Public Domain
High Society
1924 · Hal Roach Studios · Dir. Robert F. McGowan
Mickey is a poor boy who lives with his Uncle Pat. While they're broke, they're also very happy. Since Pat hasn't legally adopted Mickey, Aunt Kate gains custody and takes him to her mansion.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
High Society (1924) is a silent short film in the 'Our Gang' (Little Rascals) series, directed by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach Studios and distributed by Pathe Exchange.
Under the current US copyright law, all works published in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, have expired into the public domain. This film was registered for copyright by Pathe Exchange, Inc. on December 8, 1924 (LP20846), which would have required a renewal in its 28th year (1951-1952) to extend protection. However, since the film was published before the 1928 cutoff, it became public domain on January 1, 2020, regardless of renewal status. As of current law, there are no remaining copyright protections for 1924 US-published cinematic works.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U.S. Copyright Office, Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912-1939
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.