List of films in the public domain in the United States explained

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

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. A film can lose its copyright in some of those elements while retaining copyright in other elements. 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. Unpublished works are treated differently from published works under US copyright law.[4]

Judicial interpretation of public domain

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.[5] 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.

Documenting public domain status

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:

Determining copyright registration

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.

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 United States copyright website catalogs all the pre-1978 works that have been renewed in 1978 or later.[7] Several pieces of work have been renewed in the form of collections, thus giving the collection as a whole copyright protection.

Missing or flawed copyright notice

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.[8]

Date of publication and renewal status

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

Films registered between 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 through 1959, the Film Superlist books match copyright renewals with earlier registrations. Copyright registrations and renewals can be found in:

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

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.

Work of the United States government

See 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.[9]

Films

Some films are not listed here in order to keep this list to a manageable size. These include films that were released before (see for pre- 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 1958 Copyright not renewed.[10]
Africa Screams 1949 United Artists 1977 Copyright not renewed.[11]
Algiers 1938 United Artists 1966 Copyright not renewed.
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp 1939 The third of three Popeye Technicolor two-reel specials.
The Amazing Mr. X 1948 [12] Also known as The Spiritualist.
Angel and the Badman 1947 1975 Copyright not renewed.[13]
The Animal Kingdom 1932 1960 Copyright not renewed.
At War with the Army 1950 Paramount Pictures [14]
Attack of the Giant Leeches 1959 [15]
The Bat 1959 [16]
Beat the Devil 1953 United Artists 1980 Copyright not renewed.[17]
Beau Ideal 1931
(copyright notice: 1930) 		RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Becky Sharp 1935 RKO Radio Pictures [18]
Behind Office Doors 1931 RKO Radio Pictures 1959 Copyright not renewed.
The Big Wheel 1949 United Artists [19]
Bird of Paradise 1932 RKO Radio Pictures 1960 Copyright not renewed.
Blood on the Sun 1945 United Artists 1973 Copyright not renewed.
Blue Steel 1934Lone Star Pictures
Bowery at Midnight 1942 [20]
The Brain That Wouldn't Die 1962
(completed: 1959)		Joseph Green American International Pictures 1962 Missing copyright notice. 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.
Brideless Groom 1947 1960s[21] Copyright not renewed.
A Bucket of Blood 1959 American International Pictures [22]
Captain Kidd 1945 United Artists [23]
Carnival of Souls 1962 Herts-Lion International Corp. 1962 Missing copyright notice.[24] There was a dispute about the rights to the film from 1990 to 1995.[25]
The entirety of the film rights might have been granted to John Clifford in 1996.[26]
The DVD release of the film by The Criterion Collection lists copyright by Harold Harvey and John Clifford.
Charade 1963 1963 Defective copyright notice Original music still in copyright.[27]
Original story by Peter Stone still in copyright.[28]
The Chase 1946 Nero Films/United Artists Independent film left without an owner.[29]
Check and Double Check 1930 RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Conspiracy 1930 RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Cyrano de Bergerac 1950 United Artists 1980s [30] [31]
The Dance of Life 1929 Paramount Pictures 1957 Copyright not renewed.
Danger Lights 1930 RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
The Deadly Companions 1961 Pathé-America 1961 Missing copyright notice.
Debbie Does Dallas 1978 Jim Clark VCX 1981 Missing copyright notice.[32] The Dallas Cowboys hold veto power on commercial publication because of unauthorized use of their trademarks.[33]
Dementia 13 1963 American International Pictures Also known as The Haunted and the Hunted.
Detour 1945 Copyright not renewed[34]
