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Poster:	quigs	Date:	November 23, 2008 05:28:41pm
Forum:	feature_films	Subject:	this might be a shot in the dark but...

In the 1960', when James Bond was all the rage; a series of films came out about an inept but who thought himself
suave secret agent named Charles Vine. One of the films was called, the second best secret agent of the world (a satire to Bond). I think two more films were released before the public got bored with this guy's ineptness and they stopped production. Question; would these films be considered PD?

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Poster:	Campfire	Date:	November 23, 2008 09:02:18pm
Forum:	feature_films	Subject:	Re: this might be a shot in the dark but...

You're thinking of Licensed to Kill ... aka The Second Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World, Where the Bullets Fly, and O.K. Yevtushenko, all starring Tom Adams.
They were distributed by Embassy Pictures, which might be expected to keep track of its copyright holdings.

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Poster:	quigs	Date:	November 23, 2008 09:47:24pm
Forum:	feature_films	Subject:	Re: this might be a shot in the dark but...

Darn it.

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Poster:	Video-Cellar	Date:	November 24, 2008 02:42:38am
Forum:	feature_films	Subject:	Re: this might be a shot in the dark but...

I love these movies. But they are so obscure I didn't think many people knew about them. "OK Yevtushenko" Is also known as "Somebody's Stolen Our Russian Spy"

I have a copy of "Licensed to Kill" the Star Base Video label. It's copyright renewal is:
Second best secret agent in the whole wide world. By Alistair Films, Ltd.
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: RE0000618509 / 1993-03-12
Renewal registration for: LP0000041557 / 1965-11-19
Title: Second best secret agent in the whole wide world. By Alistair Films, Ltd.
Copyright Claimant: Parafrance Communication, SA (PWH)
Variant title: Second best secret agent in the whole wide world.
Names: Alistair Films, Ltd.
Parafrance Communication, SA

My VHS of "Where the Bullet's Fly" was on the Embassy Home Video Label. This has a copyright renewal:
Where the bullets fly. By Puck Films, Ltd.
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: RE0000680003 / 1994-11-09
Renewal registration for: PA0000041707 / 1966-02-15
Title: Where the bullets fly. By Puck Films, Ltd.
Copyright Claimant: DEG Sale Company, BV (PWH)

My copy of "Somebody's Stolen our Russian Spy" is on the Star Base Label also. I can't find a registration or renewal for this one. But the video I have has "Copyright (C) MCMLXVII Paudex Distribution SA" so it complies with the copyright notice requirement.

So my guess is they are all under copyright.

The first one was a more serious Bond satire. From the second one they played for just for laughs. The third one is very cheap and shot in Spain. The Director, Linsay Shonteff, resurrected the series in the 70s and eventually made three more. Charles Vine became Charles Bind but it was the same deal:

"Number One Of the Secret Service" 1977 with Nicky Henson.
"Licensed to Love and Kill" 1979 with Gareth Hunt.
"Number One Gun" 1990 with Michael Howe.

His estate owns the rights to the last three and sell them online http://www.lindsayshonteff.com where it says
"None of these films are public domain, they are the copyright of Alex Shonteff. Legal action will be taken against anyone illegally distributing these films, for more information please read our terms and conditions."

This post was modified by Video-Cellar on 2008-11-24 10:42:38

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Poster:	quigs	Date:	November 24, 2008 11:53:59am
Forum:	feature_films	Subject:	Re: this might be a shot in the dark but...

Rats!