Dewey Classification
791.43 - Motion Pictures

Annuals
Anthologies of Reviews or Indexes to Reviews
Information about Films/Filmmaking
Works on Film Genre
Critical Excerpts
Non-Reference Sources of Reviews
Indexes/Journals
Selected Internet Sites
Additional Resources

I. ANNUALS

R 791.437 F4868 Film Review Annual. (1981 -       ).
Published since 1981, this work contains the text of reviews of full-length films that have played in American theaters. In addition to the text of several reviews, citations to still more reviews are given. For films released in the 1980's onward this is the easiest access to reviews. The series has a two to three year time lag.

R 791.4375 Motion Picture Guide Annual (1986, 1990-1999)
International in scope, this annual offers synopsis of varying lengths along with credits. Some entries include photographs. Other notable features include the "People to Watch" section and the obituaries. Publication ceased in 1999.

R 791.437 M194 Magill's Cinema Annual (1982 -     ).
Published in a more timely fashion than Film Review Annual, this resource features signed, critical reviews written for Cinema Annual. Citations are provided to major reviews. A film's reviews are listed along with any awards it was nominated for or won. The annual is well indexed. Each volume contains obituaries and a listing of selected film books published during the year.

II. ANTHOLOGIES OF REVIEWS OR INDEXES TO REVIEWS

R 791.4375 N251m Motion Picture Guide. 12 vols.
As a multi-volume encyclopedia, the Guide is distinctly different from the other sources listed here. There are more than 50,000 films included, covering the period 1923 - 1983. Information includes cast, date, crew, rating, and a "review." The reviews here are those of the Guide's authors rather than reprints of previously published reviews, so it is not possible to identify the reviewers.

R 791.437 F4869 Film Review Index. 2 vols.
Volume 1 covers films made from 1882 - 1949 and Volume 2 those made from 1950 - 1985. Film titles are listed alphabetically. Unlike the Film Review Annual, this work provides citations and not the actual reviews. The reviews and critical discussions from both periodicals and books may have been written anytime between 1882 and 1986. Because most important films produced in the last one hundred years are included, this is an excellent source.

R 791.4375 S464 Selected Film Criticism (years)
In the seven volumes of this series, the years 1896 - 1960 are covered. One of the great values of these anthologies is that film criticism that is often difficult to locate is printed in its entirety. The editor has not only included films of contemporary and historical importance, but has also selected reviews that give differing perspectives on the films.

III. INFORMATION ABOUT FILMS/FILMMAKING excluding reviews

R 791.437 A512f1 - Feature Films, 1911 - 1920
R 791.437 A512f2 - Feature Films, 1921 - 1930
R 791.437 A512f3 - Feature Films, 1931 - 1940
R 791.437 A512f4 - Feature Films, 1941 - 1950
R 791.437 A512f6 - Feature Films, 1961 - 1970

R 927.9143 T482n 2002  A New  Biographical Dictionary Of Film (2002).
An idiosyncratic work that is, by the author’s own account, “Personal, Opinionated, and Obsessive.”

R 791.4303 C574 Cinema: A Critical Dictionary: The Major Film-Makers. 2 vols.
This work contains critical essays on the world’s major film makers. Although most of the entries are for directors, there are also entries for a few important stars (e.g. Greta Garbo and Mae West), as well as essays on topics such as “American Film Noir.” Specific film titles can be found in the Index at the back of the second volume.

R 791.43 C557 200 Cinema Year by Year 1894-2000
Utilizes a chorological format and is well illustrated.  

R 791.4303 K82c The Complete Film Dictionary (1987).
Claims to be “a comprehensive lexicon of the motion picture as art, technology, and industry.” No entries on individuals or particular films.

R 791.4309 V767E Encyclopedia Of European Cinema (1995).
Entries on topics and persons.

R 791.436 s189s Shakespeare: A Hundred Years on Film (2004)
Each play has a synopsis followed by concise entries concerning film productions. 

R 791.436 C726i 2003 Columbia Companion to American History of Film (2003)

R 791.4308 W872 Women Filmmakers and Their Films
Examines not only directors but also women active in behind the behind the aspects of film. Work is international in scope. Excellent indexing makes for easy access.

R 791.4303 K19f The Film Encyclopedia
Although there are no specific films listed in this source, filmmakers and filmmaking are thoroughly covered. Directors, producers and performers are included along with techniques, events, and historical surveys of the film industry in many different countries.

