Public Domain
The Rage of Paris
1938 · Universal Pictures · Dir. Henry Koster
Nicole has no job and is several weeks behind with her rent. Her solution to her problems is to try and snare a rich husband. Enlisting the help of her friend Gloria and the maitre'd at a ritzy New York City hotel, the trio plot to have Gloria catch the eye of Bill Duncan, a millionaire staying at the hotel. The plan works and the two quickly become engaged. Nicole's plan may be thwarted by Bill's friend, Jim Trevor, who's met Nicole before and sees through her plot.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Rage of Paris (1938), starring Danielle Darrieux and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., was originally registered for US copyright by Universal Applied Pictures Co. on June 13, 1938, under registration number LP8082. Under the Copyright Act of 1909, works registered between 1928 and 1963 required a formal renewal filing with the US Copyright Office during the 28th year of the first term to extend protection to a second 28-year term.
Extensive searches of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database, the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE), and the 'Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain' by D. Richard Baer confirm that no renewal was ever filed for this title. The copyright expired at the conclusion of its first 28-year term in 1966. Consequently, the film entered the public domain in the United States. This status is further evidenced by its widespread availability in PD film catalogs and its inclusion in public domain collections by distributors such as Alpha Video and Mill Creek Entertainment.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE): Motion Pictures 1912–1939
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Hurst/Baer)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.