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List of films in the public domain in the United States

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Most films are subject to copyright, but those listed here are believed to be in the public domain in the United States. This means that no government, organization, or individual owns any copyright over the work, and as such it is common property.[1] This list is not comprehensive; the vast majority of public domain films are not included here for various reasons. Films in this list may incorporate elements from other works that are still under copyright, even though the film itself is out of copyright.

Copyrightable elements of a film

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There is no official list of films (or other works) in the public domain. It is difficult to determine the public domain status of a film because it can incorporate any or all of the following copyrightable elements:

Film copyright involves the copyright status of multiple elements that make up the film.[4] A film can lose its copyright in some of those elements while retaining copyright in other elements.[4] Experts in the field of public domain sometimes differ in their opinions as to whether a particular film is in the public domain.

The use of music in a film can cause uncertainty with regard to copyright. As of 2010, it is not known whether the use of music in a film constitutes publication of the music for the purpose of copyright.[5] Unpublished works are treated differently from published works under US copyright law.[6]

Judicial interpretation of public domain

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Judges, too, differ in their interpretation of the laws governing copyright protection. The United States is a "patchwork quilt" of inconsistent copyright rules in different federal judicial districts. The courts of one jurisdiction are not obliged to follow the decisions of another.[7] The Supreme Court of the United States (which could resolve those inconsistencies) very seldom decides copyright cases, and then only when an important principle is involved.[citation needed]

Documenting public domain status

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If a film appears on the list below, there is a high probability it has lost some or all of its United States copyright protection or, in the case of U.S. government films, was never protected by copyright.

There is no single method for determining if a film, or parts of it, is in the public domain. There are several methods that can be used to document a film's public domain status. These include the following:

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Motion picture copyright registrations prior to 1978 were published in semi-annual Copyright Catalogs. The Library of Congress also published cumulative Copyright Catalogs of motion picture registrations for the periods, which all are out of print.

  • 1894–1911
  • 1912–1939[8]
  • 1940–1949
  • 1950–1959
  • 1960–1969
  • 1970–1979
  • 1980–1989

However, the Film Superlist series is a complete reprint of all registrations in the Copyright Catalogs for 1894 through 1959. There is no cumulative Copyright Catalog for 1970–1977; the Copyright Office published 16 semi-annual Copyright Catalog booklets covering that eight-year period, but all are out of print and extremely rare. All copyright registrations from 1978 onward are online at the Library of Congress website.

Some decades of The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures include copyright registration information for feature films (not shorts) of United States origin. This can include a statement that research failed to disclose copyright registration for a particular film. Copyright registration information is given in the following:

  • The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures, 1931–1940; ISBN 0-913616-00-1
  • The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures, 1941–1950; ISBN 0-913616-39-7

The United States copyright website catalogs all the pre-1978 works that have been renewed in 1978 or later.[9] Several pieces of work have been renewed in the form of collections, thus giving the collection as a whole copyright protection.

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Screenshot of copyright notice that does not contain a claimant,[10] the notice merely saying "© 1965" (view enhanced image)

Films published before March 1, 1989, had to contain a valid copyright notice in order to claim copyright. At the bare minimum, the copyright notice had to include the word "copyright" or an acceptable abbreviation (like a circled C), the year of publication (which could not be more than one year ahead of the actual publication), and the name of any entity claiming the copyright.

For example, episodes of the animated TV series The New 3 Stooges were published with an incomplete copyright notice with a year and copyright symbol but no claimant. The series was published prior to 1989, and the lack of an explicit claimant ensured that the series immediately lapsed into the public domain. If the series had been published after this date, the owner of any copyright would have been unclear due to uncertainty over ownership of the series.

As a result of the passage of the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988, a copyright notice is not required for films published on March 1, 1989, or later. An invalid notice or a lack of one would not invalidate the copyright to works published between 1978 and March 1, 1989, as long as a proper notice was added to subsequent copies.[11]

Date of publication and renewal status

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All motion pictures made and exhibited before 1929 are indisputably in the public domain in the United States. This date will move forward one year, every year, meaning that films released in 1929 will enter the public domain in 2025, films from 1930 in 2026, and so on, concluding with films from 1977 entering the public domain in 2073.

Films registered between 1929 and 1963 had to have their copyrights renewed in order for them not to enter the public domain. The semi-annual Copyright Catalog booklets have virtually complete lists of renewals for the films registered 28 years earlier. Those semi-annual booklets all are out of print. However, for 1929 through 1959, the Film Superlist books match copyright renewals with earlier registrations. Copyright registrations and renewals can be found in:

  • Volume 1: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain 1894–1939
  • Volume 2: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain 1940–1949
  • Volume 3: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain 1950–1959

As a result of the Copyright Renewal Act of 1992, copyrights registered in 1964 and later were automatically renewed.

Before the passage of the Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA) in 1998, the term of copyright in the U.S. was a maximum of 75 years, with the work entering the public domain on January 1 of the 76th year from creation (so, for example, a film made in 1930 whose copyright was properly registered and renewed would enter the public domain on January 1, 2006). As such, all films released before 1923 would have entered the public domain by January 1, 1998. Although the CTEA added 20 years to the terms of all existing copyrights until 2019, it explicitly refused to revive any copyrights that had expired prior to its passage. On January 1, 2019, the 20-year extension expired and new works began entering the public domain each year thereafter.

