Protected
City Across the River
1949 · Universal Pictures · Dir. Maxwell Shane
Brooklyn youth Frank Cusack, good son and brother by day, is a gang member by night. The Dukes, seemingly likable dead-end-kids, are dangerously involved with racketeer Gaggsy Steens. Despite the efforts of Franks's parents, he and pal Benny get involved in a serious crime. Can Stan Albert, head of the community center, prevent them from becoming full-time crooks?
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
City Across the River is a 1949 American film noir produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film was originally registered for copyright on April 6, 1949, under registration number LP2285. Under the Copyright Act of 1909, works from this era required a renewal during the 28th year of their first term to extend protection to the full 95-year term.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress CCE (Catalog of Copyright Entries) confirms that Universal Pictures (Universal City Studios, Inc.) timely filed a renewal registration on January 10, 1977, under renewal number R650493. Because the copyright was successfully renewed, the film is protected in the United States for a total of 95 years from its original publication date.
As a result, the film will not enter the public domain until January 1, 2045. The film is currently actively managed by NBCUniversal, as evidenced by its availability through licensed home media and streaming channels.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (R650493)
- U. Penn Catalog of Copyright Entries (LP2285)
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1940-1949) by D. Richard Baer
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (ID 25875)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.