Public Domain
The Failure
1911 · Biograph Company · Dir. D.W. Griffith
A man loses his business and his fiancée, and drifts into the saloons. There he meets a similarly-downtrodden young woman. She works behind the scenes to help him recover his life, and eventually he realizes how steadfast she is.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'The Failure' (1911), directed by D.W. Griffith for the Biograph Company and featuring cinematography by G.W. 'Billy' Bitzer, was released on December 7, 1911. As a work first published in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, its copyright has expired by operation of law.
Under current U.S. copyright law, all works published before 1928 have entered the public domain regardless of whether they were originally registered or renewed. This film is 112 years old and its protection ended, at the latest, 75 years after publication under the previous copyright regime, and it has not been extended by subsequent legislation.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- IMDb: The Failure (1911)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Failure (1911)
- 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.