Music legality - Humming an old tune

[zcream]

There is an ooold song (from 1929)
called "I'm Just a Gigolo". One of my actors is humming this line in my
film. Not the entire song - just the line "I'm just a Gigolo".
Any idea if I still need a license for it ?
I am not using it as background music - just humming a single tune.
The copyright is with this agency.
http://www.warnerchappell.com

Song Title Just A Gigolo
Composer Caesar, Irving (A)/ Brammer, Julius (A)/ Casucci, Leonello
Caesar, Irving (C)
Song Id 105944700

 

[Steve House]

If the tune is recognizable and still under copyright you need to license it, no matter what role it has in the show. The fact a character sings or hums it sotto voce makes no difference; it makes a substantive contribution to the script.