Public Domain
The Wanderer
1913 · Biograph Company · Dir. Anthony O'Sullivan
Broken by grief after his mother's death, Olaf becomes a wanderer. He is treated cruelly until he is given a meal by a woman at the homestead where she lives with her husband and baby. Olaf is able to return her kindness when he overhears a plot to rob the settlers of their home. He alerts the couple and delays the would-be thieves long enough for the husband to file a claim on his land. Olaf is injured by the claim jumpers but he recovers, alone and forgotten by those he has helped. He then moves aimlessly along.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'The Wanderer' (1913) was directed by D.W. Griffith and photographed by his legendary cinematographer G.W. 'Billy' Bitzer for the Biograph Company. It was originally released as a short film on May 12, 1913.
Under US copyright law (17 USC § 304), any work published before January 1, 1928, has reached the end of its maximum possible statutory copyright term. This film entered the public domain in the United States decades ago because it was published more than 95 years prior to the current year.
Because the film predates 1928, it is considered definitively public domain in the US regardless of registration or renewal status. It is held in the collections of the Library of Congress and is widely recognized as a public domain work by archive institutions.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- IMDb: The Wanderer (1913)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Wanderer (Note: Biograph 1913)
- Library of Congress: D.W. Griffith and Billy Bitzer catalog records
- Copyright Law of the United States: 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.