The Devil Bat 1940 Producers Releasing Corporation
Disorder in the Court 1936 Columbia Pictures 1960s Copyright not renewed.
Dixiana 1930 RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
D.O.A. 1950 United Artists 1977 Copyright not renewed.[35]
The Emperor Jones 1933 United Artists [36]
Father's Little Dividend 1951
(copyright notice: 1950) 		1978 Copyright not renewed.
1932 Paramount Pictures 1960 Copyright not renewed. Based on the copyrighted (R177406) novel by Ernest Hemingway.
Fear and Desire 1953 Copyright not renewed.[37]
The Flying Deuces 1939[38]
The Front Page 1931 United Artists [39]
Glen or Glenda 1953 Screen Classics [40]
Go for Broke! 1951
(copyright notice: 1950) 		MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.
The Gorilla 1939 20th Century Fox [41]
The Great Flamarion 1945 Republic Pictures Copyright not renewed[42]
Gulliver's Travels 1939 Paramount Pictures 1967 Copyright not renewed.[43]
Half Shot at Sunrise 1930 RKO Radio Productions 1958 Copyright not renewed.
His Girl Friday 1940
(copyright date: 1939) 		Columbia Pictures 1967 Copyright not renewed.
The Hitch-Hiker 1953 RKO Radio Pictures [44]
Hook, Line and Sinker 1930 RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
House on Haunted Hill 1959 [45] [46]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1939 RKO Radio Pictures [47]
Indestructible Man 1956 Allied Artists
Inside the Lines 1930 RKO Radio Productions 1958 Copyright not renewed.
The Inspector General 1949 [48]
It's a Wonderful Life 1946
(copyright notice: 1947) 		Liberty Films
RKO Pictures 		1975 Copyright not renewed. 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.[49] [50]
Republic also purchased the exclusive rights to the film's copyrighted music to further shore up its rights.[51]
Jack and the Beanstalk1952Jean YarbroughWarner Bros.1980Copyright not renewed
The Jackie Robinson Story 1950 [52]
The Joe Louis Story 1953 United Artists [53]
Kansas City Confidential 1952 United Artists Copyright not renewed[54]
Kept Husbands 1931 RKO Radio Productions 1959 Copyright not renewed.
The Lady Refuses 1931 RKO Radio Productions 1959 Copyright not renewed.
1930 MGM 1958 Copyright not renewed. Based on the play They Knew What They Wanted.
The Last Man on Earth 1964 1992 Copyright not renewed.[55] Source novel I Am Legend (1954) is still under copyright.[56]
The Last Time I Saw Paris 1954
(copyright notice: 1944) 		MGM 1972 Copyright not renewed; defective copyright notice resulted in earlier expiration.[57] Music score still protected by copyright.[58]
Lawful Larceny 1930 RKO Radio Productions 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Leathernecking 1930 RKO Radio Productions 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Letter of Introduction 1938 Universal Pictures 1966 Copyright not renewed.
Life with Father 1947 Warner Bros. 1975 Copyright not renewed.[59]
The Little Princess 1939 20th Century Fox 1967 Copyright not renewed.
Little Shop of HorrorsThe Little Shop of Horrors1960 1988 Copyright not renewed.
Lonely Wives 1931 RKO Radio Pictures 1959 Copyright not renewed.
Love Affair 1939 RKO Radio Pictures 1967 Copyright not renewed.
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy 1945 MGM Copyright not renewed.[60]
The Lucky Texan 1934 Lone Star Pictures .[61]
Made for Each Other 1939 John Cromwell United Artists [62]
Malice in the Palace 1949 Columbia Pictures 1960s Copyright not renewed.
The Man from Utah 1934Lone Star Pictures .
The Man with the Golden Arm 1955 United Artists [63] 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[64] [65] and never followed through on his legal effort to claim a copyright due to lack of funds.[66]
Maniac 1934 Roadshow Attractions[67] Also known as Sex Maniac.
1966 Harold P. Warren Emerson Film Enterprises 1968 Failure to display copyright notice.[68] Original script may have been copyrighted.
March of the Wooden Soldiers 1950 1950 Failure to display copyright notice. This is a later abridgement of Babes in Toyland (1934), which is still in copyright. Its public domain status remains unclear.
McLintock! 1963 United Artists 1991 Copyright not renewed.[69] Music score still under copyright.
Meet John Doe 1941 Warner Bros. 1969 Copyright not renewed.
Millie 1931 RKO Radio Pictures 1959 Copyright not renewed.
Mr. Imperium 1951
(copyright notice: 1950) 		MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.
My Dear Secretary 1948 Charles Martin United Artists [70]
My Favorite Brunette 1947 Paramount Pictures 1975 Copyright not renewed.
My Man Godfrey 1936 Universal Pictures [71] 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.[72]
