Alternative to Download QuickTime Movies

A downloaded file (.mov or .mp4) or even .mpg can be opened by the "free" QuickTime Player. A double-click on the file should open it.
If that fails (and it may) it is because you don't have the needed third part "codecs" to view the file. Most of them are free downloads, too.
QuickTime Player can open many Flash format movies. It can not open those that were "published" to be protected or those published using version 6, or higher.
The "free" Player allows to to "Open URL". If the file is in the correct format (version 5, or lower) QuickTime Player can view the file.
Save your money and upgrade to QT Pro so you can view, edit and save these files.
When you wish for "something for nothing" your wish is usually granted.
Upgrade. You'll find it's a better user experience.

Yes. Watch TV until you save the needed $30 to purchase QuickTime Pro.

You've got a few things to learn and most of them involve, skill, learning, effort, time or money.
I'm not one to throw money around and I value $30 more than most people. You've used enough time here at these discussion pages and your efforts have been rewarded with my comments.
Now all you need is to learn that everything you view on your Mac has already been downloaded. You just need the skill to save it. I've got some free time and a cold beer so here goes:
Position your mouse over the image of the dog that is used under your name above.
Control-click and look at the menu options. Notice that one of the options is to "save" the file? You can do the same when you buy QuickTime Pro on a movie file.
You can also open the movie file (the URL to the movie, not the Web page that holds it) in a new Web page. Use the browser to save the file. All you need is the address of the file and (for the most part) that is available in the source code of the page.
Safari (as most modern browsers) allows you to view the individual files that makes up a Web page. Its "Activity" window can open any page "asset" in a new window where it can be "saved". Try it on this page. You'll find your "dog" image at this address:
http://www0.info.apple.com/images/discussions/Images/bapple/glyphs/9.gif
All you need to save a file (most) is its address and a browser. Flash files usually end with the .swf file extension. They can be saved the same way.

I just showed you have to save a QuickTime file to your Desktop.
How much more "offline" can you get!
Open the file with your browser and "save" it. View it whenever the mood hits you.

I've had a day to mull over this post, my answers and the issues. Let's clear some air.
I apologize for my remark (watch TV). It didn't do anything to solve your problem or help you save QuickTime Web content without buying QT Pro.
Let's get back to the issue as others now think we don't care to answer questions and instead want to bicker over techniques for saving.
The question:
How does a viewer save a file that has been viewed over the Web?
Specifically, how to view and then save a file presented as a QuickTime file.
First. View the movie using your Web browser and then decide if it is worth saving to a "local" drive. Some are large files and the download time varies.
Using QuickTime 7 Player application (and its plug-in) you can use the preferences (via System Preferences/QuickTime or Control Panel (Windows) to set the size of your download "cache". These cached files do not have to be downloaded again and can be viewed "offline".
The key is to open the file using the QuickTime Player (not the Web plug-in) and "bookmark" the file as a "Favorite" (Command-D on a Mac). The "Open URL" is a feature of the "free" QT Player.
Question: How do I open the file when it is part of a Web page?
Every browser allows you to view the "source code" (the terminology varies between browsers). In Safari it can be found under the "View" menu (View Source).
OK. Now I'm seeing a new foreign language and don't know how to find the .mov file address.
With this "source" page open you need only "search it". Command-F will open a search dialog. Enter ".mov" (without the quote marks) and hit return. Now you'll see the line of code that holds the .mov address.
You can now see the file name. Copy all of the address between the " " marks.
If it begins with http your home free. Open a new browser window, paste the address and then save the file to your Desktop.
If it doesn't begin with http it means it is a new directory (folder) on the server (the place the Web page comes from).
How to "reassemble" a URL (Web address).
Highlight the path (the part your search found) and copy it (Command-C).
Go back to the address of the original page (where you found the movie file) and study it's address. You should be able to figure out the hierarchy (structure of the folder scheme) and simply delete the part of the URL that points to the html page and add in the part that points to the .mov file.
You may have to experiment and test the possible combinations. The "path" (URL) should begin with http and end with .mov.
Open this new link. If your address is correct you'll see the big "Q" and a status menu (if you have it enabled) showing the download progress.
When the file has completely downloaded (not before) you can now use the browser "Save As" to place a copy on your Desktop.
These steps (as complicated as they are) will allow you to "save" any file from any Web page.
You can't save "streaming" media. You also may not be able to "save" any QuickTime file that was authored to be "save disabled". Many of the .swf files you save in this fashion can't be viewed using the QuickTime Player app because they were authored for more modern Flash Player formats.
There. I feel better for explaining all of this to any that are still following this thread.
Moral? Almost anything your view in your browser can be "saved". No need for special tools. Time, practice, patience and skill win out over money!

Glad that this has cleared the air.
My steps (outlined above) do work. It's a complicated mess of steps but I've been using them to find out how a Web page works and why they (all of the content creators and software vendors) want me to jump through all of these steps.
Remember all of the rules about copyrights. Please do not abuse the system by re-posting copyrighted material without first asking for permission.
In my dream last night I must have confronted you (or your ghost). I had to make things "right".
Raining here in my part of Texas right now. Mower is parked (what a relief to not be mowing grass).
Better to be helping than to be mowing.

Thanks for the detailed info, but I cannot get the URL to save as a movie file. For instance, when using the URL "http://images.apple.com/movies/us/hd gallery/gl1800/720p/cornell720p.mov", I allow the entire movie to "download", then I choose "save as" from the Safari file menu. It says it is going to save 'cornell_720p.mov', so I save to desktop. The resulting file is 4k in size. It seems like it is only saving as a URL, not saving the actual .mov.

Any suggestions?

Odd. It shows as 99MB when downloading in Safari. I'm using dial-up so I won't wait for such a big file.
I use QT Pro to save movies. I used Safari to save .swf, images, .mp3 and dozens of other file formats.
Anything your browser downloads (except save disabled files) can be saved to a local drive.

QuickTimeKirk,
yes...I was following thread because I too, had same question and appreciate your detailed explanation.
I was interested in, as you say, how web pages work and the technical end. Your post has convinced me, though that even though it is possible to do so, I will now purchase QTPro. The other way just doesn't feel right...I would feel like an intruder rummaging through someones drawers....
Thanks for showing and convincing. You are to be commended!
ballerina (with votes for Kirk)

I have Quicktime Pro and love it. Yes, I am able to download and save files for later viewing. There are ways to capture anything on your computer screen, but this almost always is a copywrite violation.