Welcome!
A quick search of resources in this field of study can be done in the Cast-A-Net box to the right. Otherwise, select from the tabs above.
If you need any type of assistance, do not hesitate to get in touch with the librarian liaison.
Cast-A-Net Combined Search
simultaneously searches these databases
· Academic Search Premier
· Film Index International
· Film Literature Index
· Film and Television Literature Index
· MLA International Bibliography
« Hide List
Advanced Search
Library Catalogs
Subject/Word Searching
A useful subject heading in the library catalog is Motion Pictures. You will notice that this subject heading is broken down into subcategories and that there are over 200 related subject headings. If you do not wish to browse the headings, do a word search on your topic and follow the subject heading links at the bottom of relevant records to find additional, useful resources.
Videos
Once you do a search in the library catalog, click on limit/sort at the top of the page. Under material type, choose videorecording.
Journals
To see a partial list of journals having to do with film studies that the library subscribes to, do a subject search on motion pictures and click on limit/sort at the top of the page. Limit to where the item is located by choosing Main Periodical.
Browsing the Collection
There are two primary areas in the Library of Congress Classification system where books on film can be found.
Many titles, including those having to do with foreign films, are shelved in the circulating stacks and therefore, not mentioned in this guide. The shelves can be browsed electronically by clicking on a relevant item's call number. Use Next Page and Previous Page to see what is shelved close to the relevant item.
Bowdoin College Library Catalog
Books, videos, government documents, etc. in Bowdoin's library.
NExpress
A combined catalog containing the library holdings of Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Wellesley,
Williams, Middlebury, and Northeastern. Requests take 2-3 days.
MaineCat
Includes the holdings of most Maine libraries. Requests take 2-5 days
WorldCat
A combined database of many library catalogs worldwide. Request items found in WorldCat through our Interlibrary Loan service.
A quick search of resources for this field of study can be done in the Cast-A-Net box below on the right. Otherwise, select one of the individual databases below on the left.
Core Databases
- Art Abstracts [about]
Art Abstracts
Coverage Dates: 1984 - Present
Format: Online
A bibliographic database that cites articles from more than 285 periodicals published throughout the world. Covers art, art history, graphic arts, crafts, landscape, interior design, etc.
« Hide Description - Arts and Humanities Citation Index [about]
Arts and Humanities Citation Index
Coverage Dates: 1980 - Present
Format: Online
includes list of cited references
« Hide Description - Film Index International [about]
Film Index International
Coverage Dates: 1900 - Present
Format: Online
"Film Index International is a filmography that gives fully international coverage of around 118,000 films and 685,000 film personalities from over 170 countries. Its rich content also includes coverage of international film awards and prizes as well as searchable plot summaries and full cast and crew lists."
« Hide Description - Film Literature Index (Print) [about]
Film Literature Index (Print)
Coverage Dates: 1973 - Present
Format: Print
« Hide Description - Film Literature Index [about]
Film Literature Index
Coverage Dates: 1976 - 2001
Format: Online
" The Film Literature Index (FLI) annually indexes 150 film and television periodicals from 30 countries cover-to-cover and 200 other periodicals selectively for articles on film and television. The periodicals range from the scholarly to the popular."
« Hide Description - Film Review Annual [about]
Film Review Annual
Coverage Dates: 1981 - Present
Format: Print
« Hide Description - Film and Television Literature Index [about]
Film and Television Literature Index
Coverage Dates: Varies - Present
Format: Online
A comprehensive bibliographic and full-text database covering the entire spectrum of television and film. Subject coverage includes film & television theory, preservation & restoration, writing, production, cinematography, technical aspects, and reviews.
« Hide Description - International Index to Film Periodica... [about]
International Index to Film Periodicals
Coverage Dates: 1974 - Present
Format: Print
« Hide Description - MLA International Bibliography [about]
MLA International Bibliography
Coverage Dates: 1888 - Present
Format: Online
Coverage includes journal articles series, monographs, dissertations, bibliographies, proceedings and other materials.
« Hide Description - New Film Index [about]
New Film Index
Coverage Dates: 1930 - 1970
Format: Print
« Hide Description
Cast-A-Net Combined Search
simultaneously searches these databases
· Academic Search Premier
· Film Index International
· Film Literature Index
· Film and Television Literature Index
· MLA International Bibliography
« Hide List
Advanced Search
Reference Sources
Reviews/Analysis
Film review annual
Englewood, NJ : J.S. Ozer, c1982-
Main Ref PN1993.3 .F5
Selected reviews from U.S. newspapers and journals for American and foreign films.
The Motion picture guide : ... annual ..
Chicago [etc.] : CineBooks, Inc.,[etc.] 1987-
Main Ref PN1995 .M672
International in scope, this work provides a synopsis and analysis for each film.
A guide to critical reviews / by James M. Salem
Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, c1984-
Main Ref Z5781 .S16 1984 pt.1
The three volumes subtitled Screenplay, list references to critical reviews.
Magill's survey of cinema, foreign language films / edited by Frank N. Magill
Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Salem Press, c1985
Main Ref PN1993.45 .M34 1985
This eight volume set covers approximately 700 films. Each entry includes a synopsis and analysis.
