Once you have found a call number for a topic, remember to check the books surrounding it. You will find other books that should be related to your topic.

Indexes contain information not only on individual films, but also on virtually everything to do with the film industry. Remember that an index will give you information on where to find an article dealing with your topic, not the topic itself. Although the general indexes do not exclusively feature information on films, film directors, and film reviews, they are nevertheless helpful for finding articles about films in more general or non-film related periodicals.

Art Index   REF Z5937A78  1929-1997.

Quarterly, with annual cumulations. An author-subject index interfiled into one alphabet; articles that review films may be found under the heading "Motion Picture Reviews--Single Works." Before 1977, the heading "Moving Picture Reviews--Single Works" was used. There are also entries under the names of individual directors. Now available online in the database  FirstSearch. Ask at the Reference Desk for special login information. Available to A&M-Commerce students only.

Biography Index   REF Z5301B5  1946-Present.

Quarterly, with triennial cumulations. An index to periodical articles and books which profile an individual. This index is arranged in alphabetical order by last name of the person. Each issue has many entries of articles on directors, producers, actors and actresses, etc. To find out which individuals in a given occupation are in a specific issue of the index, check the "Index to Professions and Occupations" in the back of each issue, which lists all the people entered in the main body of the work by profession, such as "Motion Picture Directors." This allows one to know which names will--or will not--be in the main body of the work.

New York Times Index   REF A121N44  1946-Present.

Semi-monthly, with annual cumulations. Information on movies in general may be found using the subject heading "Motion Pictures." Reviews or articles about individual films may be found under the name of the film (printed in bold-face type). Before 1983, the subject "Motion Pictures--Reviews and Other Data on Specific Productions" was used. When looking for the actual reviews as published in the newspaper, you may find the issue on microfilm or by consulting The New York Times Film Reviews (REF PN 1995 .N4), a set of books which reproduce film reviews exactly as they appeared in The New York Times from 1913 to 1978. There is a two month publication delay.

Personal Names Index to the New York Times   REF Z5301F28  1851-1974 1975-1996.

A companion index to the New York Times Index. Look up a person's name to find any references located in the New York Times.

Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature   REF A13R48  1900-Present.

Semi-monthly, with annual cumulations. Reviews of individual films are indexed under "Motion Picture Reviews--Single Works." There are also numerous sub-headings under the subject heading "Motion Pictures" that allow you to find articles on specific aspects of the film industry, such as "Motion Pictures--Setting and Scenery." Before 1977, the heading "Moving Picture Plays--Criticisms, Plots, Etc.--Single Works" was used. Articles on directors may be found under the heading "Motion Picture Directors" before 1977) or under the name of an individual director. Now also available online in the database  FirstSearch. Available to A&M-Commerce students only.

Contemporary Literary Criticism  REF PN771C59 

A&M-Commerce has volumes 1-46. Some volumes were dedicated to filmmakers. Excerpts from general magazines, film reviews, and scholarly journals. Also includes overview of career of the filmmaker. Available online in the Texshare Core Databases. Ask at the Reference Desk for assistance.

Magill's Cinema Annual   REF PN1993.45M33 

edited by Frank N. Magill. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Salem Press, 1982-1985. An annual survey of the preceding year in movies. Each volume is divided into five sections. The first section contains essays of general interest, including one of the Life Achievement Award given that year by the American Film Institute. The second section covers selected films of the year, done in the same general format as the entries in Magill's Survey of Cinema--with the added feature of a list of where reviews of the film may be found. The third section contains entries on older films not covered in Magill's Survey of Cinema. A list of obituaries and various awards is in the fourth section, and an index is in the fifth section. (Available for years after 1985, but not at A&M-Commerce.)

Magill's Survey of Cinema: English Language Films  REF PN1995M3 

edited by Frank N. Magill. First Series. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Salem Press, 1980. The First Series of this set covers 515 films released from 1927 to 1980.

