A Shot in the Dark: Researching Film Noir …or, walking the bibliographic mean streets

A Shot in the Dark: Researching Film Noir Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library

A Shot in the Dark ReviewsReviews (journals, newspapers) CriticalCritical Articles (journals) BooksBooks WebWeb Sites

A Shot in the Dark Books Scholarly/authoritativeScholarly/authoritative works PopPop schlock and fan works How Do You Tell em’ apart?

A Shot in the Dark Author’s credentials/affiliationsAuthor’s credentials/affiliations Publisher (e.g. BFI, AFI, University Presses vs pop press)Publisher (e.g. BFI, AFI, University Presses vs pop press) Scholarly apparatus and sources: notes, bibliographies, other documentationScholarly apparatus and sources: notes, bibliographies, other documentation

A Shot in the Dark REVIEWS CurrentCurrent HistoricalHistorical PopularPopular & fan journals and newspapers FilmFilm studies & scholarly journals WebWeb sites FanFan sites CommercialCommercial sites ScholarlyScholarly sites

A Shot in the Dark…Critical/Scholarly Articles CurrentCurrent HistoricalHistorical FilmFilm studies & scholarly journals PopularPopular & fan journals and newspapers (only occasionally) WebWeb sites (even (even less occasionally…except for academic and commercial databases)

A Shot in the Dark... Books Use Pathfinder, Pathfinder,Pathfinder, Baby...

A Shot in the Dark... Reviews: Historical Use: ReadersReaders Guide NYNY Times Index (or NYT Film Reviews ) (in MRC) FilmFilm Review Index, (in MRC) Index International (British Film Institute) (CDROM in Main/Moffitt Only)

A Shot in the Dark... Reviews: Current Use: MagazineMagazine Magazine Index (MELVYL) NewsNews News Index (MELVYL) ProQuestProQuest (Library Web; some full-text) Lexis/NexisLexis/Nexis (Library Web; some full-text) MovieMovie Review Query Engine (web: full-text) FilmFilm Review Annual

A Shot in the Dark... Reviews: Scholarly/Critical Use: Magazine Index (CDL)Magazine Index (CDL)CDL Modern Language Assn. (MLA) Bibliography (CDL)Modern Language Assn. (MLA) Bibliography (CDL) Film Index International (CD- ROM)Film Index International (CD- ROM) Film Literature Index (Media Center)Film Literature Index (Media Center) America: History & Life (Library Web)America: History & Life (Library Web) Periodicals Content Index (PCI) (Library Web)Periodicals Content Index (PCI) (Library Web)

A Shot in the Dark... Once You Find a Citation, How Do You Find the Article? …don’t be a sap, sweetheart, use Pathfinder Pathfinder …to look up which library owns the journal

A Shot in the Dark... Credits and Other Production Information AFI Index ()AFI Index (afi.chadwyck.com) BFI Index (Film Index International) (CD- ROM)BFI Index (Film Index International) (CD- ROM) Internet Movie Database (user-supplied info) (web: Movie Database (user-supplied info) (web:

A Shot in the Dark MediaMedia Resources Center Website MRCMRC Holding BibliographiesBibliographies ListingListing of Critical Resources

Questions…? Gary Handman