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Selected Resources for the Study of Film

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Table of Contents

Actors
Cinematographers and Cinematography
College Guides
Directors/Producers
Foreign Films
Industry Guides
Motion Picture Bibliographies
Motion Picture Catalogs, Dictionaries, and Encyclopedias
Motion Picture History
Motion Picture Periodicals
Motion Picture Plots, Themes, Genres, etc.
Motion Picture Reviews
Motion Picture Studios (Websites)
Periodical Indexes and Databases
Websites

 

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Indexes, Abtracts, and Databases

The following are just a few of the indexes that will cover articles dealing with film. Depending on your topic, your search might take you into the realm of history or business or art or music or any number of areas. For example, if you were looking for research into the business of producing and marketing motion pictures, you would likely find some of your most valuable research using ABI/Inform, a business journal database. If you were looking for film as literature, you would likely find better sources in the MLA Bibliography, the major research database for languages and literature. The indexes recommended below tend to be especially useful for any approach to film. Please note that you will need to be logged into the library system in order to access these databases off campus. To log in and return to this page, click here.

Reference Books (2nd Floor)

Reference materials provide quick answers on a variety of subjects. The UNF Library's Reference Collection should have specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks for nearly any subject you want to cover. The following materials are particularly useful for beginning to research issues in gender studies. You should also use the library's catalog to search for more specific areas. For example, if you are looking into representations of women in motion pictures, try looking for the keywords "women" and "motion pictures" in the advanced search screen. You can also limit the search to the Reference Collection by choosing Reference from the Location pull-down option.

Resources have been sub-categorized according to their focus.

Actors

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Annual Index to Motion Picture Credits. Westport, Ct., Greenwood Press, 1978-80.
PN1993 .A48a

Aros, Andrew A. An Actor Guide to the Talkies, 1965 through 1974. Metuchen. N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1977.
PN1998 .A6694

Cinema: a Critical Dictionary : the Major Film-Makers. New York: Viking Press, c1980.
PN1993.45 .C5

Dimmitt, Richard B. An Actor Guide to the Talkies; a Comprehensive Listing of 8,000 Feature-Length Films from January, 1949, until December, 1964. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1967-68.
PN1998 .D53

The Hollywood Who's Who: the Actors and Directors in Today's Hollywood. New York: Continuum, 1993.
PN1998.2 .H64 1993

The Illustrated Who's Who of the Cinema. New York: Macmillan, 1983.
PN1998.A2 I48 1983

Michael, Paul. The American Movies Reference Book; the Sound Era. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1969.
PN1993.5.U6 M53

Parish, James Robert. Actors' Television Credits, 1950-1972. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1973.
PN1992.4.A2 P3

Parish, James Robert. Actors' Television Credits. Supplement I. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1978.
PN1992.4.A2 P3 suppl. 

Stewart, John. Filmarama. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1975.
PN1998.A2 S67

Thomson, David. A Biographical Dictionary of Film. 3rd ed. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1994.
PN1998.2 .T49 1994

Who's Who of Victorian Cinema : a Worldwide Survey. London : BFI Publishing, 1996.
PN1998.2 .W48 1996

Awards, Honors, Prizes

Lyon, Richard Sean. The Complete Book of Film Awards. West Los Angeles, Calif. LyonHeart Publishers, c1990.
PN1993.92 .L9 1990

Matthews, Charles E. Oscar A to Z : a Complete Guide to More Than 2,400 Movies Nominated for Academy Awards. New York: Doubleday, c1995.
PN1993.92 .M38 1995

Osborne, Robert A. 65 Years of the Oscar : the Official History of the Academy Awards. New York : Abbeville Press, c1994.
PN1993.92 .O82 1994

Pickard, Roy. The Oscar Movies. New York: Facts on File, 1994.
PN1993.92 .P53 1993

Shale, Richard. Academy Awards : an Ungar Reference Index. New York: Ungar, 1978.
PN1993.5.U6 S47

Cinematographers & Cinematography

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Annual Index to Motion Picture Credits 1978- . Westport, Ct., Greenwood Press, 1978- .
PN1993 .A48a

