Subject Guide for Film Criticism and Reviews

Contents

Online Article Databases
Finding Release Date
Basic Information
Review Sources
Print Indexes
Film Criticism
Internet

Online Article Databases

• Proquest
• Academic Search Premiere
• Film and Television Literature Index
• Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe
• Review of the Arts
• MLA

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Finding Release Date

Since many references are compiled on a date based timeline, it is often necessary to know the year of release of the film you are researching. The following sources will help determine release date.

• Internet Movie Database.
  A good source for basic information (cast, other credits, brief plot summary, etc.) including release date.
• Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide
  (CDR-94 Media Center).
  An annual extensive listing of feature films (including those made for television) giving production credits, running time, date of release, and a very brief plot summary and commentary. Rates films from four stars down to Bomb.
• Halliwell's Film Guide
  (PN 1993.45 H27 REF)
  Complements Maltin with emphasis on British films. Has a brief summary and a rating system.
• Video Source Book
  (PN 1992.95 V53 REF).
  A comprehesive listing of available videos. Because the vast majority of motion pictures are now available on video, this is an excellent place to look for the release date. This is especially useful for documentary films and other films that are not features. Many films not found in other sources can be found here.
  

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Basic Information

All the sources above (under finding release date ) give some basic information about movies. In addition, the following are useful.

• Motion Picture Guide
  (PN 1993 M4334 REF)
  This set gives credits, plot summaries, and critical comments. A ten volume basic set covers 1910-1983, with films listed alphabetically. This is supplemented annually with some of the films having detailed coverage. Discontinued in 1999. More recent films are found in Internet Movie Database.
• Television Programming Source Books
  (PN 1992.8 F5 T38 REF)
  Describes and gives rights information for television series, specials, made for television movies, and theatrical movies available for television viewing.
• John Willis Screen World
  (PN 1993.3 D3 REF)
  Has detailed cast listings and photographs plus a very brief summary of the film. SDSU only has volumes through 1997.
• American Film Institute Catalog
  (PN 1998 A57 REF)
  Organized by decades, the definitive listing (with summary) of films produced in the United States. Set is not yet completed.

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Review Sources

• The New York Times Film Reviews
  (PN 1995 N4 REF)
• Variety Film Reviews
  (PN 1995 V34 REF)
• Film Review Annual
  (PN 1995 F463 REF)
• Magill's Survey of Cinema (several series)
  (PN 1993.45 M3 REF) updated by Magill's Cinema Annual
  (PN 1993.3 M34 REF)
• International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Vol I: Films
  (PN 1993.45 I48)
  Lists additional sources for each film.

• Humanities Index
  (AI 3 H82 REF)
• Readers Guide to Periodical Literature
  (Table 1 in Reference).
  There is a retrospective online version of this available via the Library's list of article databases.

Film Criticism

• Film Literature Index
  (PN 1993 F55 REF)
  Author and subject index to international film and television literature. Considered a standard in the field. Online version available in article databases.
• International Index to Film Periodicals
  (PN 1993 I58 REF)
  Subject index with separate sections for individual films. Covers 1972-1989. Many of the journals indexed are not at SDSU.
• Film Review Index
  (PN 1995 F467 REF)
  A two volume work covering 1882-1985. Popular and scholarly sources are given.
• Film Criticism: An Index to critics' Anthologies
  (PN 1995 H4)
  An index in one alphabet by film, names, and topics to articles or chapters in anthologies of film criticism.
• Film Study: An Analytical Bibliography
  (PN 1994 M325 1990)
  A topically organized comprehesive four volume survey of literature on film.
• A Guide to Critical Reviews
  (PN 1995 S327 REF)
  A set that indexes reviews of drama and film in periodicals up to 1982. Part 4 (in two volumes) covers films.
• Index to critical film reviews in British and American film periodicals, together with: Index to critical reviews of books about film, 1930-1972
  (Z 5784 M9 B64).
• The Critical Index: a bibliography of articles on film in English, 1946-1973, arranged by names and topics
  (PN 1994 G42 1974)
• Retrospective index to film periodicals, 1930-1971
  (PN 1993 B38 1975 REF)
  Divided into three sections: individual films, subjects, and book reviews, this volume indexes 20 film periodicals. It is a good supplement to Film Literature Index, which begins in 1973.
  

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Internet

Other than the sites mentioned above, here are a few others:

• The Media and Communications Studies Site
  Although British-based, this is a mega site for resources useful for academic study of media and communications. It is subdivided into many categories including film review and criticism sites.