Ephemeral films

241–288 of 19,488 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 Nature's Newborn 1995 · Film · Subtitles "In each episode, a different baby animal interacts with its parents, friends, and even its enemies to bring you a truly exciting look into their daily… Internet Archive MYSTERY MORSE 1995 · Film · Subtitles MYSTERY: Ed McBain’s 87 th Precinct, and INSPECTOR MORSE 3-23-1995 Ed McBain mysteries often have drugs. The Inspector Morse mystery “Cherubim and Seraphim”… Internet Archive Schizophrenia: The Shattered Mirror 1966 · Educational · 58 min Schizophrenia: The Shattered Mirror Demonstrates secondary flows caused by the imposition of primary-flow pressure gradients on low-momentum fluid in sheer… Internet Archive Santa Claus' Punch and Judy 1948 · Short · 8 min Santa magically creates a Punch and Judy puppet show to the delight of children at a Christmas party. WARNING! Parents may wish to watch this before exposing… Internet Archive Meet Toby Terrier 1993 · Film "The interactive fun goes on and on in every 30 minute adventure of Toby Terrier and his Video Pals, Kids ages 3 to 7 will be entertained by and play along… Internet Archive The Nuer 1970 · Educational Presents the most important relationships and events in the lives of the Nuer, Nilotic people in Sudan and on the Ethiopian border. Demonstrates the vital… Internet Archive Mutt and Jeff: On Strike 1920 · Cartoon Mutt and Jeff cartoon featuring live-action shots of Bud Fisher, creator of the original comic strip. Preserved with the collaboration of the National Film… Internet Archive The Hydrogen atom 1963 · Educational · 12 min · Subtitles A CHEM Study film Longer version (20 min.) also issued Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary Describes… Internet Archive Filmstrip: "Part 2: Toward Clearer Skin" 1980 · Educational SOUND FILMSTRIP IS AN AT-RISK MEDIA FORMAT. I am the only person on earth preserving American filmstrips. The media format is largely forgotten and very… Internet Archive The Grand Canyon chronicles 1982 · Educational · 49 min · Subtitles Combining science with the creativity of talented filmmakers, this is perhaps the most colorful and fascinating film ever made on the Grand Canyon. Narrated… Internet Archive The Lorax 1972 · Educational · 24 min With study guide Presents the story from the book The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss. A fanciful tale with a serious theme: clean up the environment before it's too… Internet Archive Pie Fight 1969 1969 · Film The 1969 San Francisco International Film Festival opens on the steps of City Hall, but is unexpectedly attacked by independent filmmakers with pies. This… Internet Archive Squeak the Squirrel 1957 · Short · 10 min Shows how a gold-mantled ground squirrel at Crater Lake National Park has learned to solve problems connected with getting food. Illustrates how an animal can… Internet Archive RAW COMBAT FOOTAGE FROM SAIPAN WWII COLOR FOOTAGE (SILENT FILM) 82164 Film Shot by a member of combat camera named Edwin C. Udey who was tasked with making a documentary about the field treatment of wounded, this silent footage was… Internet Archive Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on Trial 1983 · Educational Narrated by Ruby Dee Produced by WGBH for the Nova series Travels to Papua New Guinea for a look at anthropology from "the other side," making the point… Internet Archive Natural history of psychotic illness in childhood. 1960 · Educational · 19 min · Subtitles Produced by the University of London's Institute of Psychiatry Traces the gradual unfolding of the psychotic process in childhood reconstructed from three… Internet Archive Buying Food 1950 · Film Made for home economics class, this is a primer on sensible food shopping. We learn to read canned food labels and get a glimpse at the mysterious grading… Internet Archive DOPE 083 1988 · Film · Subtitles Karate kid joint, Rex Reed clean & sober, drug bill urine test go after users, evictions, drivers licenses, cancel loans. Bolivia assassination attempt,… Internet Archive Prehistoric man in Europe. 1965 · Educational · 23 min · Subtitles Producer, D. C. Chipperfield Surveys the early development of mankind in Europe, showing aspects of the paleolithic period, followed by a look at the tools… Internet Archive Chinese X-ray film. 1962 · Educational · 16 min · Subtitles Material is selected to show the various ways that tongue and lips are used in order to contrast the principal syllable types of Peking Chinese. X-ray… Internet Archive London Airport 1949 · Short · 9 min The story of a great engineering feat - the building, at Heathrow, of one of the largest airports in the world.April 1944 Great Western Aerodrome started its… Internet Archive American History for Children 1996 · Film · Subtitles Irene Bedard, the recognized voice of Disney"s Pocahontast, narrates this unprecedented American history series created especially with the interest of young… Internet Archive Barbara's Problem Dogs 1982 · Educational · 27 min · Subtitles Barbara's Problem Dogs Reel 1 Reel 2 available here Dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse demonstrates remedies for common canine behavior problems such as car… Internet Archive We're No Dummies! We Don't take Drugs 1993 · Film " Join renowned ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner and his whimsical puppet partners, Shmendrik, Ezra, Danny, and Chippy for a frank yet humorous talk about the… Internet Archive The Golden Fish 1959 · Educational · 20 min The Golden Fish SummaryPortrays a young boy who yearns for a goldfish he sees at a Paris street fair. Depicts a kind of communication between the boy and the… Internet Archive The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth: 1--Building of the Earth 1984 · Educational · 58 min · Subtitles The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth: 1--Building of the Earth reel 2 Part one of a twelve-part study of how organisms have adapted to their physical… Internet Archive DOPE 039 1987 · Film · Subtitles Fawn Hall, Panic Needle Park, SDS, AIDS tests in prisons, Meese lies, Paul Gann, abstinence campaigns, Reagans drug trip to Stockholm, AIDS benefit. Andie… Internet Archive The Displaced Person 1977 · Educational · 58 min · Subtitles An adaptation of the short story of the same title by Flannery O'Connor John Houseman Executive producer, Robert Geller; director, Glenn Jordan Portrays… Internet Archive Mandel at HUAC 1960 1960 · Film excerpt from William Mandel's testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing at San Francisco City Hall, May 1960. Internet Archive DOPE 280 1997 · 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 Madness and Medicine 1977 · Educational · 22 min · Subtitles Madness and Medicine Reel 1 Reel 2 available here A critical look at mental institutions and their diverse treatment programs which help some patients but… Internet Archive Mark Twain (1963) 1963 · Educational · 26 min Presents a biography of Mark Twain showing his experiences and varied environments which furnished material for his stories, essays and novels. Internet Archive Senses of man. 1965 · Educational · 18 min · Subtitles -----Another issue. b&w Discusses the senses of man, describing the importance of external and internal sense receptors, illustrating the general sense… Internet Archive The Living Planet a Portrait of the Earth 8 Sweet Fresh Water 1984 · Educational · 57 min · Subtitles Title from data sheet Intended audience: Ages 16 through adult Issued also as videorecording Host David Attenborough follows the Amazon River, the world's… Internet Archive A Season in the Sun 1989 · Educational · 55 min · Subtitles A Season in the Sun Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary Visits East Africa which has only two… Internet Archive The Living Planet A Portrait of the Earth: 9 - the Margins of the Land 1984 · Educational · 58 min · Subtitles Intended audience: Ages 16 through adult Host David Attenborough talks about the animals and plants that make their homes in the shifting world of mud and… Internet Archive Carnivorous Plants 1955 · Film On the surface, this film may seem like an average biology film, but like most of films from the Moody Institute of Science, there is an ulterior motive. The… Internet Archive National Drinking Game PSA 1970 · Short · 1 min The disembodied voice shows up a lively party and manages to make everybody feel bad about drinking by having them play the "National Drinking Game" - a quiz… Internet Archive Susie, the Little Blue Coupe 1951 · Cartoon Director, Clyde Geronimi ; story adaptation, Bill Peet, Don da Gradi ; music, Paul Smith ; animation, Ollie Johnson, Cliff Nordberg, Hal King, Bob Carlson… Internet Archive The Ancient Egyptian 1964 · Educational · 26 min Shows Egyptian history from 2700 B.C. to the Roman conquest. Portrays the religion and daily activities of the Pharaohs and citizens of ancient Egypt.… Internet Archive Beginners Guide To The Internet Starring John Turturro 1999 · Educational "Learn how easy it is to use the Internet. Let Lycos ® show you the wonders of the Web with acclaimed actor John Turturro." -- description from box. Internet Archive Way Stations In Space 1961 · Film Introduction to the basic scientific principles of using a manned space platform in helping explore the universe. To license this film and get a higher… Internet Archive Methodology: The Psychologist and the Experiment 1975 · Educational · 29 min Methodology: The Psychologist and the Experiment Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Shows various types of… Internet Archive Shoplifter 1975 · Educational · 19 min This film details the techniques used by amateur and professional shoplifters to steal over $6 billion in merchandise annually. Emphasizing how much of this… Internet Archive Journey by a London Bus 1950 · Short · 8 min An interesting take on London Buses intended for overseas distribution. London bus travel. Double-Decker bus. Internet Archive Les Miserables 1946 · Educational · 42 min Les Miserables Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film SummaryAn excerpt from the 1935 feature film of the same… Internet Archive The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth: 2--The Frozen World 1984 · Educational · 58 min · Subtitles The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth: 2--The Frozen World Explores the snowy peaks of the Andes, Antarctica, and the Arctic to show how plants and… Internet Archive Palle Alone in the World 1950 · Educational · 16 min Palle Alone in the World Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film SummaryA story of a little boy who dreams that…