Underlying rights

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Many of the films listed below are based on novels, plays, magazine stories or a combination of these sources. In some cases, a film's copyright has lapsed because of non-renewal while the underlying literary or dramatic source is still protected by copyright; for example, the film His Girl Friday (1940) became a public domain film in 1969 because it was not renewed, but it is based on the 1928 play The Front Page; as a practical matter, the film could not be used without permission until copyright on the play expired in 2024.[4]

Work of the United States government

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Main article: Copyright status of work by the U.S. government

All works made by United States government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain from their creation. The status of works made by contractors is dependent on the terms of their contract. Note that this applies only to the federal government, and not to state or local governments, which may or may not claim copyright depending on state laws.[12]

Films

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Some films are not listed here in order to keep this list to a manageable size. These include films that were released before 1929 (see Category:Films by year for pre-1929 films) and works of the United States government. Films released under a free license such as Creative Commons are also excluded.

Note: This list is not comprehensive; the vast majority of public domain films are not listed here. This list includes a selection of notable films where a reliable secondary source is available that discusses public domain status. Others are on the list of animated films in the public domain in the United States.
Film title Release year Director Studio / Distributor Entered the public domain in (year) Reason for entering the public domain Note(s)
Abraham Lincoln 1930 D. W. Griffith United Artists 1958[13] Copyright not renewed.[13]
Africa Screams 1949 Charles Barton United Artists 1977 Copyright not renewed.[14][15]
Algiers 1938 John Cromwell United Artists 1966 Copyright not renewed.[16]
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp 1939 Dave Fleischer Paramount Pictures [data missing] [data missing][17] The third of three Popeye Technicolor two-reel specials.
The Amazing Mr. X 1948 Bernard Vorhaus Eagle-Lion Films [data missing] [data missing][18] Also known as The Spiritualist.
Angel and the Badman 1947 James Edward Grant Republic Pictures 1975 Copyright not renewed.[19]
The Animal Kingdom 1932 Edward H. Griffith RKO Radio Pictures 1960 Copyright not renewed.[16]
At War with the Army 1950 Hal Walker Paramount Pictures [data missing] [data missing][20]
Attack of the Giant Leeches 1959 Bernard L. Kowalski American International Pictures [data missing] [data missing][21]
The Bat 1959 Crane Wilbur Allied Artists [data missing] [data missing][22]
Beat the Devil 1953 John Huston United Artists 1980 Copyright not renewed.[23]
Beau Ideal 1931
(copyright notice: 1930)		 Herbert Brenon RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Becky Sharp 1935 Rouben Mamoulian RKO Radio Pictures [data missing] [data missing][25]
Behind Office Doors 1931 Melville W. Brown RKO Radio Pictures 1959 Copyright not renewed.[24]
The Big Wheel 1949 Edward Ludwig United Artists [data missing] [data missing][26]
Bird of Paradise 1932 King Vidor RKO Radio Pictures 1960 Copyright not renewed.[16]
Blood on the Sun 1945 Frank Lloyd United Artists 1973 Copyright not renewed.[19]
Blue Steel 1934 Robert N. Bradbury Lone Star Pictures [data missing] [data missing][27]
Bowery at Midnight 1942 Wallace Fox Monogram Pictures [data missing] [data missing][28]
The Brain That Wouldn't Die 1962
(completed: 1959)		 Joseph Green American International Pictures 1962 Missing copyright notice.[29] Originally completed in 1959 under the title The Black Door (it was then changed to The Head That Wouldn't Die), it was not released until May 3, 1962, where failure to add the copyright notice resulted in the film entering the public domain.[29]
Brideless Groom 1947 Edward Bernds Columbia Pictures 1960s[30] Copyright not renewed.[30]
A Bucket of Blood 1959 Roger Corman American International Pictures [data missing] [data missing][31]
Captain Kidd 1945 Rowland V. Lee United Artists [data missing] [data missing][32]
Carnival of Souls 1962 Herk Harvey Herts-Lion International Corp. 1962 Missing copyright notice.[33] There was a dispute about the rights to the film from 1990 to 1995.[34]
The entirety of the film rights might have been granted to John Clifford in 1996.[35]
The DVD release of the film by The Criterion Collection lists copyright by Harold Harvey and John Clifford.
Charade 1963 Stanley Donen Universal Pictures 1963 Defective copyright notice[36] Original music still in copyright.[37]
Original story by Peter Stone still in copyright.[36][38]