Magill's Survey of Cinema: English Language Films  REF PN1995M3 1981 

edited by Frank N. Magill. Second Series. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Salem Press, 1981. The Second Series covers 751 additional films released from 1928 to 1981. Each entry on a film includes production background, story line, and a discussion of how the film was received critically and how it is placed historically in its era. The last volume of the Second Series contains a cumulative index to both sets. The index is divided into various sections, such as by title, cinematographer, or performer. The Third Series covers silent films. The Fourth Series, not available at A&M-Commerce, treats non-English films.

Hispanics in Hollywood: An Encyclopedia of Film and Television  REF PN1995.9H47R49 1994 

by Luis Reyes and Peter Rubie. New York: Garland Publishing, 1994.

Horror Film Directors, 1931-1990  REF PN1995.9H6F5 1991 

by Dennis Fischer, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 1991.

The A-Z of Horror Films  REF PN 1995.9H6M3245 1997 

by Howard Maxford. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1997.

Horror and Science Fiction Films: A Checklist  REF PN1995.9H6W5 

by Donald Willis. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1972.

Encyclopedia of the Musical Film  REF PN1995.9M86G7 

by Stanley Green. New York: Oxford University, 1981.

Blacks in Black and White: A Source Book on Black Films  REF PN1995.9N4S2 

by Henry T. Sampson. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1977.

A Political Companion to American Film  REF PN1995.9P6P66 1994 

edited by Gary Crowdus. Chicago: Lakeview Press, 1994.

American Film Directors  REF PN1995.9P7H57 

edited by Stanley Hochman. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing, 1974.

The Great Science Fiction Pictures  REF PN1995.9S26P37 

by James Robert Parish and Michael R. Pitts. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1977.

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers  REF PN1997.8I58 1984 

edited by Christopher Lyon. Chicago: St. James Press, 1984. 5 volumes. Volume I of this set lists 486 films in alphabetical order and includes such data as running time, cast, and the original source of the screenplay. Following this information, there is then a list of publications that have reviewed the film. There is then a short entry describing the circumstances under which the film was made and other items of historical interest concerning the film. Volume II (Directors/Filmmakers) is arranged by name of the filmmaker. Each entry begins with a brief year by year listing of his/her accomplishments, including all films the filmmaker was involved in. There is then a list of publications by and about the filmmaker, and finally a brief biography. Volume III (Actors and Actresses) on 650 actors/actresses), and Volume IV (Writers and Production Artists) on nearly 625 writers, cinematographers, art directors, composers, and editors. Volume V is a title index.

Short Stories on Film and Video  REF PN1997.85E45 1985 

by Carol A. Emmens. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1985.

The Modern American Novel and the Movies  REF PN1997.85M64 

edited by Gerald Peary and Roger Shatzkin. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing, 1978.

Dictionary of Literary Biography: American Screenwriters  REF PN1998A2A585 

Volumes 26 and 44. Volume 26 is titled American Screenwriters (ed. Robert E. Morsberger, Stephen O. Lesser, and Randall Clark), 1984; Volume 44 is American Screenwriters: Second Series (ed. Randall Clark), 1986. Detroit: Gale Research Co. A signed essay covering the screenwriter's life and career, with a chronological discussion of his or her screen credits. Also covered in the essays are uncredited contributions. Complementing each essay-- a filmography giving all official screen credits and basic biographical and career data. The essays in American Screenwriters are illustrated with appropriate photographs, including letters and manuscript pages, scenes from films, author portraits, and other subjects relating to the screenwriters and their works.

A Who's Who of British Film Actors  REF PN1998A2P365 

by Scott Palmer. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1981.

Hollywood Character Actors  REF PN1998A2P39177 

, by James Robert Parish. New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House, 1978. Brief biographical entry with picture and a listing of the films the character actor appeared in.

Who's Who in Hollywood 1900-1976  REF PNA2R3 

by David Ragan. New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House, 1976. The entries include a brief biographical section and listing of movies.

Who Was Who on Screen  REF PN1998A2T73 1977 

by Evelyn Mack Truitt. 2d ed. New York: R. R. Bowker, 1977. Covers the years 1905-1975 and includes some 9,000 names of players and bit players.