Night of the Living Dead1968 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.[73] The restored version released on home media by The Criterion Collection is under copyright by Image Ten, Inc.[74]
Nothing Sacred 1937 Selznick,
United Artists 		1965 Copyright not renewed.
Of Human Bondage 1934 RKO Radio Pictures 1962 Copyright not renewed.
Our Town 1940 United Artists [75]
The Outlaw 1943 Howard Hughes Prod., United Artists 1971 Copyright not renewed.
The Painted Hills1951 MGM 1979 Copyright not renewed.
The Pay-Off 1930 RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Penny Serenade 1941 Columbia Pictures 1968 Copyright not renewed.[76]
Plan 9 from Outer Space 1959 1987 [77]
Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves 1937 Paramount Pictures [78] The second of three Popeye Technicolor two-reel specials.
Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor 1936 Paramount Pictures The first of three Popeye Technicolor two-reel specials.
Pot o' Gold 1941 United Artists [79]
Quicksand 1950 United Artists [80]
Rage at Dawn 1955 RKO Pictures [81]
Rain 1932 United Artists 1960 Copyright not renewed.
Randy Rides Alone 1934 Lone Star Pictures 1934 Copyright notice lacks claimant.
The Red House 1947 United Artists [82]
Reefer Madness 1936 Motion Picture Ventures 1936 Improper copyright notice.[83] [84] Also known as The Burning Question, Dope Addict and Tell Your Children.
Riders of Destiny 1933Lone Star Pictures .
Road to Bali 1952 Paramount Pictures 1980 Copyright not renewed.[85] [86]
Rock, Rock, Rock! 1956 Will PriceDistributors Corporation of America 1984 Copyright not renewed. The Chuck Berry soundtrack of the film may not be in the public domain.
The Royal Bed 1931
(copyright notice: 1930) 		RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Royal Wedding 1951
(copyright notice: 1950) 		MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.
Sagebrush Trail 1933Lone Star Pictures 1933Copyright notice lacks claimant.[87] Remake of Partners of the Trail (Wallace Fox, 1931).
Salt of the Earth 1954 Independent Productions 1982[88] Copyright not renewed.Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1992.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians 1964 Missing copyright notice.[89] [90] Musical score owned by Famous Music.
Santa Fe Trail 1940 Warner Bros. 1968 Copyright not renewed.[91]
Scarlet Street 1945 Universal Pictures [92] [93]
The Screaming Skull 1958 American International Pictures 1958 Not registered for copyright.[94]
Second Chorus 1940 Paramount Pictures Copyright not renewed.[95]
The Silver Horde 1930 RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Sin Takes a Holiday 1930 RKO Radio Pictures 1958 Copyright not renewed.
Sing a Song of Six Pants 1947 Columbia Pictures 1960s Copyright not renewed.
Sinners in Paradise 1938 Universal Pictures 1966 Copyright not renewed.
The Snows of Kilimanjaro 1952 20th Century Fox [96] Based on the copyrighted novel by Ernest Hemingway
The Southerner 1945 United Artists [97]
1937 Selznick,
United Artists 		1965 Copyright not renewed.
The Star Packer 1934Lone Star Pictures .
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers 1946 Paramount Pictures 1974 Copyright not renewed.
The Stranger 1946 International Pictures, RKO Radio Productions 1973 Copyright not renewed.[98]
Suddenly 1954 United Artists 1983 Copyright not renewed.[99]
1941-1943 Dave Fleischer, various Paramount Pictures [100]
Swing High, Swing Low 1937 Paramount Pictures 1965 Copyright not renewed.
Teenagers from Outer Space 1959 Warner Bros. 1987Copyright not renewed.
The Terror 1963 American International Pictures, Filmgroup 1963 Missing copyright registration.[101] 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.[102]
The Terror of Tiny Town1938Sam NewfieldColumbia Pictures1966Copyright not renewed.[103]
Three Guys Named Mike 1951
(copyright notice: 1950) 		MGM 1978 Copyright not renewed.
Till the Clouds Roll By 1946 MGM 1974 Copyright not renewed.
Too Late for Tears 1949 United Artists [104]
Topper Returns 1941 United Artists 1969 Copyright not renewed.
Utopia (a.k.a. Atoll K) 1951 Léo Joannon and John Berry (uncredited) Franco London Films 1951 No U.S. copyright filed.[105]
Vengeance Valley 1951
(copyright notice: 1950) 		Richard ThorpeMGM1978 Copyright not renewed.
The Wasp Woman 1959 Filmgroup [106]
West of the Divide 1934Lone Star Pictures .
White Zombie 1932 United Artists [107] The source material for the film may not be in the public domain.[108]
Wives Under Suspicion 1938 Universal Pictures 1966 Copyright not renewed.

