Hi all, My library recently received a large donation of early studio films on VHS format. The majority were official releases, but I have two hanging out that came from one of those rare/vintage mail order video companies. The quality is not so hot - they look like low end telecine transfers. I don't know the copyright renewal status of either film, so I don't know if these are Public Domain or not. I haven't been able to find copies for sale on Amazon, with a quick Google search or listed in Worldcat - if these are legal PD copies and super rare I'd like to keep them, despite the kind of crappy quality. Does anyone have any info on the PD status of these particular titles or other resources I could consult? Should I assume that most majors studios renewed copyright on all their pre-1968 films or was it more case by case than that?
* Pointed Heels (1929), William Powell, Helen Kane; Paramount http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020278/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 * Happy Days (1930), Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell; Fox Film Corp http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020949/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_7 Thanks! Kim Kim Stanton Head, Media Library University of North Texas kim.stan...@unt.edu<mailto:kim.stan...@unt.edu> P:(940) 565-4832
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
