Australian Feature Films is “a comprehensive database of 1,158 Australian feature films completed in the first 100 years of Australian cinema”. The database contains a range of information on each title as well as stills and movie excerpts. This unique database only contains films that were accepted as Australian under provisions administered by the Australian Film Commission and the Australian Film Finance Corporation. An eclectic approach was adopted in determining the films for inclusion. The Australian Feature Films CD illustrates the role that films have played in Australian cultural life.
The installation of the CD‐ROM software was a simple, user‐friendly, one‐step process. The software is designed to run on a 640 × 480 screen resolution. Since no notice of this setting appears, a user might leave their screen at another default setting, thereby making the Australian Feature Films screen appear mis‐sized.
The first screen of Australian Feature Films provides the following navigational buttons: The Print button allows you to print film data, pictures, or essay sections currently being displayed. The Copy button will copy the film data or essay currently displayed to the Windows clipboard. The Back button will trace your actions back one step at a time. The Help button takes you to a separate interactive help screen. The Exit button closes the Australian Feature Films CD. The Search button provides a search capabilities for any title, producer, director, etc. The Overview button takes you to the main menu site.
There are pop‐ups and hyperlinks throughout the Australian Feature Films maintaining an interactive approach. Even in the essays, there are hyperlinks that take you to a similar topic or footnote.
The main menu of Australian Feature Films provides access to the following topics: Introduction, Film Titles, Essays, National Film and Sound Archive, and Bibliography. Once in the film title screen, the main navigational buttons remain. Movies can be viewed by the following subjects: Title, Director, Producer, Cast, and Stills & Clips. In this screen, which is the main content area, the scroll bar cuts off the titles and dates of the movies when clicking on the Title or Stills & Clips menu. Unfortunately, the menu screen cannot be resized.
Search features
The search engine allows word searches in each of the following categories: Entire Database, Film Details, Current Topic Only, and Essays. The Options button allows a search within a specific number of words. The Hint button provides a quick tutorial of how to search the database effectively. Basic search queries supported include: Searching by Phrase, Using operators to create combination phrases, and Using parentheses to group complex phrases.
The only feature I found missing was a Back option. If you want to start a new search or change the current one, you must go back to a main screen, click on the search button, and enter the information again. This is a very easy‐to‐use search engine, allowing simple searches within categories as well as the entire database. Unfortunately you cannot print the search results. However, the search results remain in their own text box, so you can refer to them as a reference.
Help features
The help button brings up a new screen that isn’t set to the 640 × 480‐default size, therefore covering your entire desktop if you have alternate settings. Once resized, it can fit next to the main menu, allowing you to use help simultaneously with the CD. This help is an excellent feature. There are many things I liked about its format. The help is presented in a tutorial fashion, emulating the actual screens of the CD. The interactivity is created through mouse‐overs that produce text boxes. It also offers a technical help telephone number for more detailed troubleshooting.
The Australian Feature Films database includes: Australian narrative dramas of any duration up to the First World War; Australian narrative dramas of 4,000ft or more from this time until the end of the silent era; and Australian narrative dramas of 60 minutes or more for all sound films. “Feature films made for theatrical or video release as well as those made for initial broadcast on television, whether shot in 16mm, 35mm and/or video, are included. Feature length documentaries, experimental films and television broadcasts of plays are excluded”.
Each feature film includes (where available) the following information:
Director;
Producer;
Production company;
Credits;
Cast;
Synopsis;
Awards;
Year of release;
Genre;
Rating;
Running time;
Distributor;
Whether educational kits or study guides have been produced and where they can be obtained; and
Notes.
In addition to the reference information, the database provides 25 video excerpts from a selection of films across the 100 years of production.
There is great depth to this CD, as evidenced by the essays by Ina Bertrand, William D. Routt, Felicity Collins, Tom O’Regan, and John Slavin. These essays offer a textual analysis of key feature films. “A series of commentaries provide an overview of the role of film in our broader social and cultural life. A bibliography of sources for the study of Australian cinema is also included”.
The broad overview and insight of Australian Feature Films present a unique view of Australian culture. This CD has been compiled as a resource for movie lovers, educators, historical researchers and students. I appreciated the narrow scope of this CD. The focus on Australian film and culture provided the opportunity to include comprehensive and detailed information. This is an excellent source of Australian culture from 1895 through the present, presented from an Australian point of view. The history represented in this CD helps to reveal the evolution of films and their impact on and role in Australian culture. I highly recommend Australian Feature Films as a valuable source that portrays the unique role film has played in shaping the life and culture of Australian society.