Cinematographers, Production Designers, Costume Designers & Film Editors Guide. Beverly Hills, CA: Lone Eagle, 1988- .
PN1998.A1 C58

Ensign, Lynne Naylor. The Complete Dictionary of Television and Film. New York: Stein and Day, 1985.
PN1992.18 .E57 1985

Gartenberg, Jon. Glossary of Filmographic Terms = Lexique de Termes Filmographiques. Brussels, Belgium : Federation Internationale des Archives du Film, 1985.
PN1993.45 .G36 1985

The Illustrated Who's Who of the Cinema. New York: Macmillan,1983.
PN1998.A2 I48 1983

Singleton, Ralph S. Filmmakers Dictionary. Beverly Hills, CA: Lone Eagle Pub Co., 1986.
PN1993.45 .S56 1986

Thomson, David. A Biographical Dictionary of Film. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1994.
PN1998.2 .T49 1994

Colleges

The American Film Institute Guide to College Courses in Film and Television. New York: Arco : Distributed by Prentice Hall Trade Sales, 1990.
PN1993.8.U5 A453 1990

Peterson's Annual Guides/Graduate Study. Princeton, NJ: Peterson's Guides.
L901 .P46

Peterson's Guide to Four-Year Colleges. Princeton, N.J. : Peterson's Guides.
L901 .P459

Directors & Producers

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Annual Index to Motion Picture Credits. Westport, Ct., Greenwood Press, 1978- .
PN1993 .A48a

Andrew, Geoff. The Film Handbook. Boston, MA: G.K. Hall, 1990.
PN1998.2 .A64 1990

Barson, Michael. The Illustrated Who's Who of Hollywood Directors. New York: Noonday Press, 1995.
PN1998.2 .B368 1995

Bushnell, Brooks. Directors and Their Films : a Comprehensive Reference, 1895-1990. Jefferson, NC : McFarland & Company, 1993.
PN1998 .B85 1993

Coursodon, Jean Pierre. American Directors. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983.
PN1998.A2 C657 1983

Dixon, Wheeler W. The "B" Directors : a Biographical Directory. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1985.
PN1998.A2 D593 1985

Hochman, Stanley, comp. American Film Directors. With Filmographies and Index of Critics and Films. New York: Ungar, 1994.
PN1995.9.P7 H57

The Hollywood Who's Who : the Actors and Directors in Today's Hollywood. New York: Continuum, 1993.
PN1998.2 .H64 1993

The Illustrated Who's Who of the Cinema. New York: Macmillan, 1983.
PN1998.A2 I48 1983

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. Chicago: St. James Press, 1990.
PN1997.8 .I58 1990

Langman, Larry. A Guide to American Film Directors : the Sound Era, 1929-1979. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1981.
PN1998.A2 L34

Michael Singer's Film Directors : a Complete Guide. Beverly Hills, CA: Lone Eagle, 1992.
PN1998.A2 D568

Parish, James Robert. Film Directors: a Guide to Their American Films. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1974.
PN1998 .P24

Sadoul, Georges. Dictionary of Film Makers. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1972.
PN1993.45 .S313

Schuster, Mel. Motion Picture Directors: a Bibliography of Magazine and Periodical Articles, 1900-1972. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1973.
PN1998.A2 S34 1973

Singleton, Ralph S. Filmmakers Dictionary. Beverly Hills, CA: Lone Eagle Pub Co., 1986.
PN1993.45 .S56 1986

Thomson, David. A Biographical Dictionary of Film. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1994.
PN1998.2 .T49 1994

World Film Directors. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1987-1988.
PN1998.2 .W67 1987

Foreign Films

Australian Film, 1978-1992 : a Survey of Theatrical Features. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1993.
PN1993.5.A8 A955 1993

Bergan, Ronald. Bloomsbury Foreign Film Guide. New York: Holt, 1989.
PN1995.9.F67 B4 1989

Buehrer, Beverley Bare. Japanese Films: a Filmography and Commentary, 1921-1989. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1990.
PN1993.5.J3 B78 1990