The Chase 1946 Arthur Ripley Nero Films/United Artists [data missing] [data missing] Independent film left without an owner.[39]
Check and Double Check 1930 Melville W. Brown RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[40]
Conspiracy 1930 Christy Cabanne RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Cyrano de Bergerac 1950 Michael Gordon United Artists 1980s [data missing][41][42]
The Dance of Life 1929 John Cromwell Paramount Pictures 1957 Copyright not renewed.[16]
Danger Lights 1930 George B. Seitz RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
The Deadly Companions 1961 Sam Peckinpah Pathé-America 1961 Missing copyright notice.[43]
Debbie Does Dallas 1978 Jim Clark VCX 1981 Missing copyright notice.[44] The Dallas Cowboys hold veto power on commercial publication because of unauthorized use of their trademarks.[45]
Dementia 13 1963 Francis Ford Coppola American International Pictures [data missing] [data missing][21] Also known as The Haunted and the Hunted.
Detour 1945 Edgar G. Ulmer Producers Releasing Corporation [data missing] Copyright not renewed[46]
The Devil Bat 1940 Jean Yarbrough Producers Releasing Corporation [data missing] [data missing][28]
Disorder in the Court 1936 Preston Black Columbia Pictures 1960s[30] Copyright not renewed.[30]
Dixiana 1930 Luther Reed RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[40]
D.O.A. 1950 Rudolph Maté United Artists 1977 Copyright not renewed.[47]
The Emperor Jones 1933 Dudley Murphy United Artists [data missing] [data missing][48]
Father's Little Dividend 1951
(copyright notice: 1950)		 Vincente Minnelli MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.[49]
A Farewell to Arms 1932 Frank Borzage Paramount Pictures 1960 Copyright not renewed.[50] Based on the copyrighted (R177406) novel by Ernest Hemingway.
Fear and Desire 1953 Stanley Kubrick Joseph Burstyn [data missing] Copyright not renewed.[51]
The Flying Deuces 1939 A. Edward Sutherland RKO Radio Pictures [data missing] [data missing][52]
The Front Page 1931 Lewis Milestone United Artists [data missing] [data missing][53]
Glen or Glenda 1953 Ed Wood Screen Classics [data missing] [data missing][54]
Go for Broke! 1951
(copyright notice: 1950)		 Robert Pirosh MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.[49]
The Gorilla 1939 Allan Dwan 20th Century Fox [data missing] [data missing][55]
The Great Flamarion 1945 Anthony Mann Republic Pictures [data missing] Copyright not renewed[56]
Gulliver's Travels 1939 Dave Fleischer Paramount Pictures 1967 Copyright not renewed.[57][58]
Half Shot at Sunrise 1930 Paul Sloane RKO Radio Productions 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
His Girl Friday 1940
(copyright date: 1939)		 Howard Hawks Columbia Pictures 1967 Copyright not renewed.[59]
The Hitch-Hiker 1953 Ida Lupino RKO Radio Pictures [data missing] [data missing][60]
Hook, Line and Sinker 1930 Edward F. Cline RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
House on Haunted Hill 1959 William Castle Allied Artists [data missing] [data missing][61][62]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1939 William Dieterle RKO Radio Pictures [data missing] [data missing][63]
Indestructible Man 1956 Jack Pollexfen Allied Artists [data missing] [data missing][64]
Inside the Lines 1930 Roy Pomeroy RKO Radio Productions 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
The Inspector General 1949 Henry Koster Warner Bros. [data missing] [data missing][65]
It's a Wonderful Life 1946
(copyright notice: 1947)		 Frank Capra Liberty Films
RKO Pictures		 1975 Copyright not renewed.[66] While the film images are public domain, under rulings of Stewart v. Abend, the film text (script) is based on the copyrighted short story "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern.[66][67][68]
Republic also purchased the exclusive rights to the film's copyrighted music to further shore up its rights.[69]
Jack and the Beanstalk 1952 Jean Yarbrough Warner Bros. 1980 Copyright not renewed[14]
The Jackie Robinson Story 1950 Alfred E. Green Eagle-Lion Films [data missing] [data missing][70]
The Joe Louis Story 1953 Robert Gordon United Artists [data missing] [data missing][71]
Kansas City Confidential 1952 Phil Karlson United Artists [data missing] Copyright not renewed[72]
Kept Husbands 1931 Lloyd Bacon RKO Radio Productions 1959 Copyright not renewed.[24]
The Lady Refuses 1931 George Archainbaud RKO Radio Productions 1959 Copyright not renewed.[24]
A Lady to Love 1930 Victor Sjöström MGM 1958 Copyright not renewed.[16] Based on the play They Knew What They Wanted.
The Last Man on Earth 1964 Ubaldo Ragona, Sidney Salkow American International Pictures, 20th Century Fox 1992[73] Copyright not renewed.[73] Source novel I Am Legend (1954) is still under copyright.[74]
The Last Time I Saw Paris 1954
(copyright notice: 1944)		 Richard Brooks MGM 1972 Copyright not renewed; defective copyright notice resulted in earlier expiration.[75] Music score still protected by copyright.[76]
