Public Domain
Bwana Devil
1952 · Arch Oboler Productions · Dir. Arch Oboler
British railway workers in Kenya are becoming the favorite snack of two man-eating lions. Head engineer Bob Hayward becomes obsessed with trying to kill the beasts before they maul everyone on his crew.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under the Copyright Act of 1909, works published between 1928 and 1963 required a renewal filing with the US Copyright Office during the 28th year of their first term to maintain protection. Bwana Devil was registered for copyright by Gnu Productions, Inc. on March 13, 1953, under registration number LP2429, following its specialized theatrical premiere in late 1952.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE) reveals no renewal registration for this title. The copyright would have been due for renewal in 1980 or 1981 (depending on the publication date used), but the records are silent. Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939; 1940-1949; 1950-1959) confirms the 'No Renewal' status for this film. Consequently, the work entered the public domain in the United States upon the expiration of its initial 28-year term.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE), Motion Pictures 1950-1959
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Hurst/Baer)
- IMDb: Bwana Devil (1952) Release Info
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.