Introduction

This page is intended as a resource for students enrolled in Sue Owen's CTA 223, Fall '01. It provides links and lists of sources relevant to the course. For more information or help, drop by the Information Desk on the main floor of the library or contact Lori Ricigliano, liaison librarian for the Communication department.

Table of Contents: Film Genres | Directors, Producers, Stars | Film Theory | Film Criticism | Film Reviews

Film Genres

SIMON Subject Headings for Film Genres
To find books on the theory of film genres and works discussing film genres collectively, use the subject heading film genres. Works on a specific film genre are entered under the heading for the genre, e.g. war films (see more suggestions below). To find books on film genres in other libraries, check Orbis.

Reference Books  & [located on the main floor of the library]

• Films by genre : 775 categories, styles, trends, and movements defined, with a filmography for each  / PN1998 .L63 REF
• Film noir : an encyclopedic reference to the American style / PN1995.9.F54 F54 REF 

Databases for Film Genres [top]

• America: History and Life, 1964+.
  Covers journal articles on American history; useful for the treatment of history in film.
• Art Abstracts, 1984+.
  Indexes a number of film journals.
• Art Index Retrospective, 1929-1984.
  This is the backfile for Art Abstracts (see above).
• ComAbstracts
  Use the keyword film and combine it with another term.
• Humanities Index, 1984+
  Covers about a half dozen film journals but its real value is in the articles it lists from other humanities journals (literature, philosophy, religion, history).
• MLA Bibliography, 1981+
• Contemporary Womens Issues, 1992+
  Covers gender issues in film
• PsycInfo, 1887+
  Use the subject heading Motion Pictures (Entertainment)
• SocAbstracts, 1963-
• Women's Resources International, 1972+
  Covers gender issues in film. Note: Only one simultaneous user.

Directors, Producers, Stars [top]

Reference Books  &  [located on the main floor of the library]

• A biographical dictionary of film / PN 1998 A2 T55 1981 REF

• Black film stars / PN1998.A2 L33 REF

• Cinema : a critical dictionary : the major film-makers / PN1993.45 .C5 REF

• Dictionary of film makers / PN1993.45 .S313 REF

• Directors and their films : a comprehensive reference, 1895-1990 / PN1998 .B85 REF 

• Film Encyclopedia / PN1993.45 .K34 REF

• Halliwell's film & video guide / PN1993.45 .H27 REF 

• Illustrated guide to film directors/ PN 1998 A2 Q85 REF

• International dictionary of films and filmmakers /  PN 1997.8 I58 1997 REF 
  A four volume set that includes information about films, directors, actors, and writers.

• Leonard Maltin's movie & video guide / PN 1993.3 L46 REF

• Reel Black Talk -- Ref 1998.2 N66
  Information about African American filmmakers

• Who was who on screen / PN 1998 A2 T73 REF

• Women film directors : an international bio-critical dictionary / PN1998.2 .F67 REF

SIMON Subject Headings

• Motion Picture Producers and Directors

• Motion Picture Actors And Actresses United States  

• see also names of directors, producers, stars

Other Sources

• CineMedia 
  has links to web sites devoted to actors, directors, and more

• MovieWeb 
  Information about the movie industry

• Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated 
  contains the fulltext of the articles from more than 100 volumes of biographical reference

Film Theory

SIMON Subject Headings [top]

• motion pictures philosophy
• Film theory is also discussed in books and articles about film genre

Film Criticism  

Discusses a film in terms of various historical, social or psychological contexts; artistic trends, and cinema styles. Film criticism is found in books and articles.

Another type of film criticism is the reviews which often appears in the popular press literature. For more information, see Film Reviews.

Reference Books &

• Film Criticism; an Index to critics' Anthologies -- Ref Z5784. H4
  This is an index to essays and articles on reviews of books found in anthologies. The anthologies selected are those that contain the work of a single critic.
• Magill's Survey of Cinema. English Language Films, Second Series /  PN1993.45 M32 REF
  Provides criticism on significant English-language films released between 1927 and 1981.
• Magill's Survey of Cinema. Foreign Language Films / PN1993.45. M34 REF  
  Provides critical articles on 700 foreign-language films.
  

  Film Reviews

Below is a selective list of databases that include film reviews.

• Academic Universe
  Tip: Choose the News category, then Arts & Sports; includes full text of the NY Times for the past 20 years
• Ethnic News Watch
  Covers news from ethnic, minority, and native press in America. Major area of focus is ethnic area studies
• Academic Search Elite
  Includes film journals such as Film Comment, Film Criticism, Journal of Popular Film and Television, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, and Literature-Film Quarterly.
• Research Library Complete
  Tip: Select movie reviews as article type. Enter the film title in basic fields.

To fine reviews of old movies, check the following:

• New York Times Index / Index Table near I-Commons
• Reader's Guide / Index Table near I-Commons

Film reviews may also be found on the web. Here is a selective listing.

• Internet Movie Database  
  Covers any and all information about movies, including reviews, characters, summaries, the industry, and more.
• Movie Review Query Engine
• Film.com
• Yahoo 's movie review listing
• Allmovie.com
• TV Guide Online Movie Database 
  Includes reviews, cast, and credits
• Clamen's Movie Information Collection 
  Includes reviews, facts, industry information.

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