Film review index / edited by Patricia King Hanson, Stephen L. Hanson
Phoenix, Ariz. : Oryx Press, 1986-1987
Main Ref Z5784.M9 F513 1986 v.1,2
Lists reviews published in magazines and newspapers for films released between 1882 and 1985.
Encyclopedias/Dictionaries/Catalogs
Critical dictionary of film and television theory
London ; New York : Routledge, 2001
Main Ref; PN1993.45 .C75 2001
The new historical dictionary of the American film industry / Anthony Slide
Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, 1998
Main Ref PN1993.5.U6 S539 1998
Less emphasis on individuals and more on film production companies and technique.
The film encyclopedia / Ephraim Katz
New York, NY : HarperPerennial, c1998
Main Ref PN1993.45 .K34 1998
Bills itself as "the most comprehensive encyclopedia of world cinema in a single volume." Find biographical information on actors, directors, screenwriters and producers. Film related terms are defined.
Encyclopedia of European cinema / edited by Ginette Vincendeau
New York, NY : Facts on File, c1995
Main Ref PN1993.5.E8 E53 1995
People, history, genre and traditions of cinema by country are covered.
Films by genre : 775 categories, styles, trends, and movements defined, with a filmography for each / by Daniel Lopez
Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., c1993
Main Ref PN1998 .L63 1993
The new film index; a bibliography of magazine articles in English, 1930-1970, by Richard Dyer MacCann and Edward S. Perry. With special editorial assistance by Mikki Moisio
New York, Dutton, 1975
Main Ref Z5784.M9 M29 1975
West German cinema since 1945 : a reference handbook / by Richard C. Helt and Marie E. Helt
Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1987
Main Ref PN1993.5.G3 H435 1987
For each film there is a synopsis, names of principle contributors, running time and year it was released.
Ethnicity/Women in Film
Within our gates : ethnicity in American feature films, 1911-1960 / Alan Gevinson, editor
Berkeley : University of California Press, c1997
Main Ref PN1995.9.M56 W58 1997
Covers every known American film that has some tie, either behind or in front of the camera, to ethnicity. Listed alphabetically, the entries include plot summaries, principle actors and directors. An ethnic category index and a foreign language index facilitate access.
Frame by frame II : a filmography of the African American image, 1978-1994 / Phyllis R. Klotman and Gloria J. Gibson
Bloomington : Indiana University Press, c1997
Main Ref PN1995.9.N4 K58 1997
Lists films and some television features that have African Americans either behind or in front of the camera. Includes a synopsis and list of principle contributors to each film.
A Guide to Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino made film and video / edited by Karen Ranucci and Julie Feldman
Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, 1998
Main Ref PN1995.9.L37 G85 1998
Organized by country, each entry includes strengths and weaknesses of the movie and a suggested reading list. Many short films and documentaries are included.
The Holocaust film sourcebook
Main Ref; PN1995.9.H53 2004 v. 1. Fiction -- v. 2. Documentary and propaganda
Women film directors : an international bio-critical dictionary / Gwendolyn Audrey Foster
Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1995
Main Ref PN1998.2 .F67 1995
Women of color : a filmography of minority and Third World women / Maryann Oshana
New York : Garland Pub., 1984
Main Ref Z5784.M9 O84 1984
Women writers : from page to screen / Jill Robinson Fenton ... [et al.]
New York : Garland Pub., 1990
Main Ref PN1997.85 .W58 1990
Over 2200 English language feature films and television movies inspired by women's writings are represented.
Spanish Cinema
Diccionario Espasa cine español Augusto M. Torres; prólogo de Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón
Madrid : Espasa, 1999
Main Ref PN1993.5.S7 T67 1999
Provides a chronological overview listing important events and films from 1896 to the present.
Enciclopedia del cine español : cronología Pascual Cebollada, Luis Rubio Gil
Barcelona : Ediciones del Serbal, 1996
Main Ref PN1993.5.S7 C43 1996
This two volume set provides a chronological overview of Spanish cinema including listings of important events and films.
Enciclopedia del cine español [interactive multimedia]
[Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales] ; Alfonso López Yepes... [et al.]
Madrid : Micronet, [1996?]
Media Ctr CD-ROM PN1993.5.S7 E54
Cinemedia [interactive multimedia] : enciclopedia del cine españolCanal+, Sociedad General de Autores y Editores
[Spain] : Canal+, c1997
Media Ctr CD-ROM PN1993.5.S7 C58
Blood cinema [interactive multimedia]: the reconstruction of national identity in Spain Marsha Kinder [Los Angeles, Calif.] : Cine Discs, c1994
Media Ctr CDROM PN1993.5.S7 B5 1994
Compilations of Reviews
Web Sites
The Web Sites contain reviews, biographical information, original essays and links to schools and organizations.
ScreenSite
http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite/contents.htm
The categories include education, research and film/TV production. Among the resources available are course materials, bibliographies, essays, contact information and links to discussion groups.
All-Movie Guide
http://allmovie.com
Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com/
Click on "external reviews" in the left column to find reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes
http://www.rottentomatoes.com
More useful for recent movies.
History on/and/in Film
http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/hfilm/contenth1.html
Contains conference papers and scholarly essays on a range of film history topics.
Movie Review Query Engine
http://www.mrqe.com/lookup?
Search for movie reviews on many WWW sites and from rec.arts.movies.review from this site.