The Motion Picture Guide

Publication history

The Motion Picture Guide was first published in 1985 through Cinebooks. From 1992 through 1997, it was also published in CD-ROM format. This data was later incorporated into Microsoft Cinemania. The Motion Picture Guide series was discontinued after the 1999 Annual edition.

Reception

The American Library Association cited it as an Outstanding Reference Source for 1985. Writing in the Los Angeles Times, Charles Champlin called the 1986 edition "the film fan reference book to end all reference books". Dan Greenberg, in Film Quarterly, criticized the 1987 volume's positive reviews, saying that reviewers had overlooked poor research and errors in favor of its marketing, which highlighted its scope. Howard H. Prouty, in the Journal of Film and Video, wrote that the 1987 edition fails to live up to its hype as an authoritative source, instead synthesizing data from common secondary sources and ending up with contradictory information.

Emma Webster of Variety called the 1995 CD-ROM version "a valuable tool for film buffs, students and industry people", criticizing its lack of comprehensiveness but praising its depth. Also reviewing the 1995 CD-ROM, Peter M. Nichols of The New York Times highlighted its depth compared to competing discs from Blockbuster and Video Hound. However, he said it lacks their features.

References

References

1. "Managing Performing Arts Collections in Academic and Public Libraries". [[Greenwood Press]].
2. Monaco, James. (2000). "How to Read a Film". [[Oxford University Press]].
3. Galloway, Doug. (2000-03-26). "Stanley Ralph Ross". [[Variety (magazine).
4. "Outstanding Reference Sources of 1985". [[Reference and User Services Quarterly]].
5. Champlin, Charles. (1986-08-24). "Nonfiction: ''The Motion Picture Guide'' by Jay Robert Nash, Stanley Ralph Ross and Robert B. Connelly (Cinebooks/Bowker; 12 volumes, $750; 4,400 pp.).". [[Los Angeles Times]].
6. Greenberg, Dan. "Books: ''The Motion Picture Guide''". [[Film Quarterly]].
7. Prouty, Howard H.. "Review: ''The Motion Picture Guide''". [[Journal of Film and Video]].
8. Webster, Emma. (1995-03-12). "Review: ''The Motion Picture Guide''". [[Variety (magazine).
9. Nichols, Peter M.. (1995-07-21). "Home Video". [[The New York Times]].