Film & Television

There is a wide variety of material available on television and film. This subject guide focuses on books, databases and websites which cover a broad range of movies, programs, and the people associated with them. Particular attention has been given to classic films and TV shows.

Databases

• Biography Resource Center

  You can search by name for TV and movie personalities and industry moguls. This database contains biographical sketches and links to magazine articles as well.

• ProQuest Newspapers

  Here you can find full text articles on film and television from major newspapers. 

  

Catalog Links

• Encyclopedia of Television
  

  The Encyclopedia of Television, second edtion is the first major reference work to provide description, history, analysis, and information on more than 1100 subjects related to television in its international context. 

  
  
  
• Film Noir FAQ
  

  Film Noir FAQ celebrates and reappraises some 200 noir thrillers representing 20 years of Hollywood's Golden Age.  Film Noir FAQ brings lively attention to story, mood, themes, and technical detail, plus behind-the-scenes stories of the production of individual films. Featuring numerous stills and posters many never before read more >>
  
  

  Film Noir FAQ celebrates and reappraises some 200 noir thrillers representing 20 years of Hollywood's Golden Age.  Film Noir FAQ brings lively attention to story, mood, themes, and technical detail, plus behind-the-scenes stories of the production of individual films. Featuring numerous stills and posters many never before published in book form highlighting key moments of great noir movies. Film Noir FAQ serves up insights into many of the most popular and revered names in Hollywood history, including noir's greatest stars, supporting players, directors, writers, and cinematographers.

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• Film-ol-o-gy: A Movie-a-Day Guide to a Complete Film Education
  

  Film critic Chris Barsanti gives you the most entertaining crash course in good film in a book--one movie a day.  Pairing cinema's lesser-seen gems alongside blockbusters, great early works from the pioneers of film alongside often-overlooked films from great directors, Barsant read more >>
  
  

  Film critic Chris Barsanti gives you the most entertaining crash course in good film in a book--one movie a day.  Pairing cinema's lesser-seen gems alongside blockbusters, great early works from the pioneers of film alongside often-overlooked films from great directors, Barsanti unveils the movies that all true cineastes must see--for everyone's viewing pleasure. Filmology : So you can watch your way to an education in film!

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• Leonard Maltin's 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen
  

  What 151 movies have you never seen--but should? 

  
  
  
• Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion
  

  Brought to you by the ultimate authority on Our Television Heritage -- here is the definitive entertaining reference to some of TV's enduring classics. With a flip of the page, the inside scoop on America's favorite TV sitcoms is at your fingertips. Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion offers capsule descriptions of every episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Love Luc read more >>
  
  

  Brought to you by the ultimate authority on Our Television Heritage -- here is the definitive entertaining reference to some of TV's enduring classics. With a flip of the page, the inside scoop on America's favorite TV sitcoms is at your fingertips. Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion offers capsule descriptions of every episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Love Lucy, Bewitched, The Bob Newhart Show, I Dream of Jeannie, The Munsters, Taxi, and Welcome Back, Kotter. Featured are such vital nuggets as: Classic guest stars: cameos by famous actors Classic quotes: TV's classic catchphrases and unforgettable one-liners Awards and critical comments Plus, the answers to all the important questions, such as: Did Lassie really appear on an episode of Taxi? Why did Lucy's fight in the chocolate factory look so real? Which episode of Welcome Back, Kotter was written by Garry Shandling? Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion is the most delightful way to explore the hidden secrets of your favorite series and a book you'll want to keep as handy as your remote control.

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• Television's Second Golden Age
  
  Thompson (coauthor of Prime Time, Prime Movers) argues that TV's so-called Golden Age of the 1950s does not equal television of the '80s and early '90s. He gives a short history of every decade and shows how government and social climate affected the programs aired, as for example under the Kennedy administration, networks were scrutinized by the FCC. He believes the renaissance of the '80s began  read more >>
  
  
  Thompson (coauthor of Prime Time, Prime Movers) argues that TV's so-called Golden Age of the 1950s does not equal television of the '80s and early '90s. He gives a short history of every decade and shows how government and social climate affected the programs aired, as for example under the Kennedy administration, networks were scrutinized by the FCC. He believes the renaissance of the '80s began when NBC was "stuck in third place and fresh out of ideas [and that] critical acclaim might be their quickest way to commercial success." When Grant Tinker became NBC president in 1981, he made a commitment to produce good shows from Mary Tyler Moore Enterprises (which he had led) that would radically change TV. Under his aegis, Hill Street Blues was first to emphasize writing and character. Its success was followed with St. Elsewhere ("Hill Street Blues in a hospital"). Thompson also takes an intimate look at Cagney and Lacey; the rise and fall of Moonlighting; and thirtysomething, a show about "yuppie angst." He explains as well how a program could have a success without getting a major audience share. Informative and insightful, this book takes the convincing stance that TV's good old days are really today. Photos not seen by PW. Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc. (Publisher Weekly Review) (show less )
  
  
• The Literary Filmography: 6,200 Adaptations of Books, Short Stories and Other Nondramatic Works
  

  A guide to English-language works that have been adapted as theatrical and television films, this volume includes books (both fiction and non-fiction), short stories, newspaper and magazine articles and poems. Entries are arranged alphabetically by literary title with cross-listings for films made under different titles. Each entry includes the original work's title, author, year of first publ read more >>
  
  

  A guide to English-language works that have been adapted as theatrical and television films, this volume includes books (both fiction and non-fiction), short stories, newspaper and magazine articles and poems. Entries are arranged alphabetically by literary title with cross-listings for films made under different titles. Each entry includes the original work's title, author, year of first publication, literary prizes, and a brief plot summary. Information on film adaptation(s) of the work, including adaptation titles, director, screenwriter, principal cast and the names of the characters they portray, major awards, and availability in the most common formats (DVD, VHS), is also offered. The book is published as a set of two volumes. Replacement volumes can be obtained individually under ISBN 0-7864-2503-2 (for Volume 1) and ISBN 0-7864-2504-0 (for Volume 2).

