Motion pictures, 1950-1959 : Catalog of copyright entries

Key themes

Cultural Documentation and Archiving

The fundamental purpose of this catalog is to create a permanent, systematic record of cultural output. It embodies the effort to preserve and make accessible information about every motion picture copyrighted, ensuring that a comprehensive historical account of cinematic production from the 1950s exists for future generations. This theme highlights the importance of institutional memory and the role of national libraries in safeguarding cultural heritage against loss or oblivion, providing an invaluable resource for understanding past creative endeavors.

Intellectual Property and Copyright Law

At its core, the catalog is a manifestation of copyright law in action. It provides the official public record of intellectual property claims for motion pictures, delineating ownership and protection rights. This theme explores the legal framework governing creative works, the administrative processes involved in securing rights, and the economic implications of intellectual property for creators and corporations in the film industry. It highlights the state's role in regulating and protecting creative output.

Evolution of American Cinema (1950s)

While not a critical analysis, the catalog offers raw data that, when aggregated and analyzed, illustrates the trends, shifts, and overall landscape of American film production during a pivotal decade. It allows researchers to trace the rise of new genres (e.g., sci-fi, teenpics), the decline of others, the profound impact of television on film production and distribution, and the changing social and political concerns reflected in the types of films being made and copyrighted during the 1950s.

Worth discussing

How does the sheer volume and diversity of films copyrighted in the 1950s reflect broader cultural shifts in post-war America, particularly in response to the rise of television?