EXPERTS--screenplay rights question (1 Viewer)

[Peter Canavese]

Wacky question.

For those who know of such things, would the screenplay of "His Girl Friday" be in the public domain? I'm pretty sure the film is in the public domain, hence all the cheapo releases of it. I've been contemplating doing a stage version of it for a community theatre instead of the somewhat mustier antecedent "The Front Page" (whose stage rights are controlled by Samuel French, Inc.). If it worked out, the show would run for 2 weekends, so it's no long-term undertaking.

To recap...2 questions:

1) Are there rights issues with "His Girl Friday"?

2) If not, would there still be rights issues since "His Girl Friday" was adapted from "The Front Page"?

Thanks for any informed answers!

 

[Peter Canavese]

Could anyone REFER me to someone who might know? C'mon movie nuts!

 

[Chad R]

Tyr calling the U.S. Copyright office, and if they don't know you could always call a lawyer who deals in copyrights.

Other than that, I don't know.