Photo from USA Today Introduction and Scope Key to Locations LC Subject Headings Browsing Areas Frequently Mentioned Works Encyclopedias and Dictionaries Bibliographies Abstracts and Indexes Journals Film Reviews Biographical Sources Works of Scholarship and Criticism Interviews Works by Woody Allen WWW Resources This pathfinder and webpage was created by Christine Stachowicz, Graduate Student in Library Science, in conjunction with coursework in the School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Please send comments or questions to:  stacc@ils.unc.edu. Created December, 2000 Last updated June 29, 2002 All links were active as of that date.

Print Version Woody Allen: A Research Pathfinder Encyclopedias and Dictionaries These sources are excellent starting points for film study in general and Woody Allen in particular. International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. 3rd ed. 4 vols. Detroit: St. James Press, 1997. UL Ref. PN1997.8 .I58 1997 The four volumes of this impressive work deal with Films, Directors, Actors and Actresses, and Writers and Production Artists, respectively, and are "intended to represent the wide range of interests within North American, British, and European film scholarship and criticism." The entries for individuals include "a brief biography, a complete filmography, a selected bibliography of works on and by the entrant, and an expository essay by a specialist in the field." The entries in the films volume include "production information, lists of casts and crew, a selected bibliography of works about the film, and an essay by a specialist in the field" (Editor's Notes). This well illustrated and quite readable series is a tremendous source of information and a valuable starting point for any researcher. Woody Allen information: Three of Woody Allen's films are covered in the first volume, and he is the subject of entries in both the Directors volume and Actors and Actresses volume. There is little overlap between the lengthy bibliographies accompanying each entry, and the essays which follow are insightful and well-written. Langman, Larry. Encyclopedia of American Film Comedy. N.Y.: Garland Publishing, 1987. Davis Ref. PN1995.9 .C55 L34 1987 Combining discussions of comedy genres, themes, characters, and notable writers and performers, this work attempts to "summarize the major trends in the history of American film comedy, and to study their influences on contemporary comedy." It also critiques approximately 150 films which "uniquely exemplify America's social values at the time of their release while defining the American sense of humor" (Preface). Woody Allen information: Woody Allen is well represented in this work. His two-page biographical entry charts the comic themes of his films through the 1987 Radio Days. Nine of his films are analyzed as separate entries. Katz, Ephraim. The Film Encyclopedia. 3rd ed., revised by Fred Klein and Ronald Dean Nolen. N.Y.: HarperPerennial, 1998. Davis Ref., UL Ref. PN1993.45 .K34 1998 "This ranks near the top of all one-volume encyclopedias for its breadth and accuracy. Instead of entries for films, however, Katz emphasizes biographical material (directors, producers, screenwriters, cinematographers, art directors, composers, film editors, and performers) and topical material (foreign cinema, techniques, events, and organizations). Biographical entries include credits, even for television films" (On the Screen, p. 11). Its fairly comprehensive nature, especially with respect to the American filmmakers, makes this a worthwhile source for an overview of the film industry. Woody Allen information: The full-page Woody Allen entry describes his background in comedy as well as the progression of his films through the 1992 Shadows and Fog, and includes a complete filmography through 1996. Beaver, Frank E. Dictionary of Film Terms: The Aesthetic Companion to Film Analysis. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1994. Davis Ref. TR847 .B43 1994 A useful companion to any study of film is a dictionary of terms relating to concepts that might be encountered in film criticism and scholarly treatments of a filmmaker's work. A small volume, this particular work defines approximately six hundred terms relating to "the techniques, concepts, genres, and styles that have evolved as a part of cinematic expression and analysis" (Preface), and as such would be useful to the beginning researcher. It incorporates good use of film stills and photographs to illustrate many terms. Cross-references are provided, and the "Term and Film Title Index" facilitates access to named persons whose work is cited in the definitions. Woody Allen information: Woody Allen's work is specifically cited as an example in seven definitions.