Public Domain
The Passion of Joan of Arc
1928 · Société Générale des Films · Dir. Carl Theodor Dreyer
A classic of the silent age, this film tells the story of the doomed but ultimately canonized 15th-century teenage warrior. On trial for claiming she'd spoken to God, Jeanne d'Arc is subjected to inhumane treatment and scare tactics at the hands of church court officials. Initially bullied into changing her story, Jeanne eventually opts for what she sees as the truth. Her punishment, a famously brutal execution, earns her perpetual martyrdom.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Passion of Joan of Arc (La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc), directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, was originally released in France in 1928. Because the film was first published prior to January 1, 1929, it has definitively entered the public domain in the United States as of January 1, 2024, regardless of its renewal status or country of origin.
While foreign films from this era can sometimes have complex copyright histories involving the URAA (Uruguay Round Agreements Act), the 95-year limit for works published before 1978 is a hard cutoff. Any work published anywhere in the world before 1929 is now part of the US public domain. This film is widely available on public domain archives and is recognized by the Library of Congress and leading film preservationists as being out of copyright.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.