Film Encyclopedia [Paperback]

Ephraim Katz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 1982

A completely revised and udpated edition of the classic film reference which has sold nearly 150,000 copies in its previous editions.

Ephraim Katz's The Film Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive one–volume encyclopedia on film and is considered the undisputed Bible of the movie industry. With up–to–date additions, this fifth edition features more than 7,000 A–Z entries on the artistic, technical, and commercial aspects of moviemaking, including:

– Directors, producers, stars, screenwriters, and cinematographers

– Styles, genres, and schools of filmmaking

– Motion picture studios and film centers

– Film–related organizations and events

– Industry jargon and technical terms

– Inventions, inventors, and equipment

– Plus, an index of Academy Award winning films and artists, top grossing films, and much more.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is the basic reference guide to the international cinema. Put it next to your TV and VCR and you'll be able to answer the questions that inevitably arise when you watch a movie: "What other films has she been in?"; "Haven't I heard that director's name before?"; and "What in tarnation is a gaffer?" The Film Encyclopedia contains biographies and filmographies of actors, directors, producers, and cinematographers, as well as screenwriters, editors, musical directors, production designers, and critics. You can look up films by nationality and find a history of a given country's contribution to the art. Technical data is also indexed, so you can read not only about film stock and the apparatus of the camera, but also about the duties of the gaffer, the key grip, and the best boy. The book's introduction states that Ephraim Katz, who died in 1992, set out to write "the most comprehensive one-volume encyclopedia of world cinema ever published in the English language." The Film Encyclopedia contains more information than any other single-volume film reference and is also the best written movie guide of its kind. Because most of the entries were written by Katz himself, reading this book is like talking to a witty and learned film historian who has devoted his life to understanding--and loving--the cinema. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

For the last 15 years, the first edition of this title has served as a dependable source of brief film biographies, definitions of terms, explanations of technical film processes, and more. This second edition continues to provide the same comprehensive coverage, now increased by about 18 percent. Its claim to being an encyclopedia of world cinema is well founded, as there are entries for Zakes Mokae (South Africa), Pedro Almod{¢}ovar (Spain), Hector Babenco (Brazil), Zhang Yimou (China), Daniel Auteuil (France), and Juzo Itami (Japan), along with Ed Harris and Julia Roberts. As in the first edition, there are no entries for individual film titles. Filmographies are included for major actors and directors, and the biographical sketches include not only those two job titles but also composers, producers, screenwriters, art directors, cinematographers, etc. Of particular interest are the overviews of the film industry in individual countries, which provide the names of notable actors and directors and the titles of their films. Coverage of the U.S. film scene is up-to-date, biographical entries are provided for the likes of Linda Hamilton, Kirstie Alley, Sean Young, Tim Robbins, Debbie Allen, and Kyle MacLachlan. Indeed, the biographical entries are the mainstay of this work, which notes even 1993 and 1994 deaths of film notables.

Katz, author of the first edition, lived only long enough to complete about three-fourths of this new one. Those who followed him have fulfilled his original aim to produce "the most comprehensive one-volume encyclopedia of world cinema ever published in the English language." This is one instance where the content is accurately depicted by the cover blurb. Recommended for any reference collection in need of a world view of film. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1266 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (April 23, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399506012
• ISBN-13: 978-0399506017
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,715,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It is NOT a FILM encyclopedia, January 18, 2002

By 

Michael J Riezenman (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Film Encyclopedia, 4th Edition: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume (Paperback)

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The single best book of its kind, ever!, September 4, 2001

By 

Charlotte Vale-Allen (CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Film Encyclopedia, 4th Edition: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume (Paperback)

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.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Hollywood people guides ever -, January 29, 2005

By 

Peter J. Smith "Pjay" (Clifton, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Film Encyclopedia, 4th Edition: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume (Paperback)

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