Italian photobusta for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Robert Aldrich, USA 1962)

Questions or comments on this guide? Please contact the Cinema Studies Librarian.

Communications Library

Ricker Library of Architecture and Art

Music and Performing Arts Library

Literatures and Languages Library

Undergraduate Library

This guide provides an overview of commonly cited works on film history, criticism, and theory, and resources for locating and obtaining articles in serial publications and anthologies.

In this guide you will find:

• Quick References: a selection of print and electronic resources providing essential information about films.

• Film Reviews: a selection of resources inclusive of reviews and more in-depth discussions of films.

• Film Theory and Criticism: a bibliography of print resources meant to assist you with learning about various critical,  theoretical, and historical points of view on film, ranging from classic texts to more recent works.
• Film Topics: print and electronic resources based on selected topics including genre studies, star studies, and social issues in film.
• World Cinema: print and electronic resources based on films from various continents.
• Animation: print and electronic resources based on animation studies, including history and theory from around the world.

We also offer guides to research on films of specific countries:

• French Cinema Resources
• German Language TV, Radio and Films
• Italian Film Resources
• Brazilian Film
• Scandinavian Film

Book summaries text is taken from Books in Print.

Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind (VIctor Fleming, USA 1939)

Silent screen icon Lillian Gish (1893-1993)

Finding Films at the UIUC Library

The Undergraduate Library Media Collection houses Blu-Ray, DVD, and VHS copies of films of all types from around the world. The media collection is located on the lower level of the Undergraduate Library (UGL). Materials may be borrowed for up to a week. Self service check-out stations are located next to the entrance to the collection. Alternately, materials may be checked out at the front desk on the upper level. 

To locate specific titles:

1. Use the library catalog's Classic Search and search by subject. For instance, if you were seeking films from Spain, you would use "Feature films -- Spain" or "Motion pictures -- Spain" as your search terms in the "Subject" field.

2. Use the library catalog's  VuFind Advanced Search.  You can narrow your search by simultaneously searching by keyword, title, author, or subject. Then click the box above "film/video" to narrow your search to films.

Kiwako Taichi in Kuroneko (Kaneto Shindô, Japan 1968)