Public Domain
The Lady
1925 · First National Pictures · Dir. Frank Borzage
A young woman marries the wastrel son of a British aristocrat. Her husband, who has been disinherited by his father, loses what little money he has left gambling in casinos and then dies, leaving her penniless and with an infant son. When her former father-in-law tries to get custody of the child, she leaves him with a couple she trusts, but when she later goes to reclaim her son, she can't find the people she left him with.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Lady is a silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Norma Talmadge. It was produced by Joseph M. Schenck Productions and distributed by First National Pictures. The film was originally released in the United States on January 26, 1925.
According to the current United States copyright laws, all works published or registered in the U.S. prior to January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. This transition occurred because the maximum copyright term for works of this era was 95 years from publication, and the last remaining year (1927) entered the public domain on January 1, 2023. Since this film was released in 1925, its copyright expired no later than the end of 1920 (under the old 56-year rule if not renewed) or 2020 (under the 95-year extension).
Verification against the Library of Congress and the Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894–1939) confirms its 1925 release date. Because it predates the 1928 threshold, no renewal search is necessary to confirm its status; it is public domain by operation of law regardless of whether a renewal was ever filed.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress (Catalog of Copyright Entries)
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.