Public Domain
The Lion and the Souse
1924 · Educational Pictures / Cameo Comedies · Dir. Harry Edwards
A high-society woman films a vanity film of her dancing with a group of women. The premiere takes an hilariously disastrous turn when a lion gets loose.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Lion and the Souse is a 1924 silent comedy short directed by Arvid E. Gillstrom and starring Cliff Bowes. In the United States, all works published before January 1, 1929, have entered the public domain regardless of whether original copyright was registered or renewed.
This specific film was released on June 15, 1924, as part of the Cameo Comedies series distributed by Educational Pictures. Under current US copyright law (the Mickey Mouse Protection Act), the 95-year term for corporate-owned works from 1924 expired on January 1, 2020. Because the film was published more than 95 years ago and before the 1929 threshold, its protection has lapsed based on the passage of time.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ15a.pdf
- https://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/L/LionAndTheSouse1924.html
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Cameo Comedies Index)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.