Public Domain
The Mountaineer's Honor
1909 · Biograph Company · Dir. D.W. Griffith
A mountain girl is seduced by a traveler from the valley. Her brother tracks the seducer down and kills him. In retaliation, the sheriff captures the brother and prepares to lynch him. Mother intervenes and, to save her son the disgrace of hanging, shoots him.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'The Mountaineer's Honor' was released on November 25, 1909, by the Biograph Company and directed by D.W. Griffith. Under current United States copyright law, all works published or registered before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain due to the expiration of their maximum copyright term (95 years from publication).
As a 1909 production, this film's copyright expired no later than 1984, regardless of whether it was registered or renewed. It is now freely available for public use. The film is preserved in several archives and has been featured in public domain collections of Griffith's early Biograph shorts.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Shorts): The Mountaineer's Honor (1909)
- Library of Congress: Paper Print Collection
- IMDb: The Mountaineer's Honor (1909)
- 17 U.S.C. § 304 (Duration of Copyright)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.