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Poster: Video-Cellar Date: Jan 5, 2009 2:50pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

The only two items on your list that seem to be public domain are "Phantom From Space" and "Incredible Petrified World". But they are already in the archive:

http://www.archive.org/details/Phantom_From_Space

http://www.archive.org/details/TheIncrediblePetrifiedWorld

A good starting point for sci-fi, horror and exploitation is checking if the title is on public domain video labels like alpha video, mill creek, etc, etc. If they are PD the will be exploited. I have added the copyright renewer for each of these pictures. These are mostly the major studio productions and, on the whole, they are still owned by the studios. Collectors like Wade Williams also bought up copyrights to some b-studio pics.

Destination Moon (1950) RENEWED BY WADE WILLIAMS
The Man From Planet X (1951) RENEWED BY UA TELEVISION
When Worlds Collide (1951) RENEWED BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953) RENEWED BY WARNER BROS
Cat-Women of the Moon (1953) RENEWED BY WADE WILLIAMS
Invaders From Mars (1953) RENEWED BY WADE WILLIAMS & RICHARD ROSENFELD
It Came From Outer Space (1953) RENEWED BY UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS
Project Moon Base (1953) RENEWED BY MEDALION TV ENTERPRISES
Robot Monster (1953) RENEWED BY MEDALION TV ENTERPRISES
Monster From The Ocean Floor (1954) RENEWED BY MEDALION TV ENTERPRISES
Target Earth (1954) RENEWED BY HERMAN COHEN PRODS AND LORIMAR TV
It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955) RENEWED BY COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES
Tarantula (1955) RENEWED BY UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS
This Island Earth (1955) RENEWED BY UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS
Day The World Ended (1956) RENEWED BY GOLDEN STATE PRODS
Earth vs. The Flying Saucers (1956) RENEWED BY COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES
Forbidden Planet (1956) RENEWED BY MGM/UA ENTERTAINMENT CO
The Mole People (1956) RENEWED BY UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS
World Without End (1956) RENEWED BY LORIMAR PRODUCTIONS
Attack Of The Crab Monsters (1957) RENEWED BY LORIMAR PRODUCTIONS
Beginning Of The End (1957) RENEWED BY PETER S RODGERS
The Black Scorpion (1957) RENEWED BY WARNER BROS
The Giant Claw (1957) RENEWED BY COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES
Kronos (1957) RENEWED BY NATIONAL TELEFILM ASSOCIATES AND WADE WILLIAMS
Monolith Monsters (1957) RENEWED BY UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS
Not Of This Earth (1957) RENEWED BY LORIMAR PRODUCTIONS
The Unearthly (1957) RENEWED BY PETER S RODGERS
Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman (1958) RENEWED BY LORIMAR PRODUCTIONS
Attack Of The Puppet People (1958) RENEWED BY ALTA VISTA PRODUCTIONS AND REVIVAL PICTURES
The Blob (1958) RENEWED BY JACK H HARRIS
The Colossus Of New York (1958) RENEWED BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Fiend Without A Face (1958) RENEWED BY TELEWORLD INC
Giant From The Unknown (1958) RENEWED BY WADE WILLIAMS
How To Make A Monster (1958) RENEWED BY SELMA ENTERPRISES
I Married A Monster From Outer Space (1958) RENEWED BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Monster From Green Hell (1958) RENEWED BY WADE WILLIAMS
Monster On The Campus (1958) RENEWED BY UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS
Night Of The Demon (1958) RENEWED BY COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES under its US title "Curse of the Deamon"
Teenage Cave Man (1958) RENEWED BY SELMA ENTERPRISES
Missile To The Moon (1959) RENEWED BY WADE WILLIAMS

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Poster: billbarstad Date: Jan 6, 2009 7:36am
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

Here are a few obscure titles from my collection that just might be PD and that I'd like to post:

The Black Room (1935)
The Raven (1935)
Werewolf Of London (1935)
Dracula's Daughter (1936)
Stranger On The Third Floor (1940)
One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942)
We Dive At Dawn (1943)
Between Two Worlds (1944)
The Dark Mirror (1946)
Act Of Violence (1948)
Decision Before Dawn (1951)
The Ship That Died Of Shame (1955)

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Poster: quigs Date: Jan 6, 2009 2:24pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

here is one. The film, Them! Since someone put this in IA, is it still under copyright?

