Customer Reviews

The Film Encyclopedia 5e: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A word of warning to the public. This is a mistitled book. It is NOT a film encyclopedia. You cannot look up specific films. Basically, it is a collection of brief biographies of people in the movie business with some unnecessary technical terms thrown in. At the end of each entry is a list of the films in which the subject has appeared.
Fine as far as it goes, but if you want reference work in which you can look up who played the role of Bubba in Le plus Vieux MŽtier du Monde, this is not it.

Since its original publication, I have used this book both as a movie lover and as a writer. As a movie lover, it's a never-failing source of obscure information. Can't remember the name of the movie, and only remember its star? You'll find the answer here. Want to know what a grip does? Looking to discover how many films were made by Howard Hawks or Howard Hughes? What's a dolly? What's a key light? The answers to some of the most obscure questions about moviemaking reside in this brilliant compilation of facts about films and the people who make them--everyone from the best boy to the stars. As a research resource, it's invaluable. To satisfy that nagging question about some film you saw with James Cagney, get the Film Encyclopedia. Next to the Cinebooks Library, this is the single most important book to own. Nothing before it and nothing after it will ever contain a similar wealth of information. This is a must-have volume.

Some of the people who have rated this low do not understand the book's mission. This is a book of biographies of most all important Hollywood movers and shakers. It is sorted by the last name of the person, not by film. So put this next the LM's movie guide (sorted by film) and you have the ultimate cross reference set.

Bios are well written and relevent. Details of minor roles are included that are missed in many other books. Inludes actors, directors, writers and a number of other significant people.

One of the best features of this book is its historical nature, that it does not throw flash in the pan actors like Leo and JLo in until they show some legs. Once a star is truly established, they are added. I like this a lot in that it keeps the clutter out.

P

Well, maybe not. Unless there was cable TV, a DVD player, and a local video store. But still, this is the best reference on the market when it comes to cast/crew biography. The listing is exhaustive of directors, actors, writers, producers, and others who made important milestones when it comes to film. Included are film terms. It's true that this is not a film encyclopedia, actually, but there are those on the market already. So if the argument here is about the "title" of this guide, get a life already. Maybe you feel you got took...but, by far, you have not. This is the best desk reference of its kind. Believe me. I'm a film producer, writer, and cinematographer. But, above all, I'm a critic and this book is the one guide I would NEVER do without. A good compliment would be, as one reviewer mentioned here, Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide. However, an updated copy of that is released every year late summer-early autumn. So, if it's spring or summer, wait for the next copy. You'll get all the recent films of the last year then. Maltin's guide has details about each film that will be found in no other film guides. Buy it-and buy the Katz guide for sure!

You'll go to look up one name and you'll end up browsing through this mesmerizing book for hours! Lists not only movie stars, but also directors, producers, writers, studios, etc., and movie terms. I like silent films and lesser known films from the early thirties, and I can usually find entries for long-ago forgotten stars within the pages of this venerable volume. Yes, some entries are regrettably small, but you'll never find so much information in one volume anywhere else. Take it from me, a film buff who is also a librarian--this is a reliable, informative, affordable and entertaining reference source.

It's the Film Encyclopedia, not Films. It's about people and processes and explanation of film terms. In those aspects it has no peer. The latest revision is now 4 years old and you may expect a new one fairly soon. But this was not designed tell you about people who are one-hit-wonders. It was designed to tell you about those whose work is worth remembering. We can only hope that Katz' successors will not weaken and include the flavor-of-the-year.

Can't remember who starred with whom in what? If you can remember one, then you can cross-reference for the rest! This book, along with James Pallot's, "The Movie Guide," are all most viewers will need. I have reviewed that book too, and find that they were essential in helping build our own film library. Biographies are complete enough, and film terms and history are included. Want to know all the fims that Busby Berkley coreographed? It's in here. How many Thin Man films were there? It's in here. We have yet to need to know a fact that could not be found in one of these two books.

I own the first two editions of this book, and have also used the third. It is far and away the best book of its kind. While I occasionally wish for more detail regarding a particular person, the book has sufficient depth for its scope. The only real problem I have with the later editions of "The Film Encyclopedia" is that entries on minor actors (contained in the first edition) are missing in the second and third editions. Still, I highly recommend this book.

I purchased the first edition years ago and simply absorbed the book for weeks. I was still referring back to this edition for answers to trivia questions and settling arguments with my two brothers, also true fans of the cinema. The new edition continues Mr. Katz's attention to detail and succinct summaries of technical terms and film genres. It is an indispensable source of film facts and trivia

I have bought every edition of this book, and each edition is dogeared from use. Almost everything you wanted to know about movies, actors, and people behind the scenes is here. Most of the biographies are detailed with either complete filmographies or lists of most notable films. There are few inaccuracies in this book.

Individual movies are not listed, of course, or else this book would run at least two or three times larger. Still, this is one of the best, if not THE best, reference book on film available.