R 791.436 N948f  The Films Of The Eighties
Short synopses of more than 3400 English-language films released between Jan. 1, 1980 and Dec. 31, 1989.

R 791.437 A737e Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings and Series (2001)

R 791.43 H191h Halliwell’s Film Guide
In the second edition, Halliwell’s Guide includes films produced through 1978. The more than 8,000 films were selected with the aim of including historically significant films as well as those considered good entertainment. Along with title, date, credits, and so on, there is also a brief synopsis. No reviews or review citations are provided.

R 791.4303 H191 Halliwell’s Filmgoer’s and Video Viewer’s Companion, 10th ed. (1993).
Brief notes on actors and other topics. Handy reference for film buffs.

R 791.43 H191h 2003 Halliwell's Film Guide 2004

R 791.43 I61 International Dictionary Of Film and Filmmakers, 2nd ed. 5 vols. (1990 - 1994).
Vol. I - substantial essays on approximately 600 important films from around the world.
Vols. II-IV - biographical articles on directors, actors, and screenwriters, respectively.
Vol. V - index to the set.
3rd ed. Also available on-line through the Biography Resource Center (Berea College only).

R 791.4303 I61X The International Encyclopedia Of Film (1972).

MAGILL’S SERIES
The four sets listed below provide substantial essays on hundreds of films:
R 791.437 M194si Magill’s Survey of Cinema: Silent Films (1982). 3 vols.
R 791.437 M194el Magill’s Survey of Cinema: English Language Films: First Series (1980). 4 vols.
R 791.437 M194el Magill’s Survey of Cinema: English Language Films: Second Series (1981). 6 vols.
R 791.437 M194fo Magill’s Survey of Cinema: Foreign Language Films (1985). 8 vols.

R 791.43 N532 The New York Times Directory Of The Film. Abridged ed. (1974).
Indexes all references to personal names in New York Times film reviews published between 1913 and 1968.

R 791.43 O98 The Oxford Companion To Film
This work is one of the most inclusive of the one-volume film handbooks and encyclopedias. Included are articles on topics as varied as “Documentary,” “Felix the Cat, “Propaganda,” and “Screwball Comedy.” Films are included, though they necessarily were selected on the basis of historical or artistic merit. No reviews or review citations are included.

R 791.4302 W927 World Film Directors. 2 vols.
Certainly there is some overlap with Cinema: A Critical Dictionary; nevertheless, World Film Directors is both more current and broader in its coverage. Volume one covers directors who were born before 1920 and whose careers began before 1945. Volume two covers 1945 -1985. There are no entries for topics other than directors, nor are there any indexes.

IV. WORKS ON FILM GENRE

R 791.435 L284E Encyclopedia of American War Films (1989)
Features concise entries without bibliographies, but has helpful appendices.

R 791.436 F153e 2003 Encyclopedia of Westerns (2003)
Succinct entries include brief synopsis and cast information. Work is well indexed.

R 791.436 F484 Film Noir, 3 ed. (1992)
Entries include synopsis, detailing cast and crew. Features helpful appendices and strong index.

R 791.436 P233gr Great Detective Movies (1990)

R 791.43 S834 1996 Gangster Films (1996)
Concise entries for the creative talent  and individual films in the genre. 

R 791.436 H699a  "A" Western Filmmakers (2000)
Has entries on actors, directors and other creative talents behind major western films.

R 791.428 L574s 2001 Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits, 3 vols.
Work contains credit listings only and does not have narrative entries. 

V. CRITICAL EXCERPTS

R 809.04 T9713 Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism (1978 - 2003 in print  ).
Includes filmmakers who died between 1900 and 1959. Vol. 38 has a 130-page entry on Film and Literature, which includes an annotated bibliography.
Now available on-line through the Biography Resource Center (Berea College only).

R 820.9 C761 Contemporary Literary Criticism (1973 - 2003 in print).
Includes living filmmakers and those who died after 1959.
Now available on-line through the Biography Resource Center (Berea College only).

VI. NON-REFERENCE SOURCES OF REVIEWS

“THE FILMS OF.” series contains excerpts from contemporary reviews. This series is not in Reference, but may be found on BANC. Many of these reviews are not otherwise available in the library. Among the volumes are The Films of Greta Garbo, The Films of Bette Davis, and The Films of Gary Cooper.

The following are other anthologies of reviews by important critics that are in the circulating collection.

