Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia

Movies in American History edited by Philip C. DiMare, a three‐volume encyclopedia, documents the cultural history of American film. The information it contains is divided into three major sections: Films (by title); People (actors, directors, producers, and editors); and Subjects (such as The Documentary, Feminist Film Criticism, and Cinema Verité). This work, which checks in at over 1,200 pages in the print version and has a list price of $280, has many strengths.

The most notable of these is the introduction by DiMare. DiMare's essay is scholarly, well‐researched, and well‐written; it provides the reader with a concise yet exhaustive history...