See also

Notes

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/public-domain/film/ "An Introduction to Films and Motion Pictures" at RoyaltyFreeMusic.com
  2. Web site: Protection of Graphic Characters . January 20, 2012 . 1998 . Rich . Lloyd L. . The Publishing Law Center . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150904021335/http://www.publaw.com/article/protection-of-graphic-characters/ . September 4, 2015.
  3. Web site: Using Dramatic Characters in Multimedia Works – Avoiding the Pitfalls . Adler . Kenneth A. . October 31, 2010 . October 1, 1999 . Thelen LLP.
  4. Web site: Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States . October 4, 2010 . Hirtle . Peter B. . October 31, 2010.
  5. [Film Superlist|Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain]
  6. https://archive.org/details/Motionpict19121939librrich0010 Catalog of Copyright Entries: Cumulative Series. Motion Pictures 1912-1939
  7. Web site: United States Copyright Office Public Catalog. October 10, 2009.
  8. Web site: Omission of Notice and Errors of Notice. Circular 3: Copyright Notice. May 2, 2021.
  9. Web site: Kopel . Matthew . LibGuides: Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain . 2023-01-05 . guides.library.cornell.edu . en.
  10. Book: Usai, Paolo Cherchi . The Griffith Project: Essays on D.W. Griffith . British Film Institute . 2008 . 208 . 9781844572687 . January 16, 2016.
  11. Web site: Furmanek . Bob . 8 Abbott & Costello Films Coming! . hometheaterforum.com . February 6, 2004 . February 13, 2019 . https://archive.today/20190213143914/https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/8-abbott-costello-films-coming-2-10-04.147933/page-4%23post-1783420 . February 13, 2019 . live.
  12. Book: Sullivan, Monica . VideoHound's independent film guide . 1998 . . 12–13 . 1578590183.
  13. Pierce . David . March 29, 2001 . Legal Limbo: How American Copyright Law Makes Orphan Films . Orphans of the Storm II: Documenting the 20th Century . http://www.sc.edu/filmsymposium/archive/orphans2001/programfr.html . mp3 in "file3" . January 5, 2012.
  14. Book: Erickson, Hal. Military Comedy Films: A Critical Survey and Filmography of Hollywood Releases Since 1918. 2012. McFarland. 9780786492671. page 68
  15. Book: Smith, Gary A. . The American International Pictures video guide . 8 . 2009 . McFarland & Company. 9780786433094.
  16. Web site: Thompson. Nathaniel. The Bat. Tcm.com. 9 May 2019.
  17. Bailey. Jason. A New Cut and Restoration Reframes Bogart and Huston's Strangest Film. February 15, 2017. Flavorwire. April 2, 2018.
  18. Book: Slide, Anthony. Nitrate Won't Wait: A History of Film Preservation in the United States. 2013. McFarland. 9781476604572.
  19. Alley. RACER tribute to the late Mickey Rooney - "The Big Wheel". April 7, 2014. Racer. July 25, 2023.
  20. Book: Lennig, Arthur . The Immortal Count: The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi . 465 . 2003 . The University Press of Kentucky. 9780813143767.
  21. Book: Hogan, David . Three Stooges FAQ: Everything Left to Know about the Eye-Poking, Face-Slapping, Head-Thumping Geniuses . 2011 . Applause Theatre and Cinema Books. 9781557839329.
  22. Web site: Coffel. Chris. HOME VIDEO[Blu-ray Review] 'A Bucket of Blood' is a Bucket of Fun!]. November 24, 2015. Bloody Disgusting. June 23, 2017.
  23. Book: Television Histories: Shaping Collective Memory in the Media Age. Edgerton. Gary R.. Rollins. Peter C.. 2015. University Press of Kentucky. 9780813158297. page 274
  24. Book: Blake, Marc . Writing the Horror Movie . 91 . 2013 . Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 9781441193476.
  25. Web site: Papers of Herk Harvey. etext.ku.edu. 2019-11-18. April 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200425183037/http://etext.ku.edu/view?docId=ksrlead%2Fksrl.kc.harveyherk.xml%3Broute%3Dksrlead%3Bbrand%3Dksrlead%3Bquery%3D. dead.
