Public Domain
The Confederate Ironclad
1912 · Kalem Company · Dir. Kenean Buel
During the Civil War, Elinor, a pretty Northern girl, comes south to visit her aunt-- Little does anyone suspect she works as a spy. Lieutenant Yancey, who's nearly engaged to the fetching and resourceful Rose, is gallant enough to show the Yankee guest around, including a walk down a hidden creek where a gunboat is built and awaits powder. Elinor sends this intelligence North, and the Bluecoats attack.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film was released in 1912 by the Kalem Company, directed by Kenean Buel. Under the terms of the 1976 Copyright Act and the subsequent Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, all works published or registered in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain.
As a 1912 production, the maximum possible term of protection was 75 years (at the time of the 1976 Act) or 95 years from publication; however, all films from this era reached the end of their copyright terms by 2007 at the latest. Consequently, no renewal search is necessary because the chronological age of the work renders it definitively public domain under US law.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.