Using films in the public domain

[Chamber005]

So I'm needing some old movie footage for a scene and I'm wondering if any of you have ever used any footage from movies that are in the public domain.

It looks like most of the musicals have issues because the songs in them have been re-copyrighted. But I was shocked to see movies like Penny Serenade and A Farewell to Arms in the public domain.

It seems bizarre that you could show Cary Grant in your movie and not have to pay anyone a fee for that.

Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

So I'm needing some old movie footage for a scene and I'm wondering if any of you have ever used any footage from movies that are in the public domain.

It looks like most of the musicals have issues because the songs in them have been re-copyrighted. But I was shocked to see movies like Penny Serenade and A Farewell to Arms in the public domain.

It seems bizarre that you could show Cary Grant in your movie and not have to pay anyone a fee for that.

Anyone have any experience with this?

The problem with actually 'using' a PD movie, is whether each, every, and all copyrights are truely expired.

For example, while the 'frame for frame' movie may not have copyright coverage, in many cases the 'script', or 'story' that the film is based on may have copyrights sitll in force.

That may then affect 'derivative' uses of the material, beyond replicating the movie in whole or in part for direct viewing.