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. Chicago: St. James Press, 1990.
PN1997.8 .I58 1990

International Film Guide. London: Tantivy Press, 1964-1989. (Name changed to Variety International Film Guide in 1990. Now published in London by Andre Deutsch.)
PN1993.3 .I544

International Motion Picture Almanac. New York: Quigley, 1956- .
PN1993.3 .I55

Magill's Survey of Cinema, Foreign Language Films. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Salem Press, 1985.
PN1993.45 .M34 1985

Rajadhyaksha, Ashish. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. London: British Film Institute; New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1994.
PN1993.5.I8 R33 1994

Vermilye, Jerry. Great Italian Films. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Pub. Group, 1994.
PN1993.5.I88 V47 1994

Industry Guides

Financial Reporting by Producers and Distributors of Motion Picture Films. Stamford, CT : Financial Accounting Standards Board, 1981.
HF5601 .S68 no.39-53

Motion Picture Bibliographies

The British Film Catalogue, 1895-1970; a Reference Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1973.
PN1993.5.G7 G5

Manchel, Frank. Film Study: a Resource Guide. Rutherford, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1973.
PN1993.7 .M35 1973

Rehrauer, George. Cinema Booklist : Supplement. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1972.
PN1994.R36

Rehrauer, George. Cinema Booklist : Supplement. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1974-
PN1994.R36 Suppl

Motion Picture Catalogs, Dictionaries, & Encyclopedia

American Film Institute. The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States. New York: R. R. Bowker, 1971- .
PN1998 .A57

Aros, Andrew A. An Actor Guide to the Talkies, 1965 through 1974. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1977.
PN1998 .A6694

Aros, Andrew A. A Guide to the Talkies, 1975 through 1984. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1986.
PN1998 .A6695 1986

Aros, Andrew A. A Title Guide to the Talkies, 1964 through 1974. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1977.
PN1998 .A6695

Baer, D. Richard. The Film Buff's Bible of Motion Pictures (1915-1972). Hollywood, CA: Hollywood Film Archive, 1972.
PN1998 .B25

Barnet, Sylvan. A Dictionary of Literary, Dramatic, and Cinematic Terms. Boston: Little, Brown, 1971.
PN44.5 .B3 1971

Dimmitt, Richard B. An Actor Guide to the Talkies; a Comprehensive Listing of 8,000 Feature-Length Films from January, 1949, until December, 1964. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1967-68.
PN1998 .D53

Educators' Guide to Free Films. Randolph, Wis., Educators Progress Service.
LB1044 .E3 (Library retains latest year.)

Ensign, Lynne Naylor. The Complete Dictionary of Television and Film. New York: Stein and Day, 1985.
PN1992.18 .E57 1985

Gartenberg, Jon. Glossary of Filmographic Terms = Lexique de Termes Filmographiques. Brussels, Belgium : Federation internationale des archives du film, 1985.
PN1993.45 .G36 1985

Halliwell, Leslie. Halliwell's Filmgoer's and Video Viewer's Companion. New York: HarperPerennial, 1993.
PN1993.45 .H28 1993

Hurst, Walter E. Film Superlist: 20,000 Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain. Hollywood, CA: 7 Arts Press, 1986.
PN1998 .H8 1986

Hurst, Walter E. Film Superlist for 1940-49: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain. Hollywood, CA: 7 Arts Press, 1986.
PN1998 .H79 1986

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. Chicago: St. James Press, 1990.
PN1997.8 .I58 1990

International Film Guide. London: Tantivy Press, 1964-1989. (Name changed to Variety International Film Guide in 1990. Now published in London by Andre Deutsch.)
PN1993.3 .I544

International Motion Picture Almanac. New York: Quigley, 1956- .
PN1993.3 .I55

Kael, Pauline. 5001 Nights at the Movies : a Guide from A to Z. New York: Holt, Rinehart
and Winston, 1982.
PN1995 .K19 1982

Katz, Ephraim. The Film Encyclopedia. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994.
PN1993.45 .K34 1994

