Public Domain
The Last of the Line
1914 · Kay-Bee Pictures / Mutual Film Corporation · Dir. Thomas H. Ince
Sioux leader Chief Gray Otter sends his son Tiah to the white man's school so that he can become a great leader. The son returns home drunk, disappointing his father. Things get worse when the son joins a group of renegades and robs a payroll wagon. The father, observing the clash from a distance, takes a side.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under the current copyright laws of the United States, all works published or registered before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain regardless of their renewal status. 'The Last of the Line' (also known by its reissue title 'Pride of Race') was directed by Jay Hunt and produced by Thomas H. Ince for Kay-Bee Pictures. It was released in the United States on December 24, 1914.
Because the film was released well before the 1928 cutoff, its statutory copyright protection has expired. The maximum term of protection for works from this era was 75 years (if properly renewed), which would have expired in 1989. Following the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, these older works were not eligible for further extension if they were already in the public domain. The film is now free for use and distribution in the U.S.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-admissions-list/
- https://archive.org/details/lastofline1914
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Last of the Line (1914)
- Hurst, Richard Maurice. Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.