Public Domain
The Bigamist
1953 · Filmakers Releasing Organization · Dir. Ida Lupino
San Francisco businessman Harry Graham and his wife and business partner, Eve, are in the process of adopting a child. When private investigator Mr. Jordan uncovers the fact that Graham has another wife, Phyllis, and a small child in Los Angeles, he confesses everything.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Bigamist was released in late 1953 by The Filmakers, a production company formed by Ida Lupino and Collier Young. Under the 1909 Copyright Act, US films published between 1928 and 1963 required a renewal filing in the 28th year to maintain protection. For a 1953 release, a renewal application should have been filed with the US Copyright Office in 1980 or 1981.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress (CCE) records shows no renewal for this title. While the film was originally registered (LP3080, dated December 3, 1953), the rights-holders failed to renew it, likely because the production company had dissolved years prior. As a result, the film entered the public domain in the United States at the end of its first 28-year term.
Because the film is in the public domain, it is widely available on platforms like the Internet Archive and via public domain home video distributors such as Alpha Video. Its status is further confirmed by its inclusion in 'Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain'.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (No renewal found for LP3080)
- Hurst, Richard Maurice. Film Superlist: 1950-1959, Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE), 1953/1981
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Bigamist (1953)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.