Lawful Larceny 1930 Lowell Sherman RKO Radio Productions 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Leathernecking 1930 Edward F. Cline RKO Radio Productions 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Letter of Introduction 1938 John M. Stahl Universal Pictures 1966 Copyright not renewed.[77]
Life with Father 1947 Michael Curtiz Warner Bros. 1975 Copyright not renewed.[78]
The Little Princess 1939 Walter Lang 20th Century Fox 1967 Copyright not renewed.[66]
Little Shop of HorrorsThe Little Shop of Horrors 1960 Roger Corman Filmgroup 1988 Copyright not renewed.[59][79]
Lonely Wives 1931 Russell Mack RKO Radio Pictures 1959 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Love Affair 1939 Leo McCarey RKO Radio Pictures 1967 Copyright not renewed.[16]
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy 1945 Willis Goldbeck MGM [data missing] Copyright not renewed.[80]
The Lucky Texan 1934 Robert N. Bradbury Lone Star Pictures [data missing] [data missing].[27]
Made for Each Other 1939 John Cromwell United Artists [data missing] [data missing][81]
Malice in the Palace 1949 Jules White Columbia Pictures 1960s[30] Copyright not renewed.[30]
The Man from Utah 1934 Robert N. Bradbury Lone Star Pictures [data missing] [data missing].[27]
The Man with the Golden Arm 1955 Otto Preminger United Artists [data missing] [data missing][82] Loosely based on the copyrighted novel by Nelson Algren, though Algren at least once disowned the film due to substantial changes from the source material[83][84] and never followed through on his legal effort to claim a copyright due to lack of funds.[85]
Maniac 1934 Dwain Esper Roadshow Attractions [data missing] [data missing][86] Also known as Sex Maniac.
Manos: The Hands of Fate 1966 Harold P. Warren Emerson Film Enterprises 1968 Failure to display copyright notice.[87] Original script may have been copyrighted.[87]
March of the Wooden Soldiers 1950 Gus Meins Lippert Pictures 1950 Failure to display copyright notice.[36] This is a later abridgement of Babes in Toyland (1934), which is still in copyright. Its public domain status remains unclear.[36]
McLintock! 1963 Andrew V. McLaglen United Artists 1991 Copyright not renewed.[88][89] Music score still under copyright.[88]
Meet John Doe 1941 Frank Capra Warner Bros. 1969 Copyright not renewed.[66]
Millie 1931 John Francis Dillon RKO Radio Pictures 1959 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Mr. Imperium 1951
(copyright notice: 1950)		 Don Hartman MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.[49]
My Dear Secretary 1948 Charles Martin United Artists [data missing] [data missing][90]
My Favorite Brunette 1947 Elliott Nugent Paramount Pictures 1975 Copyright not renewed.[19]
My Man Godfrey 1936 Gregory La Cava Universal Pictures [data missing] [data missing][91] While the film images are public domain, under rulings of Stewart v. Abend, the film text (script) is based on the copyrighted 1935 book My Man Godfrey by Eric S. Hatch.[92]
Night of the Living Dead 1968 George A. Romero Walter Reade 1968 Missing copyright notice and errors from the distributor. Night of the Living Dead entered the public domain because the original theatrical distributor, the Walter Reade Organization, neglected to place a copyright indication on the prints. In 1968, United States copyright law required a proper notice for a work to maintain a copyright: U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 92, Copyright Law of the United States of America, Chapter 4: Copyright Notice, Deposit, and Registration, Omission of notice on certain copies and phonorecords. Image Ten displayed such a notice on the title frames of the film beneath its original title, Night of the Flesh Eaters, but the distributor removed the statement when it changed the title.[93] The restored version released on home media by The Criterion Collection is under copyright by Image Ten, Inc.[94]
Nothing Sacred 1937 William A. Wellman Selznick,
United Artists		 1965 Copyright not renewed.[59]
Of Human Bondage 1934 John Cromwell RKO Radio Pictures 1962 Copyright not renewed.[16]
Our Town 1940 Sam Wood United Artists [data missing] [data missing][95]
The Outlaw 1943 Howard Hughes Howard Hughes Prod., United Artists 1971 Copyright not renewed.[24]
The Painted Hills 1951 Harold F. Kress MGM 1979 Copyright not renewed.[49]
The Pay-Off 1930 Lowell Sherman RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Penny Serenade 1941 George Stevens Columbia Pictures 1968 Copyright not renewed.[96]
Plan 9 from Outer Space 1959 Ed Wood Distributors Corporation of America 1987 [data missing][97]
Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves 1937 Dave Fleischer Paramount Pictures [data missing] [data missing][17] The second of three Popeye Technicolor two-reel specials.
Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor 1936 Dave Fleischer Paramount Pictures [data missing] [data missing][17] The first of three Popeye Technicolor two-reel specials.
