Ownership and copyright issues It's a Wonderful Life

george mary in s wonderful life

liberty films purchased paramount pictures, , remained subsidiary until 1951. in 1955, m. & a. alexander purchased movie. included key rights original television syndication, original nitrate film elements, music score, , film rights story on film based, greatest gift . national telefilm associates (nta) took on rights film thereafter.

a clerical error @ nta prevented copyright being renewed in 1974. despite lapsed copyright, television stations aired still required pay royalties. although film s images had entered public domain, film s story still protected virtue of being derivative work of published story greatest gift , copyright renewed philip van doren stern in 1971. film became perennial holiday favorite in 1980s, possibly due repeated showings each holiday season on hundreds of local television stations. mentioned during deliberations on copyright term extension act of 1998.

in 1993, republic pictures, successor nta, relied on 1990 u.s. supreme court ruling in stewart v. abend (which involved stewart film, rear window) enforce claim copyright. while film s copyright had not been renewed, republic still owned film rights greatest gift ; plaintiffs able argue status derivative work of work still under copyright. nbc, since 1996, licensed show film on u.s. network television, , traditionally shows twice during holidays, 1 showing on christmas eve. paramount (via parent company viacom s 1998 acquisition of republic s then-parent, spelling entertainment) once again has distribution rights first time since 1955.

due above actions, 1 of few rko films not controlled turner entertainment/warner bros. in usa. 1 of 2 capra films paramount owns despite not having released it—the other broadway bill (originally columbia, remade paramount riding high in 1950).

colorization

director capra met wilson markle having colorization, inc., colorize s wonderful life based on enthusiastic response colorization of topper actor cary grant. company s art director brian holmes prepared 10 minutes of colorized footage s wonderful life capra view, resulted in capra signing contract colorization, inc., , enthusiastic agree[ment] pay half $260,000 cost of colorizing movie , share profits , giving preliminary approval making similar color versions of 2 of other black-and-white films, meet john doe (1941) , lady day (1933) . however, film believed in public domain @ time, , result markle , holmes responded returning capra s initial investment, eliminating financial participation, , refusing outright allow director exercise artistic control on colorization of films, leading capra join in campaign against process.

three colorized versions have been produced. first released hal roach studios in 1986. second authorized , produced film s permanent owner, republic pictures, in 1989. both capra , stewart took critical stand on colorized editions. hal roach color version re-released in 1989 vhs through cooperation of video treasures. third colorized version produced legend films , released on dvd in 2007 approval of capra s estate.

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