Protected
The Killing
1956 · Harris-Kubrick Productions · Dir. Stanley Kubrick
Career criminal Johnny Clay recruits a sharpshooter, a crooked police officer, a bartender and a betting teller named George, among others, for one last job before he goes straight and gets married. But when George tells his restless wife about the scheme to steal millions from the racetrack where he works, she hatches a plot of her own.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Killing was directed by Stanley Kubrick and released in the United States in 1956. Under the Copyright Act of 1909, works from the 1928–1963 era required a valid renewal during their 28th year of protection to avoid falling into the public domain.
According to the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress, the original registration for 'The Killing' was filed by Harris-Kubrick Productions, Inc. on May 10, 1956 (LP6545). The copyright was successfully renewed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (as successor in interest) on May 21, 1984 (RE210-671). Because the renewal was filed within the statutory window, the film is protected for a term of 95 years from its original publication date. It is currently scheduled to enter the public domain on January 1, 2052.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE210-671)
- U.S. Copyright Office Online Catalog (CoCatalog)
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1950-1959) by David Pierce
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (The Killing, 1956)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.