Public Domain
Mabel at the Wheel
1914 · Keystone Film Company · Dir. Mack Sennett
A villain, competing with his rival's race car, kidnaps the rival before the race. Mabel decides to take the wheel in his place.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under US copyright law, any work published prior to January 1, 1928, has definitively entered the public domain. 'Mabel at the Wheel' (also known as 'His Daredevil Queen') is a two-reel comedy starring Mabel Normand and Charlie Chaplin, released by the Keystone Film Company on April 18, 1914. Because it was published more than 95 years ago, its copyright has expired regardless of whether it was ever registered or renewed.
The film is widely available through public domain film archives, including the Internet Archive and various PD specialty distributors. It is listed as public domain in comprehensive reference works such as Hurst's 'Film Superlist: 1894-1939'.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U. Penn Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Online Database)
- British Film Institute (BFI) Film & TV Database
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.