Ephemeral films

2,545–2,592 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 What Time is Your Body? (1973) 1975 · Educational · 24 min What Time is Your Body? (1973) A study of the problem of old age in relation to the family. Pictures a grandmother who lives with her son, his wife and… Internet Archive Dragon Lady, The: U-2 / TR-1 Short · 17 min An US Air Force recruitment film for U-2 and TR-1 reconnaissance jet pilots. To license this film and get a higher quality version for broadcast/film… Internet Archive Dope 282 1998 · Film · Subtitles Reuter on Drug War, Dennis Miller, Olympics Pot Test, No Fed $ Needle Exchange, Viagra, Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, Cannabis Club stays open See scans of liner… Internet Archive Hopi: Songs of the Fourth World 1983 · Educational · 59 min Internet Archive Ellis in Freedomland 1952 · Film Longest of four dealer promotion films in a two-hour series produced to promote Westinghouse home appliances. Ellis in Freedomland breaks into two parts. In… Internet Archive Anonymous Was a Woman 1978 · Educational · 28 min Filmmaker, Mirra Banks Presents an overview of 18th and 19th-century American folk art created by women and offers a look at the daily lives of these women… Internet Archive Une Bombe Par Hasard 1969 · Educational Musique, Pierre Alrand A cartoon on human avarice, in which a stranger enters a town deserted by its inhabitants because of a huge unexploded bomb lying in… Internet Archive Walk,—You, Walk! 1912 · Film Short in which a woman turns the tables on an overly amorous date by stealing his car. Preserved in collaboration with the New Zealand Film Archive and the… Internet Archive Pregnancy Plus Workout 1990 · Film "The first video of it's kind, Denise Austin's Pregnancy Plus Workout is a total fitness program that will keep you in shape during your entire childbirth… Internet Archive AMERICAN MOTORS HISTORY OF THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRIAL FILM 88814 Film Created in 1959 by MGM for American Motors Corporation, AMERICA THE AUTOMOIBLE AGE was written by Robert C. Bennett and directed by David Monahan. This… Internet Archive DOPE 443 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 The Music of Man: 1 -- The Quiver of Life 1979 · Educational Guide covers all 8 titles in the series: The music of man Credits: Producers, Richard Bocking, John Thomson, Curtis W. Davis ; directors, Richard Bocking,… Internet Archive Land Of The Giants 1935 1935 · Film On California's State parks. Reel 1 shows forests, streams, waterfalls, brush, and mountains in Redwood, Humboldt, Calaveras, and Tamalpais State Parks. CCC… Internet Archive Search For Truth 1961 · Film The Mormon take on Creation vs Evolution. re-enactment of Isaac Newton, the improbability of evolution, a dean of physics at BYU, Werner von Braun talks about… Internet Archive The Devil's Disciple 1959 · Educational Directed by Guy Hamilton Laurence Olivier and Kirk Douglas Excerpt from the feature film presenting the court-martial scene from Act III of George Bernard… Internet Archive Rhythmetron: The Dance Theatre of Harlem with Arthur Mitchell 1973 · Educational With guide Presents a demonstration by the Dance Theatre of Harlem, including a complete ballet barre, accompanied by Arthur Mitchell's explanation of the… Internet Archive Russia - the unfinished revolution [motion picture] 1968 · Educational · 59 min Discusses the thesis that Russia's revolution is unfinished, since it has not yet come into harmony with the talents of the Russian people. Shows scenes of… Internet Archive The Klan: A Legacy of Hate in America 1982 · Educational Director and editor, Werner Schumann; producers, Charles Guggenheim, Werner Schumann; associate producer, Nancy Sloss; authors, Charles Guggenheim, Patsy… Internet Archive Musical Poster No. 1 1940 · Cartoon · 2 min A 1940 example of drawn-on-film animation, directed by Len Lye, and produced for the Ministry of Information. A fun mix of abstract animation and government… Internet Archive Ballet Adagio 1971 · Educational Also issued in 35 mm Producer and director, Norman McLaren; photographers, Jacques Fogel, Douglas Kiefer David and Anna Marie Holmes perform a 10-minute… Internet Archive The Intertidal Zone 1985 · Educational Examines the plants and animals inhabiting the intertidal zone and their adaptations to the ocean's diurnal rhythm Filmed on location in British Columbia Ages… Internet Archive Drug Talk: Some Current Drug Programs 1971 · Talk Explores the issues junior high and high schools were facing surrounding teen drug use. Looks at several very integrated public schools and programs being… Internet Archive The Swimming Pool 1978 · Cartoon Made in Italy An animated film presenting a man who anticipates enjoying his new swimming pool, only to be thwarted at every turn Internet Archive DOPE 291 1998 · Film · Subtitles Clinton Impeached, Impeachment Vote See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Chachaji: My Poor Relation 1978 · Educational · 58 min Title from data sheet Ved Mehta; producer and director, William Cran Presents a profile of 83-year-old Bahali Ram, cousin of writer Ved Mehta. Follows Ram,… Internet Archive DOPE 488 2006 · Film · Subtitles Gen. Hayden CIA, Cody's closes, Internal spying ATT. See scans of liner notes for detailed content. Internet Archive Bombing of Pearl Harbor and Burning of SS Normandie 1942 · Film Silent Castle film of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the burning of the SS Normandie. We digitized and uploaded this film from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive.