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Films Research Guide
 

This Guide consists of a list of selected resources on film and motion picture materials in Nealley
Library and on the Internet. All of your research--finding books, journals and websites--can be
done from the Nealley Library's homepage available at http://www.sac.edu/library.  Users
can search for books, websites and find periodical articles (i.e., articles in magazines,
journals, and newspapers) from home.

 

New York Times Table of Contents

There are several ways to get Film Reviews from the New York Times. Choose the research
method depending on when your film was released. Newer films will have reviews online and
older films will have reviews on microfilm. SAC owns all of the New York Times on microfilm
(1851-    ). Reader/printers are available in the Microfilm Room. Periodical staff and student
assistants are available to assist readers.

  • New York Times Film Reviews: Located in the Reference Shelves (PN1995 .N4). 
    These books contain reviews for films released between 1913-1980. Check the index
    at the back of the volume for the year your movie was released.

  • New York Times Online: Using National Newspaper Index (ProQuest), access the
    full text New York Times to find reviews from 1999 to the present. Give you the date,
    edition, column name, start page, abstract, as well as full text.

  • New York Times On the Web: Movie Review Archive: Back issues of the Movie Review
     section is archived since 1996 (http://www.nytimes.com/ref/movies/archive_a.html).

  • New York Times Index (Index Table): Sept 1851 – 1999. An annual index to the
    New York Times     covers 1851 to the present (cancelled after 1999). The index is
    published monthly, then quarterly, and finally annually.

  • New York Times Index Online: Index and abstract of the First Published Issue is
    available through Academic Search: 01/01/1989 through present

Finding Internet Resources Table of Contents

These are a few of the many Internet sites available where you can find reviews of films

The following websites will provide additional information on films:

Finding Books Table of Contents

Information about film can be found in several collections, i.e., reference books, periodicals,
and online. Most of the library’s book collection in the areas of film is assigned the call numbers
as listed: PN 1993–1999            Motion Picture

To find books on a person or subject, select "Library Catalog" from the main menu.  Using the
Advanced Search Tab, subject option, enter your subject or person.  For example:

Campbell, Joseph (enter the person's last name first)

nixon richard   
kahlo frida
mozart
civil rights movement
civil war
world war

If you cannot find any books on your topic, select the Keyword Anywhere option and
enter your topic again.

 

Reference Resources Table of Contents

If you do not know your film’s release date, check the following Reference Books:

  • Guide to American cinema, 1965-1995 [REFERENCE SHELVES] PN 1993.5 U6 C87 1998

Film Reviews can be found in these Reference Books:

  • Magill's Survey of Cinema  1st & 2nd series [REFERENCE SHELVES] PN 1995 M3

  • New York Times Film Reviews [Oversize] PN 1995.9 N4

Biographical Resources & Information on Directors, Producers, Screenwriters & Actors:

  • Current biography  [REFERENCE SHELVES] CT 100 C8

  • Filmmaker's dictionary [REFERENCE SHELVES] PN 1993.45 S56 2000

Reference Books on Film Genre:

  • The Encyclopedia of novels into film. 2nd ed. [REFERENCE SHELVES] PN1197.85 T54 2005

Finding Articles in Journals, Magazines, & Newspaper Table of Contents

There are several ways to get Film Reviews from Periodical resources. Choose the research
method depending on when your film was released. To find articles on a particular person,
subject or film, select "Journal and Newspaper Indexes" from the main menu.  These
databases are also available from home. The full text articles will be on the screen in front
of you. You have the option of either printing the articles (10 cents a page), downloading
the articles, or emailing the articles to your email account.

 

The following databases will be useful:  Academic Search and National Newspaper Index (ProQuest). Type in the movie title, and the words "and reviews." 

 

Movie reviews, interviews and news stories about the social aspects of films from newspapers
are available from NewsBank: Orange County Register (1987-present); Los Angeles Times
 (1985-present); USA Today (1988-present).

 

Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. Contains reviews in general magazines. Look under
"Motion picture Reviews-Single works." Available in print only. Covers 1905 - present.

 

Resource Checklist Table of Contents (Last Revision: 11/6/02)

Page URL: http://www.sac.edu/students/library/nealley/pathfinders/film.htm Table of Contents
Web page submitted by Nell Yang

 Copyright 2005, RSCCD Last updated 04/08/2008

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