplies to Europe from the USA during World… Internet Archive DOPE 357 2002 · Film · Subtitles Ed Rusenthal Trial, Marijuana Logs, WAMM bust, NYC, Bush, Golden Gate Bridge Security, Ground Zero See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Greatest Heroes of the Bible: Daniel in the lion's den, Part 1 1979 · Educational · 17 min Costume drama of the Old Testament story of Daniel, who is condemned to spend a night in a den of lions, but emerges unscathed because of his faith in God.