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• The Rock & Roll Film Encyclopedia
  
  The latest by Muir, author of numerous works on popular film, is a witty, riff-filled romp through rock- and popular music-related films, people, and genre conventions in post-1956 American and British cinema. Along with summaries of seminal rock films (both fictional and documentary), the book includes a category of entries on key rock/cinema figures (e.g., Elvis, Alice Cooper, Prince) and an idi read more >>
  
  
  The latest by Muir, author of numerous works on popular film, is a witty, riff-filled romp through rock- and popular music-related films, people, and genre conventions in post-1956 American and British cinema. Along with summaries of seminal rock films (both fictional and documentary), the book includes a category of entries on key rock/cinema figures (e.g., Elvis, Alice Cooper, Prince) and an idiosyncratic though entertaining category entitled "Genre Conventions" (e.g., "Fictional Bands," "Destruction of Property," "The Guitar"). The entire book is unabashedly (and quite refreshingly) subjective and unstructured, allowing the author to display his deep knowledge and affection for the subject. In the end, however, it is really only the author's personality and ability to make connections between the various entries that hold the book together. As such, readers will find it less useful as a true reference resource than as an enjoyable cover-to-cover read. Bottom Line As a reference work, greater order certainly could have been brought to bear on the text; the organizational categories are superficial and not uniformly applied, and there is no index of artists/performers/directors, no time line to supply context, and not even a standard table of contents. Then again, imposing order on this text may also have squeezed the life out of it—something it is currently not lacking.—Michael M. Brewer, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (show less )
  
  
• The Women Who Made Television Funny
  

  Tucker celebrates the female stars of 1950s sitcoms. Each of ten chapters profiles a particular actress, focusing primarily on her television career while noting her achievements in other areas. Coverage includes such stars as Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy), Gracie Allen (The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show), Ann Jeffreys (Topper), and Betty White (Life With Elizabeth). Cast and crew lists are f read more >>
  
  

  Tucker celebrates the female stars of 1950s sitcoms. Each of ten chapters profiles a particular actress, focusing primarily on her television career while noting her achievements in other areas. Coverage includes such stars as Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy), Gracie Allen (The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show), Ann Jeffreys (Topper), and Betty White (Life With Elizabeth). Cast and crew lists are found in the appendix, along with a chronology. Tucker is a freelance writer and library administrator. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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• VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever
  

  Reviews movies that are available on DVD or tape. Each entry includes title, alternate title, one-to four-bone rating, year released, MPAA rating, brief review, length, format, country of origin, cast, technical personnel, awards and made-for-television/cable/video designations.

  
  
  

Web Links

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards the Oscars.   Their site includes a listing of Oscar winners and nominees, and more about the history and legacy of film. 

• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

  The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awards the Emmy.   Their site includes a listing of Emmy  winners and nominees, and more about the history and legacy of television.

• Atlanta Film Festival

  Atlanta Film Festival 365 is a non-profit  with a mission to lead the community in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image.  They host year round programs, such as screenings, discussions, workshops and other educational activities, for the community and industry professionals.

• Film and TV Production in Georgia

  This site, hosted by the State of Georgia, presents information about filming in the states, as well as links to the Georgia Film and TV Sourcebook and listings of TV shows and films that feature Georgia. 

• Films for the Humanities and Sciences

  "As the leading provider of media for higher education, Films for the Humanities & Sciences creates and distributes world-class academic content for discerning educators. Films for the Humanities & Sciences is widely recognized as having the broadest and deepest range of content available."

• Indiewire

  This site focuses on independent films and filmmakers.  It presents articles, reviews, interviews, links, discussion boards, and a daily newsletter.

• Internet Movie Database

  This site advertises itself as the "biggest, best and most award winning movie and TV site on the planet." You can search for movies, TV shows, actors, and read reviews posted by fans.

• Metacritic

  Metacritic collects and aggregrates critics reviews, as well as user reviews, for movies and television shows.

• Motion Picture and Television Reading Room

  The Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division (MBRS) of the Library of Congress collects, catalogs and preserves motion pictures and television collections. The Division operates the Motion Picture and Television Reading Room to provide access and information services to film and television professionals, archivists, scholars and researchers.

• Motion Picture Association

  The Motion Picture Association website includes information on ratings system for both movies and television, press releases, and legislation.

• The Golden Years

  This is another great site for classic movie fans. It contains information and images for directors, American, British and French actors and actresses, award and film lists, and poster and musicals links.

• Turner Classic Movies

  The website for this popular cable television station offers scheduling for current and upcoming programs, movie news, and a book corner feature.

• TV Guide

  This site includes TV listings, movie listings, photos, video, TV news, and discussion lists.