Awards

• Winner of Library Journal Best Reference 2009 2009
• Winner of Library Journal Best Reference Source Award 2009
• Winner of Library Journal Best Reference Source Award 2009.

Overview

Cinema has been long associated with France, dating back to 1895, when Louis and Auguste Lumière screened their works, the first public viewing of films anywhere. Early silent pioneers Georges Méliès, Alice Guy Blaché and others followed in the footsteps of the Lumière brothers and the tradition of important filmmaking continued throughout the 20th century and beyond. In Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Philippe Rège identifies every French director who has made at least one feature film since 1895. From undisputed masters to obscure one-timers, nearly 3,000 directors are cited here, including at least 200 filmmakers not mentioned in similar books published in France. Each director's entry contains a brief biographical summary, including dates and places of birth and death; information on the individual's education and professional training; and other pertinent details, such as real names (when the filmmaker uses a pseudonym). The entries also provide complete filmographies, including credits for feature films, shorts, documentaries, and television work. Some of the most important names in the history of film can be found in this encyclopedia, from masters of the Golden Age—Jean Renoir and René Clair—to French New Wave artists such as François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard.

Full Product Details

9780810861374

Table of Contents

Reviews

The breadth and depth of this work is apparent after comparing Rege with the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), arguably the most comprehensive English-language filmography on the Web. For example, Rege's entry on Jean Bacque lists 58 films (mostly shorts), whereas IMDB lists 7 (as of February 2010). * American Reference Books Annual, May 2010 * Wide-ranging in scope and exhaustive in detail, this would be a solid addition to any film or performing-arts collection. * Booklist, June 2010 * Rege-a freelance writer and film historian as well as the author or coauthor of five other books, e.g., biographies of Klaus Kinski and Johnny Depp-has written a comprehensive encyclopedia of French film directors, featuring major film directors from the silent era to 2008 and approximately 200 directors not previously included in other books on French film. Some of the entries include Jean Renoir, Rene Clair, Francois Truffaut, and Jean-Luc Godard. Each entry has brief biographical information about the director with date of birth and death, education and professional training, and a filmography. Any film or television production completed before December 31, 2008, is listed in the filmography. The author admits he did not include directors of porn movies because it was not possible for him to develop an accurate filmography of their works. The majority of the directors here are French born, but there are also those who are foreign born but created significant parts of their work in France. The second volume ends with a bibliography and name and title indexes. BOTTOM LINE: This two-volume encyclopedia would be a nice addition to an academic library, especially any school with a film studies program. * Library Journal, April 2010 * Author Rege's aim was to identify every French director who had made at least one feature film during the first century of cinema (1895-2005), and the result is a bull's-eye: a comprehensive catalogue of nearly 3,000 directors born in France as well as many others whose work was based there or who spent a significant amount of time living there. All manner of filmmakers are represented, including early film pioneers such as Louis Lumiere and George Melies, avant-garde auteurs, documentarians, and contemporary directors. Rege's wide lens takes in a panorama of film history starring Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard, Louis Malle, Roman Polanski, Jean Renoir, Alain Resnais, Eric Rohmer, Francois Truffaut, Agnes Varda, and many, many more. Entries are arranged alphabetically and have brief biographies and complete filmographies that include television works and short films. There are no pictures of the subjects who worked behind rather than in front of the camera. Alternate titles are provided when the films listed are coproductions of two or more countries, and in the case of films released in the U.S. or the UK, the American and/or English titles are included. These are the kinds of details that make film research easier, as do the name and title indexes, which make up half of the second volume. Wide-ranging in scope and exhaustive in detail, this would be a solid addition to any film or performing-arts collection. * Booklist, June 2010 * Its layout is excellent.... An essential work for film schools and other institutions running courses that include European and world cinema. * Reference Reviews * Despite the enormous amount of data included, its layout is excellent. A good-sized font has been utilised, which makes for clarity of reading.... It is certainly an essential work for film schools and other institutions running courses that include European and world cinema. * Reference Reviews *

