Protected
Sudden Fear
1952 · Joseph Kaufman Productions / RKO Radio Pictures · Dir. David Miller
Actor Lester Blaine has all but landed the lead in Myra Hudson's new play when Myra vetoes him because, to her, he doesn't look like a romantic leading man. On a train from New York to San Francisco, Blaine sets out to prove Myra wrong...by romancing her. Is he sincere, or does he have a dark ulterior motive?
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Sudden Fear was released in 1952 and registered for US copyright by Joseph Kaufman Productions, Inc. on August 8, 1952, under registration number LP1883. Because it was published between 1928 and 1963, US copyright law required a manual renewal within the 28th year of the first term to maintain protection.
According to the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress, the film's copyright was successfully renewed on June 2, 1980, under renewal registration number RE0000057480. The renewal claimant was listed as Joseph Kaufman Productions, Inc. This renewal extended the copyright for a total term of 95 years from the original publication date. Consequently, the film remains under copyright protection in the United States until January 1, 2048.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE-57-480)
- U.S. Copyright Office Online Catalog (cocatalog.loc.gov)
- Hurst / D. Richard Baer, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1950-1959 Volume)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Sudden Fear, 1952)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.