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Poster: Video-Cellar Date: Jan 6, 2009 3:00pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

Yes Them! was properly renewed by Warner Bros

Them. By Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc.
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: RE0000131473 / 1982-06-07
Renewal registration for: LP0000004918 / 1955-06-27 (in notice: 1954)
Title: Them. By Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc.
Copyright Claimant: Warner Brothers, Inc. (PWH)

Variant title: Them
Names: Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc.
Warner Brothers, Inc.

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Poster: Video-Cellar Date: Jan 6, 2009 4:09pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

No luck on any of these: The Black Room (1935) Renewed R306585 (1962) Universal The Raven (1935) Renewed R306322 (1962) Universal Werewolf Of London (1935) Renewed R306314 (1962) Universal Dracula's Daughter (1936) Renewed R336975 (1964) Universal Stranger On The Third Floor (1940) Renewed R422278 (1967) Warner Bros. One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) GATT/URAA Restoration PA0000905784 (1998) Republic Pictures We Dive At Dawn (1943) GATT/URAA Restoration (1997) Carlton Film Distributors Between Two Worlds (1944) Renewal of LP12650 (1972) Warners The Dark Mirror (1946) Renewed R582958 (1974) Republic/NTA Act Of Violence (1948) Renewed MGM Copyright now owned by Turner Decision Before Dawn (1951) Renewed RE0000041379 (1979) 20th C Fox The Ship That Died Of Shame (1955) Renewed RE0000160708 (1983) EMI Films Ltd
This post was modified by Video-Cellar on 2009-01-07 00:09:34

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Poster: billbarstad Date: Jan 6, 2009 4:06pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

Thanks anyway.

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Poster: quigs Date: Jan 6, 2009 10:22pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

Oka, here are 3 more; Mission to Mars, Rocketship XM, annd It Conquered the World.

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Poster: Video-Cellar Date: Jan 6, 2009 11:54pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

"Rocketship X-M" seems to be PD. But could be complicated. It was not renewed in the 28th Year (1978). However, the USCO has a record of an arrangement between the producer's heir and Wade Williams from 1991. This was obviously made 13 years after renewal was necessary but as all the retail sites list all non-WW releases as "discontinued by the distributer", it could be that they send out C&D even though the film's PD. I know that they have been duped by the estates of some indie producers (Williams purchased the 'rights' to 12 of Harry Popkin's films and only about 3 of them were under valid copyright). Doesnt stop the C&D's though.

"It Conquered the World" was renewed RE0000208892 1984 Selma Enterprises.

Can't find references to "Mission to Mars" other than a 2000 movie which is obviously in copyright. There is a 1968 movie called "Mission Mars" with Darren McGavin, which is under copyright and "Flight to Mars" a 1951 Monogram Picture which was renewed RE0000037841 1979 by NTA and RE0000026731 by Wade Williams.

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Poster: quigs Date: Jan 7, 2009 1:43pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

Thank for your inexhaustable efforts of keeping on top of this stuff. I hope Rocketship XM will appear on IA someday.

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Poster: quigs Date: Jan 5, 2009 10:31pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

How about The Thing from Another World or The Day the Earth
stood Still?

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Poster: Video-Cellar Date: Jan 5, 2009 11:18pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

Sorry no luck.

"Thing from Another World" is a bit of a tricky one. The movie was not renewed but the script was.

The Thing from another world; screenplay. By Charles Lederer & R K O Radio...
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: RE0000050597 / 1979-12-19
Renewal registration for: LP0000001053 / 1951-04-04
Title: The Thing from another world; screenplay. By Charles Lederer & R K O Radio Pictures, Inc.
Notes: Based on story, Who goes there? by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Copyright Claimant: R K O General, Inc. (PWH)
Variant title: The Thing from another world
Other Title: Who goes there?
Names: Lederer, Charles
Campbell, John W., Jr.
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
RKO General, Inc.

Only Turner Entertainment distributes it on DVD in USA so I would guess that it wouldn't be considered completely PD for US purposes.

Day the Earth Stood Still was Renewed also.

The Day the Earth stood still; motion picture photoplay.
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: RE0000033722 / 1979-09-10
Renewal registration for: LP0000001263 / 1951-09-18
Title: The Day the Earth stood still; motion picture photoplay.
Copyright Claimant: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (PWH)

Variant title: The Day the Earth stood still
Names: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

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Poster: billbarstad Date: Jan 5, 2009 5:16pm
Forum: feature_films Subject: Re: Are Any Of These Copyright-Free?

Well, it was worth a shot. Thanks for all your work!