Piracy and illegal downloads are a big issue all over the world. Entertainment companies – movie studios, record companies and distributors – are obviously against it but there are internet activists who think that downloading content is not wrong. If you want to download movies you risk getting a lawsuit slapped on you by the entertainment organizations. Although the chances of this happening is not that great it is still a big headache in the event that it happens.
But unbeknownst to many people, there are movies that you can download without you having trouble with the long arm of the law. There are movies that have already entered the public domain, meaning it is now considered public property. A good number of these movies are already considered classics and will be a great addition to any movie library.
You can watch movies from the public domain without any trouble. Here are some titles you should definitely add to your list.
It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life has become a Christmas staple, a movie that is almost always on the list of feel-good films that families watch during the Christmas season. If you’re still looking for a copy of this Jimmy Stewart classic you can now download it freely online.
Night of The Living Dead
If the first movie in the list is a Christmas staple, then this movie is a must-watch during Halloween. Before the current zombie fad that is sweeping all over the world, there was this movie, directed by the master of zombie horror George Romero. This is an important piece of film history because this is the first movie that shows the ‘modern’ zombie – the ones that we have come to know, love and fear.
The Gold Rush
Many say that Charlie Chaplin is the world’s best comedian. Even though this title may be up for debate there’s no debating the fact that The Gold Rush is one of Chaplin’s best films. This is a gem of a film and it will be a treat to show it to your kids and tell them of the time when films didn’t have sound yet.
A Star is Born
When you hear the title ‘A Star is Born’ the first thing that comes to mind is Judy Garland. But you may be surprised to know that Garland’s movie is actually a remake. The original ‘A Star is Born’ was made in 1937 and starred Janet Gaynor. Film geeks will have a blast with this movie and it will be a point of pride to say that you have seen the original.
A Farewell to Arms
This adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s autobiographical novel stars Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes – both legendary Hollywood stars. This is a great introduction to the work of both Cooper and director Frank Borzage.
cool. had no idea the public domain even existed. I know right, where ya been! with the growing number of entertainment providers around it’s pretty easy to download movies and watch tv shows online these days. So I stick with my Quickflix but definitely worth a look.
Thanks for an informative post. I’ve been looking around for this sort of data for a long time now.