Compiled by the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress, this reference volume serves as an unbroken public and legal record of motion picture production and registration in the United States from January one, nineteen fifty, through December thirty-one, nineteen fifty-nine.
The text systematically lists thousands of registered works, dividing them into motion-picture photoplays and other types of motion pictures. Each main entry supplies essential bibliographic and legal details, including the title, producing company, release date, physical description such as running time and gauge, and specific copyright claim information.
Beyond the main entries arranged by title, the publication includes comprehensive indexes of names associated with the films, such as producers, directors, and authors of underlying literary works. A separate series list establishes uniform titles for motion picture series produced during the decade.
Authorized by federal statute, the catalog functions as prima facie evidence of copyright facts in judicial proceedings. Its primary purpose is to meet administrative needs, assist the legal and publishing professions, and preserve a permanent historical record of the film industry.
Researchers and historians utilize these compiled records to trace the origins, ownership, and copyright status of cinematic works from a pivotal era in film history. The volume remains an indispensable tool for verifying historical data that is often unavailable in other archives.