Pot o' Gold 1941 George Marshall United Artists [data missing] [data missing][98]
Quicksand 1950 Irving Pichel United Artists [data missing] [data missing][99]
Rage at Dawn 1955 Tim Whelan RKO Pictures [data missing] [data missing][100]
Rain 1932 Lewis Milestone United Artists 1960 Copyright not renewed.[19]
Randy Rides Alone 1934 Harry L. Fraser Lone Star Pictures 1934 Copyright notice lacks claimant.[27]
The Red House 1947 Delmer Daves United Artists [data missing] [data missing][101]
Reefer Madness 1936 Louis J. Gasnier Motion Picture Ventures 1936 Improper copyright notice.[102][103] Also known as The Burning Question, Dope Addict and Tell Your Children.
Riders of Destiny 1933 Robert N. Bradbury Lone Star Pictures [data missing] [data missing].[27]
Road to Bali 1952 Hal Walker Paramount Pictures 1980 Copyright not renewed.[104][105]
Rock, Rock, Rock! 1956 Will Price Distributors Corporation of America 1984 Copyright not renewed.[79] The Chuck Berry soundtrack of the film may not be in the public domain.
The Royal Bed 1931
(copyright notice: 1930)		 Lowell Sherman RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Royal Wedding 1951
(copyright notice: 1950)		 Stanley Donen MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.[49]
Sagebrush Trail 1933 Armand Schaefer Lone Star Pictures 1933 Copyright notice lacks claimant.[106] Remake of Partners of the Trail (Wallace Fox, 1931).
Salt of the Earth 1954 Herbert Biberman Independent Productions 1982[107] Copyright not renewed.[107] Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1992.[107]
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians 1964 Nicholas Webster Embassy Pictures Corporation [data missing] Missing copyright notice.[108][109] Musical score owned by Famous Music.
Santa Fe Trail 1940 Michael Curtiz Warner Bros. 1968 Copyright not renewed.[110][111]
Scarlet Street 1945 Fritz Lang Universal Pictures [data missing] [data missing][112][113]
The Screaming Skull 1958 Alex Nicol American International Pictures 1958 Not registered for copyright.[114][21]
Second Chorus 1940 H.C. Potter Paramount Pictures [data missing] Copyright not renewed.[115]
The Silver Horde 1930 George Archainbaud RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Sin Takes a Holiday 1930 Paul L. Stein RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.[24]
Sing a Song of Six Pants 1947 Jules White Columbia Pictures 1960s[30] Copyright not renewed.[30]
Sinners in Paradise 1938 James Whale Universal Pictures 1966 Copyright not renewed.[77]
The Snows of Kilimanjaro 1952 Henry King 20th Century Fox [data missing] [data missing][116] Based on the copyrighted novel by Ernest Hemingway
The Southerner 1945 Jean Renoir United Artists [data missing] [data missing][117]
A Star Is Born 1937 William A. Wellman Selznick,
United Artists		 1965 Copyright not renewed.[50][59]
The Star Packer 1934 Robert N. Bradbury Lone Star Pictures [data missing] [data missing].[27]
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers 1946 Lewis Milestone Paramount Pictures 1974 Copyright not renewed.[19]
The Stranger 1946 Orson Welles International Pictures, RKO Radio Productions 1973 Copyright not renewed.[118]
Suddenly 1954 Lewis Allen United Artists 1983 Copyright not renewed.[119]
Superman (1940s cartoon series) 1941-1943 Dave Fleischer, various Paramount Pictures [data missing][120] [data missing][120]
Swing High, Swing Low 1937 Mitchell Leisen Paramount Pictures 1965 Copyright not renewed.[16]
Teenagers from Outer Space 1959 Tom Graeff Warner Bros. 1987 Copyright not renewed.[59]
The Terror 1963 Roger Corman American International Pictures, Filmgroup 1963 Missing copyright registration.[121] In the early 1990s, Corman asked Mark Griffiths to shoot 12 minutes of additional footage starring Dick Miller, thus making a new film titled The Return of the Terror (1991), so Corman could claim his copyright.[122]
The Terror of Tiny Town 1938 Sam Newfield Columbia Pictures 1966 Copyright not renewed.[123]
Three Guys Named Mike 1951
(copyright notice: 1950)		 Charles Walters MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.[49]
Till the Clouds Roll By 1946 Richard Whorf MGM 1974 Copyright not renewed.[49]
Too Late for Tears 1949 Byron Haskin United Artists [data missing] [data missing][124]
Topper Returns 1941 Roy Del Ruth United Artists 1969 Copyright not renewed.[79]
Utopia (a.k.a. Atoll K) 1951 Léo Joannon and John Berry (uncredited) Franco London Films 1951 No U.S. copyright filed.[125]
Vengeance Valley 1951
(copyright notice: 1950)		 Richard Thorpe MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.[49]
The Wasp Woman 1959 Roger Corman Filmgroup [data missing] [data missing][126]
West of the Divide 1934 Robert N. Bradbury Lone Star Pictures [data missing] [data missing].[27]
White Zombie 1932 Victor Halperin United Artists [data missing] [data missing][127] The source material for the film may not be in the public domain.[128]
Wives Under Suspicion 1938 James Whale Universal Pictures 1966 Copyright not renewed.[77]

