Public Domain
Thaïs
1917 · Goldwyn Pictures · Dir. Hugo Ballin
The wanton dancer Thais, tries to entice Paphnutius from becoming a monk but fails. He later returns to reclaim her soul and follow in his footsteps. They attempt to live lives of simplicity, but the pull of worldliness is too strong.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'Thaïs' (1917), starring Mary Garden and released by Goldwyn Pictures, is definitively in the public domain in the United States. Under current US copyright law, all works published or registered before January 1, 1928, have seen their maximum copyright term expire.
There were two notable silent versions of 'Thaïs' around this time: the 1917 Goldwyn version and a 1914 version directed by Arthur Bakewell. Both films fall well before the 1928 cutoff. Therefore, even if a valid copyright registration and renewal had been filed, the legal protection would have expired no later than 95 years after publication (approximately 1912 for the 1917 version). No further renewal research is required for works of this age.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Thaïs (1917)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
- U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 15a: Duration of Copyright
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.