Public Domain
Wings
1927 · Paramount Pictures · Dir. William A. Wellman
Two young men, one rich, one middle class, both in love with the same woman, become US Air Corps fighter pilots and, eventually, heroic flying aces during World War I. Devoted best friends, their mutual love of the girl eventually threatens their bond. Meanwhile, a hometown girl who's the lovestruck lifelong next door neighbor of one of them pines away.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under US copyright law, all works published or registered before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. 'Wings', directed by William A. Wellman and starring Clara Bow, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, and Richard Arlen, was first released in San Antonio on May 19, 1927, and had its New York premiere on August 12, 1927.
Because the film was published in 1927, its maximum copyright protection of 95 years (established by the 1976 Act and the 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act) expired on December 31, 2022. As of January 1, 2023, the film is definitively in the public domain in the United States. This applies to both the visual elements and the underlying scenario, though modern restorations may contain newly created soundtracks or scores that are independently copyrighted.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.