See also

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Notes

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  • G Public domain in the U.S. from creation as work of the United States government

References

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  1. ^ "An Introduction to Films and Motion Pictures" at RoyaltyFreeMusic.com Archived October 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 4, 2009
  2. ^ Rich, Lloyd L. (1998). "Protection of Graphic Characters". The Publishing Law Center. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  3. ^ Adler, Kenneth A. (October 1, 1999). "Using Dramatic Characters in Multimedia Works – Avoiding the Pitfalls". Thelen LLP. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Fishman (2010), p. 180.
  5. ^ Fishman (2010), p. 181.
  6. ^ Hirtle, Peter B. (October 4, 2010). "Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States". Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  7. ^ Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1940–1949), page xii.
  8. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Cumulative Series. Motion Pictures 1912-1939 (51,112 films), published in 1951. L.C. card, 51-60018.
  9. ^ "United States Copyright Office Public Catalog". Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  10. ^ "Copyright Notice". Copyright Registration and Renewal Information Chart and Web Site. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  11. ^ "Omission of Notice and Errors of Notice" (PDF). Circular 3: Copyright Notice. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  12. ^ Kopel, Matthew. "LibGuides: Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain". guides.library.cornell.edu. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Usai, Paolo Cherchi (2008). The Griffith Project: Essays on D.W. Griffith. British Film Institute. p. 208. ISBN 9781844572687. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  14. ^ a b Furmanek, Bob (February 6, 2004). "8 Abbott & Costello Films Coming!". hometheaterforum.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  15. ^ Miller, John M., "Africa Screams, Home Video Reviews", Turner Classic Movies
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Pierce (2007), pp. 131–134.
  17. ^ a b c Grandinetti, Fred (2004). Popeye: an illustrated cultural history. McFarland & Company. p. 125. ISBN 9780786416059.
  18. ^ Sullivan, Monica (1998). VideoHound's independent film guide. Visible Ink Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 1578590183.
  19. ^ a b c d e Pierce, David (March 29, 2001). Legal Limbo: How American Copyright Law Makes Orphan Films (mp3 in "file3"). Orphans of the Storm II: Documenting the 20th Century. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  20. ^ Erickson, Hal (2012). Military Comedy Films: A Critical Survey and Filmography of Hollywood Releases Since 1918. McFarland. ISBN 9780786492671.page 68
  21. ^ a b c Smith, Gary A. (2009). The American International Pictures video guide. McFarland & Company. p. 8. ISBN 9780786433094.
  22. ^ Thompson, Nathaniel. "The Bat". Tcm.com. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  23. ^ Bailey, Jason (February 15, 2017). "A New Cut and Restoration Reframes Bogart and Huston's Strangest Film". Flavorwire. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Pierce (2007), pp. 140–143.
  25. ^ Slide, Anthony (2013). Nitrate Won't Wait: A History of Film Preservation in the United States. McFarland. ISBN 9781476604572.[page needed]
  26. ^ Alley (April 7, 2014). "RACER tribute to the late Mickey Rooney - "The Big Wheel"". Racer. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g Eyman, Scott (2014). John Wayne. The Life and Legend. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4391-9958-9.
  28. ^ a b Lennig, Arthur (2003). The Immortal Count: The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 465. ISBN 9780813143767.
  29. ^ a b Thompson, Nathaniel, "Cult Movies, The Brain that Wouldn't Die", Turner Classic Movies
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h Hogan, David (2011). Three Stooges FAQ: Everything Left to Know about the Eye-Poking, Face-Slapping, Head-Thumping Geniuses. Applause Theatre and Cinema Books. ISBN 9781557839329.
  31. ^ Coffel, Chris (November 24, 2015). "HOME VIDEO[Blu-ray Review] 'A Bucket of Blood' is a Bucket of Fun!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  32. ^ Edgerton, Gary R.; Rollins, Peter C. (2015). Television Histories: Shaping Collective Memory in the Media Age. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813158297.page 274
  33. ^ Blake, Marc (2013). Writing the Horror Movie. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. p. 91. ISBN 9781441193476.
  34. ^ "Papers of Herk Harvey". etext.ku.edu. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  35. ^ "Carnival Of Souls 720p 1962 | Public Domain Movies". publicdomainmovie.net. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  36. ^ a b c d Pierce (2007), p. 130.
  37. ^ Online search results for keywords "Henry Mancini Charade", from US Copyright Office.
  38. ^ The original story basis for Charade is The Unsuspecting Wife by Peter Stone and Marc Behm, which appeared in the July 1961 issue of Redbook magazine. The copyright to the story was renewed by Stone in 1989 (source: David Pierce (2007), Note #20, pg. 141).
  39. ^ Axmaker, Sean (July 11, 2016). "Videophiled Noir III: 'Try and Get Me' and the 1946 'The Chase' restored". Cinephiled. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  40. ^ a b Pierce (2007), p. 137.
  41. ^ Zuckerman, Faye (March 23, 1985). "Prism Into Public Domain: 24 Film Classics Set for Release". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  42. ^ Gray, Marianne (1991). Depardieu. Sinclair-Stevenson, Limited. p. 160. ISBN 9781856190954. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  43. ^ Erickson, Hal (May 10, 2013), "New DVDs, Peckinpah's Deadly Companions and Major Dundee", New York Times, archived from the original on January 17, 2024
