Ephemeral films

3,265–3,312 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 The Back Street Six [motion picture] 1978 · Educational · 41 min Director, Andre Melancon Using the city as their playground, six children in search of summer adventures learn together, developing tolerance, self-reliance,… Internet Archive The Plot to Murder Hitler 1974 · Educational · 50 min The Plot to Murder Hitler Explores problems caused by a human nervous system filled with associations coming between talking or writing and the things to be… Internet Archive How To Remember 1950 · Film Illustrates a procedure for remembering given material. Shows specifically how to memorize a selection, while explaining the process of remembering. Explains… Internet Archive How solid is rock? 1968 · Educational · 21 min Produced in cooperation with the American Geological Institute With teacher's guide Summary Establishes a parallel between the constant flux of the atmosphere… Internet Archive Robotics 1995 · Film Highlights of ongoing NASA research in science, mathematics, and technology for students and teachers of grades 5-12. This program's emphasis is robotics. To… Internet Archive Stravinsky 1965 · Educational Producer, Roman Kroitor; directors, Roman Kroitor, Wolf Koenig; commentary, Don Brittain; cameraman and editor, Wolf Koenig Follows the performance of Igor… Internet Archive Tout Rien 1978 · Educational "The film All Nothing is an allegory portraying humankind's desire to appropriate all of nature's beauty and resources. For too long, we have held the… Internet Archive Spirit Of The Arctic 1995 · Educational · 26 min · Subtitles The first documentary to feature three distinguished circumpolar Inuit artists carving on a monumental scale – a rarity in arctic art. It features the work of… Internet Archive Conveyor Belts - Be Careful 1969 · Film Depicts five of the most common accidents that can occur around belt conveyors in the mineral industry. Outlines recommendations for their prevention and the… Internet Archive Seapower in the Pacific Educational · 29 min The Pacific Campaign is recounted in this post-WWII film. Beginning with the Japanese invasion of the China, the film rapidly shows the U.S. entry to the war… Internet Archive Three Wishes 1950 · Film Tells the story of a peasant who receives three wishes for aiding two gnomes, but wastes them due to his own greed and his wife's spitefulness. This film can… Internet Archive The Gene Engineers 1977 · Educational · 58 min Also issued as videocassette Producers, Graham Chedd, Paula Apsell Explores the scientific, moral, and legal implications of scientists' new ability to… Internet Archive Managing Time (1968) 1968 · Educational · 21 min · Subtitles Explains how time is inevitably wasted when an executive must spend much of his time on things that are not important. Documentary about the life and works of… Internet Archive Basic Electricity: 5 -- Ohm's Law 1982 · Educational Title from data sheet Consultant, James M. McGrath Rev. version of the film made in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy Intended audience: Junior high… Internet Archive The World at War 2 -- Distant War, September 1939 - May 1940 1939 · Educational · 55 min · Subtitles Internet Archive Craig Baldwin Talks about the Future Of ATA 2015 · Film Experimental Filmmaker Craig Baldwin talks about the future of Artists' Television Access (ATA). Internet Archive Living and working in space 1989 · Film This program is devoted to the analysis and development of the possibilities for living in and utilizing space. Beginning with the Skylab project in the U.S.,… Internet Archive Journey Through the Solar System, Episode 11: Pioneer-Saturn Encounter 1982 · Film In episode 11 of Journey Through the Solar System a Pioneer craft flies by Jupiter and then on to Saturn to give the first good look of that huge, ringed… Internet Archive Clouds and Weather, The Film Shows various types of clouds; explains low and high pressure areas and how to forecast weather from the study of clouds. To license this film and get a… Internet Archive The World at War:12 Whirlwind Bombing, Germany 1939 - April 1944 Educational · 56 min The World at War:12 Whirlwind Bombing, Germany1939 - April1944 Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film Summary… Internet Archive The Western Hero (1963) 1963 · Educational · 24 min The Western Hero (1963) Explains that a modern blast furnace uses raw materials to produce its daily output of iron, and points out that the preparation and… Internet Archive The 50th year - a special report. 