  26. Web site: Carnival Of Souls 720p 1962 Public Domain Movies. publicdomainmovie.net. 2019-11-18.
  27. http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=henry+mancini+charade&Search_Code=FT*&SL=None&PID=bKzqC11w_54TrPiJMuAga1_6Rvxe&SEQ=20101104000150&CNT=25&HIST=1&SEARCH_FROM_TITLES_PAGE=Y Online search results for keywords "Henry Mancini Charade"
  28. 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).
  29. Web site: Axmaker. Sean. 2016-07-11. Videophiled Noir III: 'Try and Get Me' and the 1946 'The Chase' restored. 2022-01-20. Cinephiled. en-US.
  30. Zuckerman. Faye. Prism Into Public Domain: 24 Film Classics Set for Release. March 23, 1985. Billboard. March 10, 2018.
  31. Book: Gray, Marianne . Depardieu . Sinclair-Stevenson, Limited . 1991 . 160 . 9781856190954 . January 20, 2016.
  32. M & A Associates v. VCX . 657 . F.Supp. . 454 . conclusions: 27 . United States District Court . April 8, 1987 . Leagle . http://www.leagle.com/decision/19871111657FSupp454_11021 . August 20, 2014 . 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..
  33. Book: Miller, Jeffrey . Ardor in the Court!: Sex and the Law. ECW Press. 2002. 1-55022-528-6. 152.
  34. Book: Herzogenrath, Bernd . The Films of Edgar G. Ulmer . 151 . 2009 . Scarecrow Press. 9780810867369.
  35. Web site: Researching the Copyright Status of a Work - illustrations. chart.copyrightdata.com.
  36. Book: Slide, Anthony. Nitrate Won't Wait: A History of Film Preservation in the United States. 2013. McFarland. 9781476604572.
  37. Hutchinson. Sean. Fear and Desire: The Movie Stanley Kubrick Didn't Want You to See. 6 April 2017. Mental Floss. 26 May 2019.
  38. Book: The Flying Deuces (1939) . June 20, 2015.
  39. Web site: Ladwig. Samantha. 30 Hollywood Classics Streaming for Free in the Public Domain. September 5, 2017. Vulture.com. March 10, 2018. ... with the first being the 1931 Lewis Milestone–directed The Front Page, which also fell into the public domain..
  40. Book: Wilson, John . The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywoods Worst . 2005 . Hachette Book Group. 9780446510080.
  41. Book: Dorothy Lee: The Life and Films of the Wheeler and Woolsey Girl. Okuda. Ted. Brotherton. Jamie. 2013. McFarland. 9780786433636. page 152
  42. Book: Peros, Mike. Dan Duryea: Heel with a Heart. 2016. Univ. Press of Mississippi. 9781496809933. The Great Flamarion is among Duryea's more visible efforts because it fell into the public domain when the original copyright lapsed..
  43. Web site: Classics From Disney and a Lilliputian Competitor . New York Times . David . Kehr . March 6, 2009 . October 26, 2013.
  44. Web site: Ladwig. Samantha. 30 classic Hollywood movies you can stream for free. September 9, 2017. Business Insider. March 10, 2018.
  45. Web site: Miska. Brad. They're Re-remaking 'House on Haunted Hill'. January 12, 2017. Bloody Disgusting. March 10, 2018.
  46. News: 'House on Haunted Hill' screening set in Vacaville. October 6, 2017. Daily Republic. March 10, 2018. September 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190909095154/https://www.dailyrepublic.com/all-dr-news/solano-news/vacaville/house-on-haunted-hill-screening-set-in-vacaville/. dead.
  47. Web site: Haasbroek. Luc. 10 Best Movies in the Public Domain, According to IMDb. November 14, 2022. Collider. July 25, 2023.
  48. News: Hicks. Chris. Chris Hicks: Kaye movies are hard to find on DVD. June 18, 2004. Deseret News. https://web.archive.org/web/20180311141144/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/595071083/Kaye-movies-are-hard-to-find-on-DVD.html. dead. March 11, 2018. March 10, 2018.
