Film History: Finding Reviews

This resource guide provides you with resources available through the Dulaney-Browne Library for the study of and research about film reviews. For additional assistance, contact Christina Wolf, your Film Librarian at 405-208-5919 or [email protected].

Decide what type of review you would like to find: mainstream? specialized? scholarly?

In order to find reviews about a specific film, you will need to consult indexes, available both in paper and electronically in databases.

New York Times Index - use this index (ask at the circulation desk for access) to find reviews published in the New York Times newspaper.

Art Index - use this index (ask at the circulation desk for access) to find reviews published in Sight & Sound, Cinema Journal, or Camera Obscura.

Readers Guide to Periodical Literature - Use this index (ask at the circulation desk for access) to find reviews published in popular magazines, newspapers, and specialized magazines such as Variety.

Film Review Index - Use this reference book (found on the Reference Shelves, first floor, 016.7914375 F487h) to find indexed reviews from 1882-1985

Search the following databases to find online reviews. Be sure to limit the Source Type to "Reviews" (left hand side of result screen).

Finding reviews online for pre-1930's releases can be challenging. Use the paper indexes to find the article information and order the review using our Interlibrary Loan service. The following links will take you to full-text periodicals available online for free. Search these sites for pre-1930 film reviews.