David Gasior,

 

I don't remember reading your original request, but quite a while back we

had a discussion on printed reference sources for PD films. There is a very

expensive and often difficult-to-use source that other members of Screen-L

have familiarity with--and whose title I can't remember at the moment for

the life of me.  Someone else on the list could probably respond on that

one.

 

I'd also mentioned that I was ordering a new title I got a flyer on, and

would eventually report on it.  Here's some preliminary information on it.

 

Pierce, David.  _Motion Picture Copyrights and Renewals, 1950-1959. Milestone,

PO Box 2748, Laurel, MD 20708.  ISBN 0-927347-02-4. $89.00 + $5.00 UPS shipp.

 

As indicated by the title, this work covers primarily films from the fifties,

with a handful of earlier films.  The bulk of it is actually the LC Copyright

Office's _Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures, 1950-1959.  To this

catalog Pierce has added:

1.  Inked in entries next to each relevant title, for titles that have been

renewed.  The entries give the renewal number and the renewer by abbreviation

(with a list of abbrev's included).

2.  An appendix with additional 1950s films and television series that did

_not_ make it into the LC volume originally.  These entries are in typed format.

   3.  Some introductory matter describing scope and the complexities of the

copyright process that qualify Pierce's effort at this sort of reference work.

 

Some of the qualifications/caveats here:

 

1. The LC publication that's the bulk here covers all sorts of films--from

features to educational shorts to TV series and performing arts programs.

Pierce's appendix--which adds the titles not caught by the original volume--

is more selective. He has apparently tried to cover features comprehensively,

but shorts have been limited to those of "greater than average interest." This

is due largely to how renewals are filed in the performing arts area--i.e.,

along with new works--which would've required a massive manual search of files.

As expected, he notes that he could've missed a few features as well... a

caveat that would apply to pretty much anyone's work.

 

2. Pierce also warns that because he has not found a film to have been renewed,

this doesn't mean that related rights in a photoplay, to music in the film, etc

--areas he did not search out--have not.  If they have, this may of course

complicate PD usage of a title.

 

Nonetheless, these are compromises that only a researcher/compiler committed to

an infinite amount of effort could overcome.  As the work stands, it _is_ easy

enough to use. Pierce's inked entries are all perfectly legible, and there are

only three alphabetical listings you have to go to in order to find a title

(the LC listings, and his two appendices for additional titles of films and

TV series).  The LC work itself has indexes for series titles and for "persons

and organizations associated with the motion pictures" in its listings.

 

Anyone who'd like more information--or simply something clarified that I've

overlooked--just let me know.

 

Otherwise... happy holidays to all!

 

Jeff Clark

James Madison Univ.

Media Resources