  49. Cox, Stephen. It's a Wonderful Life: A Memory Book. Nashville, Tennessee: Cumberland House, 2003. 115. Print. . Copyright of the short story, The Greatest Gift, expires after 2038, 95 years after publication.
  50. http://shelf1.library.cmu.edu/Projects/crr/1971/1971-1-1614.tif "Renewal Registrations, p. 1614."
  51. Web site: Nesi. Ted. Why You Can't Watch It's A Wonderful Life on Demand. WPRI.com. August 20, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120127092834/http://blogs.wpri.com/2010/11/29/why-its-a-wonderful-life-isnt-available-on-demand/. January 27, 2012. dead.
  52. Harris. Aisha. When Jackie Robinson Played Himself. April 11, 2013. Slate. March 10, 2018.
  53. Book: Deane, Pamela S.. James Edwards: African American Hollywood Icon. 2009. McFarland. 9780786458165. page 82
  54. News: Kehr. Dave. New DVDs. July 10, 2007. The New York Times. April 4, 2018.
  55. Book: Lampley, Jonathan Malcolm . Women in the Horror Films of Vincent Price . 98 . McFarland . 2010. 9780786457496.
  56. Web site: I Am Legend Copyright Record . U.S. Copyright Public Catalog . November 21, 2021.
  57. Web site: Copyright Notice - illustrations. chart.copyrightdata.com.
  58. http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?ti=226,0&Search%5FArg=last%20time%20i%20saw%20paris%20conrad%20salinger&Search%5FCode=FT%2A&CNT=25&REC=0&RC=0&PID=jupkgzn_U8gRHSFWQ0dSEAscHvgW&SEQ=20120617213204&SID=4 Online results from keyword search: "Last Time I Saw Paris Conrad Salinger" in United States Copyright Office.
  59. Book: Hannan, Brian. Coming Back to a Theater Near You: A History of Hollywood Reissues, 1914-2014. 2016. McFarland. 9780786498130. page 272
  60. Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1940-1949), page 222.
  61. Book: Eyman. Scott. Scott Eyman. John Wayne. The Life and Legend. 2014. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. New York. 978-1-4391-9958-9. 71.
  62. Web site: Erickson. Glenn. Made for Each Other: Home Video Reviews. Tcm.com. 17 May 2019.
  63. News: Kehr. Dave. New DVD's. October 11, 2005. The New York Times. March 9, 2018.
  64. News: Full Nelson . Jeff . Huebner . . 19 November 1998 . 13 July 2011.
  65. Web site: Interview: Filmmaker Michael Caplan . Rob . Christopher . Chicagoist. 18 May 2009 . 13 July 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101019202146/http://chicagoist.com/2009/05/18/interview_filmmaker_michael_caplan.php . 19 October 2010.
  66. Fujiwara, Chris. The World and Its Double: The Life and Work of Otto Preminger p. 194.
  67. Book: Wilson, John . The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywoods Worst . 2005 . Hachette Book Group. 9780446510080.
  68. Rossen . Jake . The Battle Over the Worst Movie Ever . Playboy . December 3, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151203144617/http://www.playboy.com/articles/the-battle-over-the-worst-movie-ever . December 3, 2015 . October 3, 2015.
  69. FitzPatrick . Eillen . Court Rules for 'Goodtimes' in McLintock! Case . Billboard . May 14, 1994 . 73, 82 .
  70. Web site: Cady. Brian. My Dear Secretary (1948): Home Video Reviews. Tcm.com. June 23, 2018.
  71. Book: Sinofsky, Esther Rita . A copyright primer for educational and industrial media producers . Copyright Information Services . 1988 . 29 . 9780914143123 . But remember the underlying works may still be copyrighted . January 20, 2016.
  72. Web site: My Man Godfry . Stanford University Copyright Renewal Database . January 20, 2016 . July 22, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160722181432/https://collections.stanford.edu/copyrightrenewals/bin/detail?fileID=1988354045 . dead .
  73. Book: Generation Zombie: Essays on the Living Dead in Modern Culture . Boluk . Stephanie . Lenz . Wylie . Boluk . Stephanie . Lenz . Wylie . Introduction: Generation Z, the Age of Apocalypse . https://books.google.com/books?id=Jc3Or27Mzr0C&pg=PP1 . June 16, 2011 . . Jefferson, North Carolina, US . 978-0-7864-6140-0 . 5 . August 26, 2011.
