Public Domain
2 A.M. in the Subway
1905 · American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
A constable and a subway attendant are working late at night in an underground station when a well-dressed man with a cigar in his teeth enters with his arms around two women dressed in long skirts and jackets, gloves, and fancy hats. The trio laugh and stumble on the platform as if having a hilarious time, getting the attention of the policeman who attempts to stop their bawdy behavior.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under US copyright law, all works published before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. This film was released in 1905 and is a production of the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, photographed by the renowned cinematographer G.W. 'Billy' Bitzer.
The film was originally registered for copyright as a series of paper prints (reproduced on 35mm rolls) at the Library of Congress for protection before the 1912 Townsend Amendment explicitly allowed for motion picture registration. Regardless of its original registration status or renewals, the expiration of the maximum 75-year term then in effect (now superseded by the 1928 cutoff) means it has been in the public domain for decades.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1894-1912
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Internet Archive: 2 A.M. in the Subway (1905)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain 1894-1939
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.