Protected
Gun Crazy
1950 · King Brothers Productions / United Artists · Dir. Joseph H. Lewis
Bart Tare is an ex-Army man who has a lifelong fixation with guns, he meets a kindred spirit in sharpshooter Annie Starr and goes to work at a carnival. After upsetting the carnival owner who lusts after Starr, they both get fired. Soon, on Starr's behest, they embark on a crime spree for cash.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film (also titled 'Deadly Is the Female') was originally registered for US copyright by Pioneer Pictures, Inc., on January 26, 1950, with registration number LP2807. Because the film was released in 1950, it fell under the 1909 Copyright Act, which required a renewal filing in the 28th year to prevent the work from entering the public domain.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress (CCE) confirms that the copyright was successfully renewed on December 30, 1977, by Selma Enterprises (the successor to King Brothers Productions), with renewal number RE0000002164. This renewal extended the copyright for a total term of 95 years from the original publication date.
Under current US law (CTEA), the film's copyright is set to expire on January 1, 2046. The film is currently actively licensed and distributed by Warner Bros. (via their acquisition of the United Artists/King Brothers catalog), following a high-profile restoration by the Film Foundation and UCLA Film & Television Archive.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE0000002164)
- U.S. Copyright Office Catalog of Copyright Entries (LP2807)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.