Kislia, J. A. "Let's See It Again." Dayton, OH: Pflaum Pub., 1975.
LB1044.Z9 K57

Mercer, John. Glossary of Film Terms. Houston: University Film Association from the Office of the Journal of the University Film Association, School of Communication, University of Houston, 1979.
TR847 .M47 1979

Monaco, James. The Encyclopedia of Film. New York: Perigee Books, 1991.
PN1993.45 .M638 1991

The Motion Picture Guide. Chicago: Cinebooks, 1984.
PN1993 .M4334

The New York Times Encyclopedia of Film, 1896-1979. New York: Times Books, 1984.
PN1993.45 .N4 1984

Oakey, Virginia. Dictionary of Film and Television Terms. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1983.
PN1993.45 .O34 1983

The Oxford Companion to Film. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976.
PN1993.45 .O9

Parlato, Salvatore J. Films ex Libris : Literature in 16 mm and Video. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1980.
PN1997.85 .P3

Parlato, Salvatore J. Films--Too Good for Words; a Directory of Nonnarrated 16 mm. Films.
New York: Bowker, 1973.
LB1044.Z9 P34

Pickard, R. A. E. Dictionary of 1,000 Best Films. New York: Association Press, 1971.
PN1997.8 .P5

Pitman, Randy. Video Movies : a Core Collection for Libraries. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1990.
Z692.V52 P57 1990

Robertson, Patrick. The Guiness Book of Movie Facts and Feats. New York: Abbeville Press, 1993.
PN1993.45 .R584 1993

Rovin, Jeff. The Laserdisc Film Guide : Complete Ratings for the Best and Worst Movies Available on Disc. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1993.
PN1992.95 .R68 1993

Sadoul, Georges. Dictionary of Films. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1972.
PN1993.45 .S3213

Steinberg, Cobbett. Film Facts. New York: Facts on File, 1980.
PN1993.45 .S75

Thomson, David. A Biographical Dictionary of Film. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1994.
PN1998.2 .T49 1994

The Time Out Film Guide. London; New York: Penguin, 1991.
PN1998 .T46 1991

Variety International Film Guide. London: Andre Deutsch, 1990-.
PN1993.3 .I544 1990-

Wiener, Tom. The Book of Video Lists. Lanham, MD: Madison Books, 1990.
PN1992.95 .W55 1990

Motion Picture History

Buehrer, Beverley Bare. Japanese Films : a Filmography and Commentary, 1921-1989. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1990.
PN1993.5.J3 B78 1990

Film Noir : an Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style. Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press, 1979.
PN1993.5.U6 F5

Osborne, Robert A. 65 years of the Oscar : the Official History of the Academy Awards. New York: Abbeville Press, 1994.
PN1993.92 .O82 1994

Robertson, Patrick. The Guiness Book of Movie Facts and Feats. New York: Abbeville Press, 1993.
PN1993.45 .R584 1993

Vermilye, Jerry. Great Italian Films. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Pub. Group, 1994.
PN1993.5.I88 V47 1994

Women in Film: an International Guide. New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1991.
PN1995.9.W6 W657 1991

Motion Picture Periodicals

American Cinematographer.
TR845.A5

American Film.
PN1993.A617 v.1-16 (ceased)

Cinema Journal.
PN1993.S62

Film Comment.
PN1993.F438

Film Quarterly.
PN1993.H457

Films in Review.
PN1993.F6473

Journal of Popular Film and Television.
PN1993.J66

Literature Film Quarterly.
PN1995.3.L57

Post Script.
PN1995.P682

Quarterly Review of Film and Video: QRFV.
PN1994.Q34

Quarterly Review of Film Studies.
PN1993.Q3

Screen.
PN1993.S2372

Sight and Sound.
PN1993.S56

Soviet Film.
PN1993.5.R9S543 1972-1990 (ceased)

Wide Angle.
PN1993.W48

The above listed periodicals are print format journals in the library's 3rd floor Periodicals Collection. The library will have access to many of these periodicals in its online database collection as well as to many film titles not listed above.