  74. Web site: Night Of The Living Dead (1968) - Criterion Collection' . High-Def Digest . February 26, 2018 . December 19, 2020.
  75. News: Shales. Tom. Showtime's 'Our Town': Newman's Own . . subscription . May 24, 2003. 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 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190504233112/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2003/05/24/showtimes-our-town-newmans-own/ae33c06b-993d-4cdc-a57a-2333a542a15c/ . May 4, 2019 .
  76. Web site: Erickson. Hal. Film.com Movie of the Week: Penny Serenade . April 18, 2007. MTV News. https://web.archive.org/web/20180311213842/http://www.mtv.com/news/2755506/film-com-movie-of-the-week-penny-serenade/. dead. March 11, 2018. March 10, 2018.
  77. News: Guy . Lodge . Film in the public domain: here be buried treasures . August 20, 2018 . . February 14, 2019.
  78. Book: Grandinetti, Fred . Popeye: an illustrated cultural history . 125 . 2004 . McFarland & Company. 9780786416059.
  79. Book: Coniam, Matthew. The Annotated Marx Brothers: A Filmgoer's Guide to In-Jokes, Obscure References and Sly Details. 2015. McFarland. 9780786497058. page 199
  80. Book: Neibaur, James L.. The Essential Mickey Rooney. 2016. Rowman & Littlefield. 9781442260962. page 184
  81. Book: Herzberg, Bob. Hang 'Em High: Law and Disorder in Western Films and Literature. 2013. McFarland. 9781476601243. page 114
  82. News: Stanley. John. DVD review: 'The Red House'. January 6, 2013. San Francisco Chronicle. March 10, 2018.
  83. Web site: Graduation 2003. May 22, 2003. Robert. Shaye. August 16, 2013. August 7, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130807151451/http://www.law.columbia.edu/media_inquiries/news_events/2005_older/2003/May_2003/graduation_03. dead.
  84. Book: Anderson, Patrick. High in America: the true story behind NORML and the politics of marijuana . 1981. The Viking Press. 101.
  85. Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1950-1959), pages 287, 509.
  86. Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1940-1949), page 8.
  87. Book: Eyman. Scott. John Wayne. The Life and Legend. 2014. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. New York. 978-1-4391-9958-9. 71.
  88. Web site: Roe. Matthew. 2019-02-12. Anarchic Cinema: Salt of the Earth. 2020-12-04. Film Inquiry. en-US.
  89. Web site: Public Domain Film History: A Cottage Industry of Copyright Mishaps . October 26, 2017.
  90. Book: Wilson, John . The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywoods Worst . 2005 . Hachette Book Group. 9780446510080.
  91. Book: Segrave, Kerry . Piracy in the Motion Picture Industry . September 17, 2015. 9780786481606.
  92. News: Rapold. Nicolas. Even Good Films May Go to Purgatory: Old Films Fall Into Public Domain Under Copyright Law. February 14, 2014. The New York Times. March 10, 2018.
  93. News: Murray. Noel. Scarlet Street & House By The River. November 23, 2005. The A.V. Club. March 10, 2018.
  94. Web site: The Screaming Skull . . . April 6, 2017.
  95. Book: Simosko, Vladimir. Artie Shaw: A Musical Biography and Discography. 2000. Scarecrow Press. 9780810833975. page 89
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  102. Book: Stevens, Brad . Monte Hellman: His Life and Films . 34 . 2003 . McFarland & Company, Inc.. 9780786481880.
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  105. Book: Aping, Norbert . The Final Film of Laurel and Hardy: A Study of the Chaotic Making and Marketing of Atoll K . McFarland . 2014 . 193 . 9780786451746 . September 26, 2020.
  106. Dessem. Matthew. Lena Dunham Is Joining American Horror Story Season 7. July 19, 2017. Slate. April 18, 2018.
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