Ephemeral films

3,457–3,504 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 Do Androids Dream Of Surplus Value May 2 2018 2018 · Film Are There Marxist Robots?!? Kal Spelletich, robot-maker and long-time artist, professor, actor, and all around raconteur of machinic chaos and dissent… Internet Archive Unto Thyself Be True 1949 · Film Provokes discussion on ways parents can help develop honesty and self respect in their teenagers. A kid takes the car out against his father's wishes, wrecks… Internet Archive Otto: The Psychoanalytic Perspective 1975 · Educational · 28 min Otto: The Psychoanalytic Perspective Dr. Richard Price presents the social perspective in abnormal psychology by interpreting a case study involving a… Internet Archive Psychiatric Interview Series: Patient No 2, evaluation for Treatment (1959) 1959 · Interview · 25 min Psychiatric Interview Series: Patient No 2, evaluation for Treatment (1959) Interview with the same young woman seen in Interview No. 1 after she has had… Internet Archive The Chaco Legacy 1980 · Educational Title from data sheet Examines archaeological theories about the rise and fall of Chacoan culture, which flourished 900 years ago in the area of Chaco… Internet Archive DOPE 283 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 R.D. Laing: A Dialog on Mental Illness and Its Treatment 1976 · Educational Producer, director, writer, Newton E. Meltzer; camera, Ivan Strasburg; editor, Hans R. Dudelheim R.D. Laing answers Dr. Desmond Kelly's interview queries… Internet Archive Women Like Us 1979 · Educational · 44 min Title from data sheet Intended audience: Senior high school through adult Issued also as videorecording A televised documentary, hosted by author Betty… Internet Archive Discovering Composition in Art 1979 · Educational Revised version of the motion picture issued in 1964 under the same title Producers, Paul Burnford, Jerry Samuelson Defines composition in art as an orderly… Internet Archive People Are Different and Alike 1989 · Educational Illustrates that all people need friendship and love, food, and a place to live, and that they want an education, fun, and happiness. Points out that people… Internet Archive Physics of Toys In Space 1993 · Film January 15, 1993) The astronauts on STS-54 conduct experiments with physics and toys on their shuttle mission. The crew members interact and take questions… Internet Archive Aeronautics and Space Report 1977 Short · 14 min NASA's annual report of its projects including the Space Shuttle, the Voyagers, Landsat, aeronautics, Spacelab, HEAO-1, and energy research. To license this… Internet Archive Ecology Emerges: Judy Goldhaft Feature · 1 h 5 min Judy Goldhaft is a cofounder of Planet Drum Foundation in San Francisco, and was previously one of the band of radicals known as the San Francisco Diggers.… Internet Archive California Recreation 1937 1937 · Film On WPA-sponsored recreation projects in California. Shows bike polo in Monterey, bee keeping in Paso Robles, trout fly making in San Luis Obispo, pottery… Internet Archive Like Father Like Son 1976 · Film Shows how a son tries to approach the problem of alcoholism with his father, who is a problem drinker. After an explosive argument, the father apologizes and… Internet Archive Drive-in: Goodnight-Replace speaker BW Film runs about 20 seconds. suggestion; insert clip at very end of final feature when creating drive-in dvd Internet Archive Opportunity's Calling 1996 · Film "We invite you to join us in the explosive growth of one of the most innovative telecommunications marketing companies in the United States. During this brief… Internet Archive Last Days of Living. [Motion picture] 1980 · Educational · 29 min Title from data sheet Also issued as videorecording Summary Documents the efforts of the medical staff and volunteers at a ./ecial unit of Montreal's Royal… Internet Archive Hot Dog Ad 4 (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Commercial Category: Stock Footage Title: Hot Dog 4 (from Drive-In Movie Ads) Length- :04 Sound: No Color Description: Short clips of a hot dog being cooked, being… Internet Archive Classical Comedy: "Ecclesiazusae" and "Miles Gloriosus" 1976 · Educational · 59 min Also issued as videocassette Producer, Harold Mantell; director, Philip Hedley; narrator, George Rose; music, Larry Dann Presents adaptations of… Internet Archive Grand Canyon 1961 · Educational An interpretation of the sights and sounds, with musical background, of Ferde Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite." No narration Internet Archive Clip From KING OF THE JEWS 2015 · Film This is a short movie clip of Jay Rosenblatt's film King of the Jews . Used by permission and courtesy of Jay Rosenblatt. Internet Archive NASA CONNECT: Data Analysis and Measurement: Dancing in the Night Sky 2003 · Film In this program, NASA engineers and researchers use data analysis