Public Domain
The Gusher
1913 · Keystone Film Company · Dir. Mack Sennett
Mabel has two suitors - an oily con man, whom she mocks in a very funny scene where she is shown twiddling a fake moustache and making her feelings very clearly felt. Even in this early comedy her natural fun comes through. The one she really loves is clumsy yokel Ford Sterling, who is determined to buy an oil well that the con man has for sale. The conman gets a local fellow to pour oil over the property. Ford falls for it and buys it - Mabel and he are to be married. Then the fellow confesses that it was just a scam - there was no oil.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Gusher is a silent comedy short directed by Mack Sennett and starring Ford Sterling, Mabel Normand, and Fred Mace. It was produced by the Keystone Film Company and released on May 19, 1913.
Under current United States copyright law, the status of works published before 1928 is straightforward. All works published or registered for copyright in the U.S. prior to January 1, 1928, have seen their copyright terms expire. Because this film was released in 1913, it entered the public domain 75 years after its publication (under the 1976 Act) or, more simply, it is now part of the public domain because all works from this era have aged out of protection regardless of renewal status.
As a result, no registration or renewal search is required for films of this vintage. The film is widely available in public domain archives and silent film collections due to its status.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Progressive Silent Film List: The Gusher (1913) - SilentEra.com
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Gusher (1913)
- 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.