Forty Years of Screen Credits  REF PN1998A2W37 1970 

by John T. Weaver. 2 volumes. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1970. Handy guide to motion picture credits of the Hollywood parade of stars.

Masters of Lens and Light: a Checklist of Major Cinematographers and Their Feature Films  REF PN 1998D285 1991 

by William Darby. Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow, 1991. As the title suggests, a list of cinematographers and their films. Credits more than 700 cinematographers.

Film Directors: A Guide to Their American Films  REF PN 1998P24 1974 

by James Robert Parish and Michael R. Pitts. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1974. Provides a singe compendium of domestic and international motin picture directors who have contributed feature-length productions to American cinema.

The Great Spy Pictures  REF PN 1998P26 1974 

by James Robert Parish and Michael R. Pitts. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1974. Traces the development of the spy film as the genre progressed through the decades of the 20th-century motion picture production.

The Short Film: An Evaluative Selection of 500 Recommended Films  REF PN 1998R37 1975 

by George Rehrauer. New York: Macmillan Information, 1975.

Women Film Directors: An International Bio-Critical Dictionary  REF PN1998.2F67 1995 

by Gwendolyn Audrey Foster. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1995. Designed primarily for use by students, historians, film critics and film enthusiasts. Entries are alphabetical and include biographical, critical essays, selected filmography and selected bibilographic information.

A Biographical Dictionary of Film  REF PN1998.2T49 1994 

by David Thomson. 3d ed. New York: Knopf, 1994. An overview of the careers of film luminaries.

World Film Directors&nsp REF PN1998.2W67 1987 

edited by John Wakeman. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1987. 2 volumes. Substantive introductions to approximately 400 film directors. Volume I focuses on directors before 1920. Volume II covers more recent directors. Good overviews, with filmography and brief bibliography of books and essays.

Reference Publication in Film  Various Call Numbers 

Boston: G.K. Hall, 1977-Present. Irregularly issued. Not one book, but a series of books by various authors on individual filmmakers, titled with the name of the filmmaker, and the subtitle "a guide to references and resources," such as Fritz Lang: A Guide to References and Resources, by E. Ann Kaplan. Each book is written by an expert in the field, and is typically a synopses of films, with a detailed annotated bibliography of writings about the filmmaker. This series presents an excellent starting point for detailed research, and covers both American and foreign filmmakers. Each work is cataloged separately.

Cinema: A Critical Dictionary: The Major Film-makers  Currently not available at A&M-Commerce. 

edited by Richard Roud. New York: The Viking Press, 1980. 2 volumes. This work features a series of scholarly essays by a variety of writers on different topics. In addition to essays on individuals, it also features articles on genre and the cinema of various countries, such as "Dance in Film" or "German Cinema Since 1945." The individual essays reflect the personal opinions of the authors, but if Roud does not agree with the writer or has something to add he will often insert his own comments.

Art Index   REF Z5937A78  1929-1997.

Quarterly, with annual cumulations. An author-subject index interfiled into one alphabet; articles that review films may be found under the heading "Motion Picture Reviews--Single Works." Before 1977, the heading "Moving Picture Reviews--Single Works" was used. There are also entries under the names of individual directors. Now available online in the database  FirstSearch. Ask at the Reference Desk for special login information. Available to A&M-Commerce students only.

Film Criticism: An Index to Critic's Anthologies  REF PN1995H4 

, by Richard Heinzkill. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1975. What did Pauline Kael think about Dr. Strangelove? Did Richard Schickel like the movie If…? These questions may be answered by using this book, which indexes anthologies of a film critic's articles or essays. Only those anthologies which contain the work of a single critic are indexed. The index is arranged in alphabetical order, and includes film titles, subjects, and directors.

Film Review Annual  Currently not available at A&M-Commerce. 

1981 to the present. Reprints film reviews (after 1979) from general magazines and film periodicals. Includes list of sources for additional reviews.

Film Review Index, 1882-1985  REF Z5784M9F513 

Edited by Patricia King Hanson, and Stephen L. Hanson. Phoenix, Arizona: Oryx Press, 1986, 1987. (2 volumes) Index to over 7000 reviews of US and foreign films. Covers film magazines, general periodicals, and selected books. Indexed by director, country of origin, and year produced.

