Public Domain
In the Park
1915 · Essanay Studios · Dir. Charlie Chaplin
A tramp steals a girl's handbag, but when he tries to pick Charlie's pocket loses his cigarettes and matches. He rescues a hot dog man from a thug, but takes a few with his walking stick. When the thief tries to take some of Charlie's sausages, Charlie gets the handbag. The handbag makes its way from person to person to its owner, who is angry with her boyfriend who didn't protect her in the first place. The boyfriend decides to throw himself in the lake in despair, so Charlie helps him out.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under the current copyright laws of the United States, all works published or registered before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. 'In the Park' was released on March 18, 1915, during Charlie Chaplin's tenure at the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company.
Because the film was published more than 95 years ago (specifically in 1915), its copyright protection has expired regardless of whether it was renewed. It is now free for public use, which is why it is widely available on platforms like the Internet Archive and in various Chaplin collections without licensing restrictions from any surviving studio entity.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.