Public Domain
The Lucky Devil
1925 · Famous Players-Lasky / Paramount Pictures · Dir. Frank Tuttle
Richard Dix, a displayer in a department store, enters a raffle and wins the so-called 'hoodoo' bad-luck automobile formerly owned by the store owner's son, a soul seemingly always in trouble with cops and women. Well, suddenly Dix begins to have the same problem, only he also gets mixed up in the life of Esther Ralston and her Aunt Edna May Oliver. Hilarious misunderstandings and undertakings become the fodder for the day!
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under the terms of the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, all works published in the United States before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. This film, starring Richard Dix and directed by Frank Tuttle, was released on July 12, 1925.
Because the film was published in 1925, its maximum 95-year copyright term expired on January 1, 2021. This expiration is automatic based on the publication date, regardless of whether the copyright was originally renewed or maintained. The film is now free for use and distribution in the United States without restriction.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 15a (Duration of Copyright)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (The Lucky Devil, 1925)
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
- IMDb (The Lucky Devil, 1925)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.