1967 · Film The history of aviation; covers the years 1917-1967 and the Langley Research Center. This film can be purchased on DVD and higher quality versions of the film… Internet Archive Black and White Uptight (1969) 1969 · Educational · 34 min Black and White Uptight (1969) The film "Black and White Uptight" explores the complexities of racial prejudice in America, particularly focusing on the… Internet Archive Psychotherapeutic Interviewing Series: 1 - Introduction 1949 · Interview · 10 min Psychotherapeutic Interviewing Series: 1 - Introduction SummaryExplains the basic principles of the doctor - patient relationship and illustrates the… Internet Archive Local Civil Defense 1964 · Film Film explains where the responsibility for local civil defense lies and describes the function of local government in the event of a nuclear attack. We… Internet Archive Seashore 1971 · Educational Closely views the beauties of the ocean and its wildlife. Includes super-slow motion sequences of pelicans diving for fish Internet Archive Gymnosperms 1961 · Educational · 16 min With teachers guide Collaborator, Jane Philpott High school students Issued also in Arabic and Spanish Issued also in b&w Issued also as videocassette… Internet Archive Starfinder, Episode 11: Evolution of a Star 1990 · Film (October 26, 1990) Episode 11 of Starfinder focuses on the evolution of stars. The beginning stages of our sun are used to trace the evolutionary process. Internet Archive The Gospel in Stone 1949 · Educational · 21 min The Gospel in Stone Search Educational Film Journals at Media History Project for references to this film SummaryRe - enacts the story of the life of Christ… Internet Archive 5000 Dumps 1972 · Film About the EPA's push to convert the country's garbage dumps into sanitary landfills. While showing some success stories the film features an unflattering view… Internet Archive State Of The World Forum 1996 · Film State of the World Forum. Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA., October 3 to 5, 1996. This conference was attended by world leaders and opinion makers concerned… Internet Archive Ancient Moderns: Greek Island Art and Culture 2000-3000 B.C. 1979 · Educational Title from data sheet Narrator, Rex Harrison Intended audience: Senior high school students through adults Examines Cycladic culture during the period 2000… Internet Archive Drive-in: Our Next Attraction-Seachlights Film runs only a few seconds. suggestion; insert clip anywhere in group of trailers when creating drive-in dvd. Internet Archive ACT1 NowPlaying Drive-In Movie Intermission Video01 2009 · Film ACT1 NowPlaying Drive-In Movie Intermission Video01 Internet Archive A Better Missouri 1937 1937 · Film On WPA projects in Missouri. Gravel is quarried. Streets are paved in St. Louis and county roads surfaced. The Joplin airport is graded and surfaced. Shows… Internet Archive Why Vandalism? 1955 · Film A story about three young boys who destroy a classroom is used in discussing factors which lead youngsters into destructive acts and in showing various ways… Internet Archive Give My Poor Heart Ease: Mississippi Delta Bluesmen 1975 · Educational With script and study guide Sound, Robert Slattery; photographer, Dale Lindquist; editors, Dale Lindquist, William Ferris Presents recollections and… Internet Archive Manufactured Abrasives 1940 · Educational · 22 min Manufactured Abrasives Explores the country of Spain, viewing scenes of flamenco dancers, bullfights, and the feast of St. Joseph. Contrasts farm peasants… Internet Archive Mindscape 1976 · Educational With teacher's guide Also issued as videocassette Producer, Jacques Drouin Explores, through the use of pinscreen animation, creative processes of the… Internet Archive Bobby Bumps Starts for School 1917 · Cartoon Bobby Bumps Starts for School We digitized and uploaded this film from the Orgone Cinema 16mm Archive. Email us at footage@avgeeks.com if you have questions… Internet Archive Cassette: Reader's Digest "The World's Most Beautiful Melodies" Demonstration Cassette 1991 · 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 Rene Yañez and Frida Kahlo 2018 · Film An interview \with Rene Yañez about his long and important role in bringing Frida Kahlo back to prominence, first in San Francisco and then nationally... Internet Archive Group Theory 1977 · Educational · 26 min Produced by the BBC for the British Open University Extracts the fundamental properties of two situations to reveal the basic axioms of a group. The first… Internet Archive Natural Areas Golden Gate Park Sept 30 2023 2023 · Film An excerpt from the longer video, this focused on Golden Gate Park, with a visit to Greg Gaar at the Native Plant Community Garden where the recycling center… Internet Archive Writing: An Interview With Irving Stone 1978 · Interview · 18 min Writing: An Interview With Irving Stone Edwin Burr Pettet delivers the 'To be or not to be' soliloquy from 'Hamlet' as it might have been performed by seven… Internet Archive Christians: 4 -- Faith and Fear 1976 · Educational First released in England A survey of Christian church history during the Middle Ages. Juxtaposes the great religious faith and architectural and artistic… Internet Archive Jackie Robinson 1965 · Educational Originally telecast in the Biography series Uses actual photographs and footage from old films to portray events in the life of Jackie Robinson Internet Archive How Animals Speak 1973 · Educational · 25 min With teacher's guide Follows the behavior of animals from their distinctive manner of communication. Shows how geese, fish, and mammals transmit vitally…