A Guide to Critical Reviews. Part IV: The Screenplay from The Jazz Singer to Dr. Strangelove  REF Z5782Pt.4Suppl.1 

by James M. Salem. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1971. 2 volumes plus Supplement One: 1963-1980. The two main volumes of this set are an index to critical reviews of motion pictures released from October 1927 through 1963. An excellent set to complement Index to Critical Reviews in British and American Film Periodicals (see below), this work includes many popular magazines (such as Time) that are not indexed in Bowles's work. The supplement volume updates the set.

Humanities Index  REF A13H8 

1974-1988 available in print. After 1988 available online. Many humanities-related journals review films. To find a review, look first for the subject heading "Moving picture reviews--Single works," then for the title of the film. Now available online in the database  FirstSearch. Ask at the Reference Desk for special login information. Available to A&M-Commerce students only.

Index to Critical Film Reviews in British and American Film Periodicals  REF Z5784M9B64 

compiled and edited by Stephen E. Bowles. New York: Burt Franklin, 1974. 2 volumes. This set is divided into two sections: an index of critical film reviews arranged in order by film title, and an index of critical reviews of books about film, arranged by book title. The earliest periodical indexed for film reviews is from 1939, but the majority began publication in the mid-1950's.

Media Review Digest  REF Z5784M9M85 

1970-. (Titled Multi-Media Reviews Index from 1970-1977). Annual. Covering all forms of non-book media, Media Review Digest places its primary emphasis on indexing educational, instructional, and informational media, although feature films are also indexed. As of 1984, 140 periodicals and services were indexed. The index is arranged by four sections: Film and Video Service, Filmstrip Section, Audio Media Section, and Miscellaneous Media Section. Each section is arranged by title of the item reviewed. An interesting feature is the use of "+" or "-" signs in the index, indicating whether the review indexed was a favorable one or not.

New York Times Film Reviews  REF PN 1995N4 

1913-1982 (13 volumes) For information on older films, use these volumes of film reviews reprinted from the New York Times newspaper. If the film you are studying was released after 1968, find the volume that covers the year of release, look in the title index near the end of that volume to find out on what date a review was published, then turn to that date in the front part of the volume to find the review. For reviews of films released between 1913 and 1968, start with the separate index volume (labeled Volume 6) that covers those years to find the date the review appeared. Then turn to that date in the corresponding volume of reviews.

Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature  REF A13R48  1900-Present.

Semi-monthly, with annual cumulations. Reviews of individual films are indexed under "Motion Picture Reviews--Single Works." There are also numerous sub-headings under the subject heading "Motion Pictures" that allow you to find articles on specific aspects of the film industry, such as "Motion Pictures--Setting and Scenery." Before 1977, the heading "Moving Picture Plays--Criticisms, Plots, Etc.--Single Works" was used. Articles on directors may be found under the heading "Motion Picture Directors" before 1977) or under the name of an individual director. Now also available online in the database  FirstSearch. Available to A&M-Commerce students only.

Reviews and Critical Analyses Film Review Annual.  Currently not available at A&M-Commerce.

Variety Film Reviews  Currently not available at A&M-Commerce. 

. 1904- . 18+ volumes. New York: Garland Publishing. More than eighteen volumes of reviews, with more than 40,000 reviews, including credits, plot-lines, and evaluations of films.

The Library subscribes to many databases both full-text (article included) and citations/abstracts only. Some of the indexes have been mentioned in earlier sections of this bibliography. Other databases which may be useful:

MUSE, Periodical Abstracts, Wilson Select (in FirstSearch), Biography&Genealogy Index, Contemporary Literary Criticism, MLA (in FirstSearch), Electric Library, and Newsbank/Texas NewsFile. Click here to access Library Internet Databases.     The databases are available to A&M-Commerce students only.

The databases are available from offcampus. Instructions are available here:   Accessing the Library's Internet Databases From Off-Campus

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