Public Domain
A Reckless Romeo
1917 · Comique Film Corporation · Dir. Roscoe Arbuckle
Roscoe flirts with a girl in the park. Later he takes his wife and mother-in-law to the movies only to see his flirtation showing on the screen.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
A Reckless Romeo is a short silent film starring Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle. It was released in May 1917.
Under US copyright law, any work published before January 1, 1928, is in the public domain regardless of whether it was registered or renewed. This occurs because the maximum possible copyright term for works of this era (95 years) has elapsed.
Even if the film had been properly registered with the copyright office by the Comique Film Corporation or its distributor, Paramount (Famous Players-Lasky), the copyright would have expired no later than the end of 1992. The film is currently preserved at the George Eastman Museum and is widely available in public domain collections.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912-1939
- IMDb: A Reckless Romeo (1917)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (referenced for Comique/Paramount history)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.