  44. ^ M & A Associates v. VCX, 657 F.Supp. 454, conclusions: 27 (United States District Court April 8, 1987) ("Although Arno asked Weisberg for copyright protection of the film in early 1979, Weisberg first became aware of the legal significance of the omission of the copyright notice from the film in January of 1981. Weisberg thus received "notice" of the defect at that latter date. See M. Kramer Mfg. Co. v. Andrews, 783 F.2d 421, 443 & n. 21 (4th Cir. 1986). Weisberg's failure to take reasonable [657 F.Supp. 463] efforts resulted in the film being irretrievably injected into the public domain "several months" later.").
  45. ^ Miller, Jeffrey (2002). Ardor in the Court!: Sex and the Law. ECW Press. p. 152. ISBN 1-55022-528-6.
  46. ^ Herzogenrath, Bernd (2009). The Films of Edgar G. Ulmer. Scarecrow Press. p. 151. ISBN 9780810867369.
  47. ^ "Researching the Copyright Status of a Work - illustrations". chart.copyrightdata.com.
  48. ^ Slide, Anthony (2013). Nitrate Won't Wait: A History of Film Preservation in the United States. McFarland. ISBN 9781476604572.[page needed]
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h Pierce (2007), pp. 138–139.
  50. ^ a b Pierce (2007), pp. 134–137.
  51. ^ Hutchinson, Sean (April 6, 2017). "Fear and Desire: The Movie Stanley Kubrick Didn't Want You to See". Mental Floss. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  52. ^ The Flying Deuces (1939). June 20, 2015.
  53. ^ Ladwig, Samantha (September 5, 2017). "30 Hollywood Classics Streaming for Free in the Public Domain". Vulture.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018. ... with the first being the 1931 Lewis Milestone–directed The Front Page, which also fell into the public domain.
  54. ^ Wilson, John (2005). The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywoods Worst. Hachette Book Group. ISBN 9780446510080.
  55. ^ Brotherton, Jamie; Okuda, Ted (2013). Dorothy Lee: The Life and Films of the Wheeler and Woolsey Girl. McFarland. ISBN 9780786433636.page 152
  56. ^ Peros, Mike (2016). Dan Duryea: Heel with a Heart. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781496809933. The Great Flamarion is among Duryea's more visible efforts because it fell into the public domain when the original copyright lapsed.[page needed]
  57. ^ Miller, John M., "Mr. Bug Goes to Town aka Hoppity Goes to Town", Turner Classic Movies
  58. ^ Kehr, David (March 6, 2009). "Classics From Disney and a Lilliputian Competitor". New York Times. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  59. ^ a b c d e Fishman (2010), pp. 174–180.
  60. ^ Ladwig, Samantha (September 9, 2017). "30 classic Hollywood movies you can stream for free". Business Insider. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  61. ^ Miska, Brad (January 12, 2017). "They're Re-remaking 'House on Haunted Hill'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  62. ^ "'House on Haunted Hill' screening set in Vacaville". Daily Republic. October 6, 2017. Archived from the original on September 9, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  63. ^ Haasbroek, Luc (November 14, 2022). "10 Best Movies in the Public Domain, According to IMDb". Collider. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  64. ^ Thompson, Nathaniel, "The Indestructible Man, Cult Movies", Turner Classic Movies
  65. ^ Hicks, Chris (June 18, 2004). "Chris Hicks: Kaye movies are hard to find on DVD". Deseret News. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  66. ^ a b c d Pierce (2007), p. 126.
  67. ^ Cox, Stephen. It's a Wonderful Life: A Memory Book. Nashville, Tennessee: Cumberland House, 2003. 115. Print. ISBN 1-58182-337-1. Copyright of the short story, The Greatest Gift, expires after 2038, 95 years after publication.
  68. ^ "Renewal Registrations, p. 1614." Catalog of Copyright Entries, January–June 1971, U.S. Copyright Office. Retrieved: November 8, 2010.
  69. ^ Nesi, Ted. "Why You Can't Watch It's A Wonderful Life on Demand". WPRI.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  70. ^ Harris, Aisha (April 11, 2013). "When Jackie Robinson Played Himself". Slate. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  71. ^ Deane, Pamela S. (2009). James Edwards: African American Hollywood Icon. McFarland. ISBN 9780786458165.page 82
  72. ^ Kehr, Dave (July 10, 2007). "New DVDs". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  73. ^ a b Lampley, Jonathan Malcolm (2010). Women in the Horror Films of Vincent Price. McFarland. p. 98. ISBN 9780786457496.
  74. ^ "I Am Legend Copyright Record". U.S. Copyright Public Catalog. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  75. ^ "Copyright Notice - illustrations". chart.copyrightdata.com.
  76. ^ Online results from keyword search: "Last Time I Saw Paris Conrad Salinger" in United States Copyright Office. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  77. ^ a b c Pierce (2007), p. 138.
  78. ^ Hannan, Brian (2016). Coming Back to a Theater Near You: A History of Hollywood Reissues, 1914-2014. McFarland. ISBN 9780786498130.page 272
  79. ^ a b c Pierce (2007), p. 128.
  80. ^ Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1940-1949), page 222.
  81. ^ Erickson, Glenn. "Made for Each Other: Home Video Reviews". Tcm.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  82. ^ Kehr, Dave (October 11, 2005). "New DVD's". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  83. ^ Huebner, Jeff (November 19, 1998). "Full Nelson". Chicago Reader. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  84. ^ Christopher, Rob (May 18, 2009). "Interview: Filmmaker Michael Caplan". Chicagoist. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  85. ^ Fujiwara, Chris. The World and Its Double: The Life and Work of Otto Preminger p. 194.