Motion Picture Reviews & Criticisms

AFVA Evaluations. La Grange Park, IL: American Film & Video Association.
LB1044 .E33

Alvarez, Max Joseph. Index to Motion Pictures Reviewed by Variety, 1907-1980. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1982.
PN1995 .A39 1982

Batty, Linda. Retrospective Index to Film Periodicals, 1930-1971. New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1975.
PN1993 .B37 1975

Bowles, Stephen E. Index to Critical Film Reviews in British and American Film Periodicals, Together With: Index to Critical Reviews of Books About Film. New York: B. Franklin, 1974.
PN1995 .B64 1974

Film Review Index. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1986.
PN1995 .F4655 1986

Gerlach, John C. The Critical Index; a Bibliography of Articles on Film in English, 1946-1973. New York: Teachers College Press, 1974.
PN1994 .G425 1974

Heinzkill, Richard. Film Criticism : an Index to Critics' Anthologies. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1975.
PN1995 .H4

Hochman, Stanley, comp. American Film Directors. With Filmographies and Index of Critics and Films. New York: Ungar, 1974.
PN1995.9.P7 H57

Landers Film Reviews. Escondido, CA Landers Associates.
PN1995 .L27

Love and Hisses : the National Society of Film Critics Sound Off on the Hottest Movie Controversies. San Francisco: Mercury House, 1992.
PN1995 .L66 1992

MacCann, Richard Dyer. The New Film Index; a Bibliography of Magazine Articles in English, 1930-1970. New York: Dutton, 1975.
PN1994 .M3122 1975

The New York Times Directory of the Film. New York: Arno Press.
PN1995 .N39

The New York Times Film Reviews. New York: New York Times, 1913- .
PN1995 .N4

Salem, James M. A Guide to Critical Reviews. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1984.
PN2266 .S243 1984

Samples, Gordon. How to Locate Reviews of Plays and Films: a Bibliography of Criticism from the Beginnings to the Present. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1976.
PN1707 .S256

Selected Film Criticism. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1982-1985.
PN1995 .S426 1982

Sheahan, Eileen. Moving Pictures : an Annotated Guide to Selected Film Literature, with Suggestions for the Study of Film. South Brunswick, NJ: A. S. Barnes, 1979.
PN1994 .S53

Sight and Sound Film Review Volume. London: BFI Publishing, 1993.
PN1993 .S58

Variety Film Reviews. New York: Garland Pub., 1907- .
PN1995 .V34

In addition to the foregoing Reference sources, you can search printed indexes and online databases for reviews of films.

Web Resources

Following are major resources for information on film available on the World Wide Web. You will find many other sources by doing a search in one or more of the major search engines. Please remember, though, to carefully evaluate materials you retrieve on the Web. Materials may or may not be authoritative.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
http://www.oscars.org/

Box Office Mojo
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/

Cannes Film Festival
http://www.festival-cannes.fr/index.php?langue=6002

Walt Disney Pictures
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/index.html

Dreamworks skg
http://www.dreamworks.com/dreamworks_home.html

Fine Line Features
http://www.finelinefeatures.com

flicker
http://www.hi-beam.net/cgi-bin/flicker.pl

Fox Movies
http://www.foxmovies.com/index.html

IFC, Independent Film Channel
http://www.ifctv.com/ifc/home

Industrial Light and Magic
http://www.ilm.com/

Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com

Library of Congress Early Motion Pictures
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSome.php?format=Motion+Picture

MGM
http://www.mgm.com/home.do

Miramax Films
http://www.miramax.com

Motion Picture Association of America
http://www.mpaa.org/

Movies.com
http://movies.go.com

MovieWeb
http://www.movieweb.com

Paramount
http://www.paramount.com/index.htm

SCREENsite
http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite/

Sony Pictures
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/index.html

Strand Releasing
http://www.strandreleasing.com/

Sundance Institute
http://institute.sundance.org/jsps/site.jsp?resource=pag_ex_home

Universal Studios
http://www.universalstudios.com/index.php

The University of Michigan's Askwith Media Library
http://www.lib.umich.edu/aml/

Viacom
http://www.viacom.com/

Warner Brothers
http://www2.warnerbros.com/main/homepage/homepage.html

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