Protected
The Big Knife
1955 · The Associates & Aldrich Company · Dir. Robert Aldrich
Movie star Charlie Castle draws the ire of Hollywood producer Stanley Hoff when he refuses to sign a new seven-year contract. Castle is sick of the low quality of the studio's films and wants to start a new life. While his estranged wife supports him in the decision, Castle's talent agent urges him to reconsider. When Castle continues to be uncooperative, Hoff resorts to blackmail in order to get his way.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Big Knife was released in 1955. Under the 1909 Copyright Act, US works from this era required a copyright renewal in their 28th year to avoid entering the public domain. A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE) confirms that the film was successfully renewed.
The original registration was filed on November 8, 1955, under number LP5556 by The Associates & Aldrich Company, Inc. The renewal was filed on August 15, 1983, under number RE0000177708 by the successor-in-interest (Aldrich-Film-Associates). Because the renewal was filed within the statutory window (the 28th year), the film's copyright was extended for a second term, which under subsequent law (the 1976 Act) now totals 95 years from publication. The film is currently protected under US law and is expected to enter the public domain on January 1, 2051.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE0000177708)
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (LP5556)
- 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.