  86. ^ Wilson, John (2005). The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywoods Worst. Hachette Book Group. ISBN 9780446510080.
  87. ^ a b Rossen, Jake (December 3, 2015). "The Battle Over the Worst Movie Ever". Playboy. Archived from the original on December 3, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  88. ^ a b FitzPatrick, Eillen (May 14, 1994). "Court Rules for 'Goodtimes' in McLintock! Case". Billboard. pp. 73, 82.
  89. ^ Fishman (2010), p. 337.
  90. ^ Cady, Brian. "My Dear Secretary (1948): Home Video Reviews". Tcm.com. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  91. ^ Sinofsky, Esther Rita (1988). A copyright primer for educational and industrial media producers. Copyright Information Services. p. 29. ISBN 9780914143123. Retrieved January 20, 2016. But remember the underlying works may still be copyrighted
  92. ^ "My Man Godfry". Stanford University Copyright Renewal Database. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  93. ^ Boluk, Stephanie; Lenz, Wylie (June 16, 2011). "Introduction: Generation Z, the Age of Apocalypse". In Boluk, Stephanie; Lenz, Wylie (eds.). Generation Zombie: Essays on the Living Dead in Modern Culture. Jefferson, North Carolina, US: McFarland & Company. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-7864-6140-0. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  94. ^ "Night Of The Living Dead (1968) - Criterion Collection'". High-Def Digest. February 26, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  95. ^ Shales, Tom (May 24, 2003). "Showtime's 'Our Town': Newman's Own". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019. Sadly, the movie slipped between the cracks and into the public domain, and there now appear to be no decent prints left in existence
  96. ^ Erickson, Hal (April 18, 2007). "Film.com Movie of the Week: Penny Serenade". MTV News. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  97. ^ Lodge, Guy (August 20, 2018). "Film in the public domain: here be buried treasures". The Guardian. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  98. ^ Coniam, Matthew (2015). The Annotated Marx Brothers: A Filmgoer's Guide to In-Jokes, Obscure References and Sly Details. McFarland. ISBN 9780786497058.page 199
  99. ^ Neibaur, James L. (2016). The Essential Mickey Rooney. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442260962.page 184
  100. ^ Herzberg, Bob (2013). Hang 'Em High: Law and Disorder in Western Films and Literature. McFarland. ISBN 9781476601243.page 114
  101. ^ Stanley, John (January 6, 2013). "DVD review: 'The Red House'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  102. ^ Shaye, Robert (May 22, 2003). "Graduation 2003". Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  103. ^ Anderson, Patrick (1981). High in America: the true story behind NORML and the politics of marijuana. The Viking Press. p. 101.
  104. ^ Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1950-1959), pages 287, 509.
  105. ^ Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1940-1949), page 8.
  106. ^ Eyman, Scott (2014). John Wayne. The Life and Legend. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4391-9958-9.
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  108. ^ "Public Domain Film History: A Cottage Industry of Copyright Mishaps". October 26, 2017.
  109. ^ Wilson, John (2005). The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywoods Worst. Hachette Book Group. ISBN 9780446510080.
  110. ^ Filmmakers Newsletter Volume 7, Suncraft International Incorporated, 1973
  111. ^ Segrave, Kerry (September 17, 2015). Piracy in the Motion Picture Industry. ISBN 9780786481606.
  112. ^ Rapold, Nicolas (February 14, 2014). "Even Good Films May Go to Purgatory: Old Films Fall Into Public Domain Under Copyright Law". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  113. ^ Murray, Noel (November 23, 2005). "Scarlet Street & House By The River". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  114. ^ "The Screaming Skull". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  115. ^ Simosko, Vladimir (2000). Artie Shaw: A Musical Biography and Discography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810833975.page 89
  116. ^ Hicks, Chris (March 8, 2007). "DVD reviews: Oldies make their DVD debut". Deseret News. Retrieved June 16, 2013. The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952, color) has injured writer Gregory Peck going over his past to see if his life has meaning, with Ava Gardner and Susan Hayward. This one has been on many public-domain labels, but this is a pristine print and looks gorgeous.
  117. ^ King, Susan (February 24, 1991). "How Hollywood Dealt with Great Depression". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  118. ^ Peary, Gerald (October 10, 2010). "He's on the hunt for lost movie treasures". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 29, 2015. Orson Welles's The Stranger is their newest HD release, made feasible because the RKO picture has fallen into public domain.
  119. ^ American Film, Volume 11, Issues 1-10. American Film Institute. 1985. Retrieved March 10, 2018.page 70
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  121. ^ Ray, Fred Olen (1991). The New Poverty Row: Independent Filmmakers as Distributors. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 51. ISBN 9780899506289.
  122. ^ Stevens, Brad (2003). Monte Hellman: His Life and Films. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 34. ISBN 9780786481880.
  123. ^ Bernard, Sheila Curran; Rabin, Kenn (2012). Archival Storytelling: A Filmmaker's Guide to Finding, Using, and Licensing Third-Party Visuals and Music. Taylor and Francis. p. 119. ISBN 9781136060861.
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Bibliography

[edit]
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