… Internet Archive Mercury, exploration of a planet 1994 · Film Contains the original NASA film using animation and photography to illustrate the flight of Mariner 10 to Mercury and Venus. Dr. Bruce C. Murray comments on… Internet Archive Life In The Fast Lane 1981 1981 · Educational · 13 min Incorporates humor, music, animation, and live action to communicate practical information on five major aspects of freeway driving: numbering, interchanges,… Internet Archive When I'm old enough ... goodbye. Short · 27 min A dramatization about a likable and ambitious teen-age boy who quits school to get a job. Portrays his joys, frustrations, and gradual disillusionment.… Internet Archive Picasso: A Painter's Diary, 2 -- From Cubism to Guernica 1980 · Educational Producer-director, Perry Miller Adato; writer, Jean-Claude van Itallie; editor, Eugene Marner The personal and professional life of Pablo Picasso, shown… Internet Archive Survival! 1980 · Educational Title from data sheet Utilizes dramatic reenactments of actual wilderness emergency case histories as a means of teaching survival techniques in the outdoors Internet Archive Cuba: Bay of Pigs (1964) 1963 · Educational · 28 min Dramatizes the boredom of production - line work in a small papermill town in Quebec, Canada. A discussion of classical ballet by George Balanchine,… Internet Archive Kevin 1965 · Educational · 14 min · Subtitles Sponsor, Central New York Eye Bank Association Kevin Walsh Summary Presents a case study of a four - year - old boy afficted with cerebral palsy and… Internet Archive Abyss 1974 · Educational Director, Gilbert Dassonville Shows the exploits of an expert climber, R. Sorgato, as he scales the West Peak of Lavaredo in the Dolomites Internet Archive Hamlet --- The Age of Elizabeth 1959 · Educational · 29 min Hamlet --- The Age of Elizabeth Introduces the work of perceptual psychologist J. J. Gibson, the first to conclude that some kind of information must be… Internet Archive " BATTLESHIP GRAF SPEE SCUTTLED!" 1939 SINKING OF THE GERMAN BATTLECRUISER GRAF SPEE NEWSREEL 70700 Newsreel This 1939 sound newsreel vividly shows the sinking of the German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee. Admiral Graf Spee was a Deutschland-class heavy cruiser… Internet Archive Regulated Deer Hunting 1930 · Film Silent with title cards. A look at Pisgah National Forest and their attempts to control deer overpopulation. Trapping and hunting. Help us get more films like… Internet Archive The Bridge of Adam Rush 1974 · Educational Presents the story of a 12-year-old boy's struggle to win the love of his new stepfather and adjust to the hardships of farm life in rural America of the… Internet Archive The Long Christmas Dinner 1976 · Educational An adaptation of Thornton Wilder's play about 90 years in the lives of an American family, 1885 to 1975 Internet Archive Policeman, The 1940 · Film Follows a policeman on his regular day's work. Explains use of two-way radio communication. This film can be purchased on DVD and higher quality versions of… Internet Archive Essay on Watergate (part 1) 1975 · Educational · 33 min Part 2 available HERE. Summary Reflects journalist Bill Moyers' personal attempt to understand how a political scandal the proportion of Watergate could occur… Internet Archive The American Road 1953 · Film Produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Model T Ford, The American Road highlights the role of automobiles, highway construction, and Ford Motor’s… Internet Archive The Blue Hotel. [Motion picture] 1977 · Educational · 24 min An adaptation of the story of the same title by Stephen Crane Executive producer, Robert Geller; director, Jan Kadar Search Educational Film Journals at Media… Internet Archive Age of Uncertainty: 12 -- Democracy, Leadership, and Commitment 1977 · Educational · 57 min Also issued as videocassette Features economist John Kenneth Galbraith discussing some of the ideas and views on economics that are presented in his book… Internet Archive Face Of Disaster 1965 · Film Highlights some of the recent natural disasters in the United States, such as the Alaskan earthquake of 1964, the floods of 1965, and the tornados which… Internet Archive The Creative Person: The Art of Marie Cosindas 1968 · Educational · 29 min With fact sheet Producer and director, Fred Barzyk; editor, Michael Goodman Presents Marie Cosindas' color photographs with comments by museum visitors, art… Internet Archive Gulf War protests 1991 · Film scenes from demonstrations against the 1991 Gulf War in San Francisco.