Manny Farber.Negative Space. 791.430973 F219n
Stanley Kaufmann.Figures of Light. 791.430973 K21f
Stanley Kaufmann.A World of Film. 791.43 K21w
John Simon.Movies Into Film. 791.43 S595m

Hutchins Library Collections (books, journals, media, e-resources)

VII. Indexes / Journals

Indexes - all databases Berea College only 

Academic Search Premier
Offers access to both full text and citations to movie reviews. It is also a source for critical articles.

Lexis-Nexis
Provides full text access to popular magazine and newspaper reviews. Select Guide Search then highlight arts and sports news as a News Category, and choose book, movie, music and play reviews as the News Source. 

MLA - Modern Language Association (1963 to the present)
Provides comprehensive international index covering Literature and Languages. Reviews are few, but a substantial number of critical articles about films.

The New York Times
Historic New York Times covers The New York Times from 1851 to 2001.
Current issues (1980 to the present) can be found via Lexis Nexis.

MasterFILE Premier
Like Academic Search Premier, this database contains movie reviews but focuses on public libraries.

Print Indexes

Index M Media Review Digest
This is by far the most complete index to reviews of non-book media since 1970, though there are fewer commercial films than in certain other sources. Included are films, videos, audio tapes, recordings, slides, and so on. Emphasis is on educational materials, but all feature films that are reviewed in any of the more than 100 periodicals covered are included. In the section “Film and Video” citations to one or more reviews of films are given with very brief excerpts from some of the reviews. See also Online Indexes above.

Index N New York Times Index
Reviews, interviews, and feature articles about films are indexed under the heading "motion pictures." Though this source indexes only the New York Times, the newspaper’s coverage of films is very broad, and it is therefore an excellent source. Articles and reviews have appeared in the Times since 1913, making this a valuable source of information on the entire motion picture industry. See also Online Indexes above.

Index R Readers’ Guide To Periodical Literature
Because a large number of general interest periodicals that contain movie reviews are indexed in Readers’ Guide, this is an excellent source of reviews. Another of its strengths is that articles on films and filmmaking have been indexed since the early 1900’s. Locate reviews under the subject heading MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS.

Journals

CINEMA JOURNAL (Periodical C volumes 29 - 42; access now online)
This refereed journal publishes scholarly articles from members of the Society of Cinema Studies. Its broad coverage includes independent and art film as well as mainstream cinema in the U.S. and Europe

FILM COMMENT (Periodical F, 1962 - present; 2002 to date also available online)
Interesting and informative articles on movies and television characterize this journal. Though the focus is on American individuals and films, there is some attention given to foreign films. Reviews as such are not as prominent as the feature articles in FILM COMMENT.

FILM CRITICISM (Periodical F, 1989 - present; 1994 to date also available online)
Essay-length articles containing critical analysis are included in this refereed academic journal. Occasionally single-theme issues are published.

FILM HISTORY (Periodical F, 1987- present; January 2004 to date also available online)
This journal publishes essay-length original research in the areas of cinema history and the historiography of cinema by European scholars.

FILM QUARTERLY  (Periodical F, Winter 1973 - present)
Published by the University of California, this is more scholarly and more international in its approach to film than the periodicals listed above. Articles on techniques, genres, and individuals are included in each issue. The critical reviews are long and analytic

SIGHT AND SOUND (Periodical S, Winter 1973/74 - present; 2000 to date)
As the only British publication in this group of film periodicals, it provides good coverage of international films. Emphasis is on films and film personalities, but some attention is given to television and video. About six well-written reviews appear in each issue.

BANC - search for journals owned available in Hutchins Library by using the journal title search feature.

Movie Review Query Engine                                     
Search engine contains material for 40,000 titles.

Internet Movie Data Base                                                                                               
The Internet Movie Data Base is also a rich source of information, including links to information about virtually all categories of people involved in filmmaking: actors/actresses, cinematographers, composers, directors, writers, production and costume designers, editors, producers, set decorators, sound, special effects, stunts, etc. Included are filmographies and notable TV guest appearances.

Greatest Films.Com                                                                                                    
This site boasts a variety of best lists and detailed synopsis of notable films. Other features are illustrated film glossary, articles on film genres. Site does have annoying graphics and pop-ups. Great Films Search Engine will aid the research process.

Internet Public Library 
Comprehensive annotated guide to online resources surrounding film.

Literature Research Center 
This wide-ranging resource includes resources on film and literature, including titles such as International Dictionary of Film and Filmmakers and Women Filmmakers and Their Films.

Biography Resource Center