and measurement to study the auroras, key regions of the Earth’s geospace or space… Internet Archive Say Goodbye 1972 · Educational Writer, director, and producer, David H. Vowell; consultant, Kenneth E. Stager, World Wildlife Fund; Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History; narrator,… Internet Archive A First Film on Geology 1975 · Educational Illustrates forces that change the earth: water, wind, animals, plants, temperature, and forces beneath the surface of the earth. Shows how a mountain might… Internet Archive Simple Organisms: Algae and Fungi 1979 · Educational Describes the major characteristics of algae and fungi and shows how they differ from higher plants. Explains natural habitats, human uses of algae and fungi,… Internet Archive The Renaissance Band (1965) 1967 · Educational · 29 min Presents the music of the Renaissance Band focusing on individual instruments. Includes selections from the works of Michael Praetorius, Heinrich Isaac and… Internet Archive DOPE 285 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 The biggest Jewish city in the world 1976 · Educational · 55 min Summary: One in a series of eight films that traces the history of America as a nation of immigrants. With a population that includes two million Jews, New… Internet Archive The Rise and Fall of DDT 1974 · Educational Also issued as videorecording Deals with the pros and cons of the uise of DDT, investigating its various roles as an insecticide, military weapon, safeguard… Internet Archive Wave Motion: Interference 1969 · Educational An experiment illustrating the various patterns which are produced by agitating the surface of the water in a ripple tank. Shows the changes in the pattern of… Internet Archive Nawi 1970 · Educational · 22 min · Subtitles Depicts a segment of the life of the Jie, a seminomadic people who inhabit the grasslands of northwestern Kenya. Follows the move during the dry seasons from… Internet Archive Volleyball skills. 1962 · Educational · 12 min · Subtitles Demonstrates drills and shows team strategy. Elementary and advanced skills are analyzed in slow motion. Includes sequences from a practice session of a… Internet Archive Sinutab Commercial 1980 · Commercial Sinutab television commercial Internet Archive Music for Wilderness Lake 1980 · Educational Produced with the assistance of the Ontario Arts Council Producers, directors, Niv Fichman, Barbara Sweete Traces the development and performance of a piece… Internet Archive The Fifth Estate: Just Another Missing Kid 1981 · Educational · 57 min Academy Award Winner: Best Documentary Producer, John Zaritsky Adrienne Clarkson, Eric Malling, Ian Parker Nineteen-year-old Eric Wilson left his suburban… Internet Archive [Super Sounds 8-Track Commercial Footage] 1973 · Commercial Repeated shots of guy holding a ring, then holding an 8-track tape entitled "Super Sounds", he places the tape in the 8-track tape player, some odd… Internet Archive Critical Mass 3rd birthday 1995 · Film Scenes from the chaotic 3rd birthday Critical Mass bike ride in San Francisco Internet Archive Lady Called Camille 1971 · Film Documents the devastation caused by Hurricane Camille. Tells how thousands of lives were saved because of emergency plans, trained rescue teams and help from… Internet Archive Bogart 1967 · Educational Analyzes the resurgence of interest in Humphrey Bogart, ten years after his death with clips from his feature films, rare tapes, stills, and newsreel material… Internet Archive Circus 1961 · Educational Author and educational advisor, Verna Villegas Colorful drawings created by junior high art school students depict a child's interpretation of circus life.… Internet Archive Essay on Watergate (part 2) 1973 · Educational · 26 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 Democracy In Education 1922 · Educational · 7 min Internet Archive Blacksmith For The Stars 1959 · Film About Wyman-Gordon forging parts for the new spacecraft and missile programs. Also shows how the parts are tested for tight tolerances and flaws. This film… Internet Archive The Last Pullman Car 1983 · Educational · 57 min Traces the development of lasers and discusses their applications in the fields of medicine, dentistry, construction, and communications. Internet Archive The Changing Forest 1958 · Film Presents the ecology of a deciduous forest area of the type found along the southern fringes of the Laurentian Shield, showing the forest as an integrated… Internet Archive Weight Watchers Easy Shape Up 1991 · Film "Set your own pace as your "personal trainer" guides you through simple, low-impact aerobic and toning movements with detailed instructions, helpful advice,… Internet Archive What's It All About? Short · 12 min This film holds workers responsible for the Delco manufacturing plant closings. To license this film and get a higher quality version for broadcast/film…