Protected
Kiss Me Deadly
1955 · Parklane Pictures / United Artists · Dir. Robert Aldrich
One evening, Hammer gives a ride to Christina, an attractive hitchhiker on a lonely country road, who has escaped from the nearby lunatic asylum. Thugs waylay them and force his car to crash. When Hammer returns to semi-consciousness, he hears Christina being tortured until she dies. Hammer, both for vengeance and in hopes that "something big" is behind it all, decides to pursue the case.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Kiss Me Deadly was released in 1955 and was originally registered for copyright by Parklane Pictures, Inc. under registration number LP4612. Because the film was released between 1928 and 1963, a timely renewal was required in the 28th year to maintain protection.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the U.S. Copyright Office records confirms that the copyright was successfully renewed on February 28, 1983, under renewal number RE0000155609. The renewal was filed by United Artists Corporation as the successor in interest to Parklane Pictures.
Under the 1976 Copyright Act and the Subsequent Copyright Term Extension Act, the film's copyright is protected for 95 years from the date of publication. Consequently, Kiss Me Deadly will not enter the public domain in the United States until January 1, 2051.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE155609)
- US Copyright Office Online Catalog (cocatalog.loc.gov)
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Hurst/Baer)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.