Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2019/12/10/american-legion-theater.html
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For this one-of-a-kind screening, the Chaplin Office has waived their usual requirement that the film be accompanied by recorded music, and has given Retroformat Silent Films’ resident Musical Director Cliff Retallick permission to improvise a live, grand piano score!
Do they have any real say so to deny or endorse use of film released 95 years ago? Yes, I know there was a re-release with a official score…but this is the 1925 version here.
I love events like these. Our local Revue Cinema in Parkdale hosts screenings from the Silent Film Society of Toronto and they are always accompanied by live music. The most recent one I attended (a while ago, I don’t get out much) was at a different theatre but the piano performance really made the night - it was the restored Lost World. Whether it’s single piano or a full orchestra, watching silent films with live music is the art.
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For the locals who can go. GO SEE THIS MOVIE.
So much of modern cinema language comes from this guys work.
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It’s a restored version of the 1925 film, so my guess is whoever owns the rights to the 1993 restoration can dictate the conditions of its distribution.
However LegalZoom says 95 years is just at the upper limit of how long the Chaplin estate could assert copyright so it could be that they’re just asserting whatever rights they have for these last few months before the original film goes into public domain for good:
Movies created and copyrighted before January 1, 1978 will retain rights under the Copyright Act of 1909 but with some changes afforded by the Copyright Act of 1976. Under the 1909 Act, copyright was secured on the date a work was published or, if unpublished, on the date of registration. Copyright lasted for 28 years and was eligible for copyright renewals. The 1976 Act retained the previous system but allowed for increased renewal terms lasting 47 years. The 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act increased the renewal terms another 20 years for a total of 67 years. Thus, for works created prior to January 1, 1978, the total number of possible copyright protected years is now 95 years from the original date of copyrighting.
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Is it in the public domain? Chaplin only died 42 years ago. I’m pretty sure he owned the rights to his films, at least the ones made after he co-founded United Artists.
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Part of the reason for the 1935 release with a new soundtrack was to secure an new copyright on the film.
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Whoops! The Chaplin estate just called…
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Not to edit down his ex’s role?
Chaplin shot first!
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