The breadth and depth of this work is apparent after comparing Rege with the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), arguably the most comprehensive English-language filmography on the Web. For example, Rege's entry on Jean Bacque lists 58 films (mostly shorts), whereas IMDB lists 7 (as of February 2010). American Reference Books Annual, May 2010 Wide-ranging in scope and exhaustive in detail, this would be a solid addition to any film or performing-arts collection. Booklist, June 2010 Rege-a freelance writer and film historian as well as the author or coauthor of five other books, e.g., biographies of Klaus Kinski and Johnny Depp-has written a comprehensive encyclopedia of French film directors, featuring major film directors from the silent era to 2008 and approximately 200 directors not previously included in other books on French film. Some of the entries include Jean Renoir, Rene Clair, Francois Truffaut, and Jean-Luc Godard. Each entry has brief biographical information about the director with date of birth and death, education and professional training, and a filmography. Any film or television production completed before December 31, 2008, is listed in the filmography. The author admits he did not include directors of porn movies because it was not possible for him to develop an accurate filmography of their works. The majority of the directors here are French born, but there are also those who are foreign born but created significant parts of their work in France. The second volume ends with a bibliography and name and title indexes. BOTTOM LINE: This two-volume encyclopedia would be a nice addition to an academic library, especially any school with a film studies program. Library Journal, April 2010 Author Rege,s aim was to identify every French director who had made at least one feature film during the first century of cinema (1895-2005), and the result is a bull,s-eye: a comprehensive catalogue of nearly 3,000 directors born in France as well as many others whose work was based there or who spent a significant amount of time living there. All manner of filmmakers are represented, including early film pioneers such as Louis Lumiere and George Melies, avant-garde auteurs, documentarians, and contemporary directors. Rege,s wide lens takes in a panorama of film history starring Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard, Louis Malle, Roman Polanski, Jean Renoir, Alain Resnais, Eric Rohmer, Francois Truffaut, Agnes Varda, and many, many more. Entries are arranged alphabetically and have brief biographies and complete filmographies that include television works and short films. There are no pictures of the subjects who worked behind rather than in front of the camera. Alternate titles are provided when the films listed are coproductions of two or more countries, and in the case of films released in the U.S. or the UK, the American and/or English titles are included. These are the kinds of details that make film research easier, as do the name and title indexes, which make up half of the second volume. Wide-ranging in scope and exhaustive in detail, this would be a solid addition to any film or performing-arts collection. Booklist, June 2010 Its layout is excellent... An essential work for film schools and other institutions running courses that include European and world cinema. Reference Reviews Despite the enormous amount of data included, its layout is excellent. A good-sized font has been utilised, which makes for clarity of reading... It is certainly an essential work for film schools and other institutions running courses that include European and world cinema. Reference Reviews

The breadth and depth of this work is apparent after comparing Rege with the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), arguably the most comprehensive English-language filmography on the Web. For example, Rege's entry on Jean Bacque lists 58 films (mostly shorts), whereas IMDB lists 7 (as of February 2010). American Reference Books Annual, May 2010 Wide-ranging in scope and exhaustive in detail, this would be a solid addition to any film or performing-arts collection. Booklist, June 2010 Rege-a freelance writer and film historian as well as the author or coauthor of five other books, e.g., biographies of Klaus Kinski and Johnny Depp-has written a comprehensive encyclopedia of French film directors, featuring major film directors from the silent era to 2008 and approximately 200 directors not previously included in other books on French film. Some of the entries include Jean Renoir, Rene Clair, Francois Truffaut, and Jean-Luc Godard. Each entry has brief biographical information about the director with date of birth and death, education and professional training, and a filmography. Any film or television production completed before December 31, 2008, is listed in the filmography. The author admits he did not include directors of porn movies because it was not possible for him to develop an accurate filmography of their works. The majority of the directors here are French born, but there are also those who are foreign born but created significant parts of their work in France. The second volume ends with a bibliography and name and title indexes. BOTTOM LINE: This two-volume encyclopedia would be a nice addition to an academic library, especially any school with a film studies program. Library Journal, April 2010 Author Rege's aim was to identify every French director who had made at least one feature film during the first century of cinema (1895-2005), and the result is a bull's-eye: a comprehensive catalogue of nearly 3,000 directors born in France as well as many others whose work was based there or who spent a significant amount of time living there. All manner of filmmakers are represented, including early film pioneers such as Louis Lumiere and George Melies, avant-garde auteurs, documentarians, and contemporary directors. Rege's wide lens takes in a panorama of film history starring Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard, Louis Malle, Roman Polanski, Jean Renoir, Alain Resnais, Eric Rohmer, Francois Truffaut, Agnes Varda, and many, many more. Entries are arranged alphabetically and have brief biographies and complete filmographies that include television works and short films. There are no pictures of the subjects who worked behind rather than in front of the camera. Alternate titles are provided when the films listed are coproductions of two or more countries, and in the case of films released in the U.S. or the UK, the American and/or English titles are included. These are the kinds of details that make film research easier, as do the name and title indexes, which make up half of the second volume. Wide-ranging in scope and exhaustive in detail, this would be a solid addition to any film or performing-arts collection. Booklist, June 2010 Its layout is excellent... An essential work for film schools and other institutions running courses that include European and world cinema. Reference Reviews Despite the enormous amount of data included, its layout is excellent. A good-sized font has been utilised, which makes for clarity of reading... It is certainly an essential work for film schools and other institutions running courses that include European and world cinema. Reference Reviews

The breadth and depth of this work is apparent after comparing Rege with the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), arguably the most comprehensive English-language filmography on the Web. For example, Rege's entry on Jean Bacque lists 58 films (mostly shorts), whereas IMDB lists 7 (as of February 2010). American Reference Books Annual, May 2010 Wide-ranging in scope and exhaustive in detail, this would be a solid addition to any film or performing-arts collection. Booklist, June 2010 Rege--a freelance writer and film historian as well as the author or coauthor of five other books, e.g., biographies of Klaus Kinski and Johnny Depp--has written a comprehensive encyclopedia of French film directors, featuring major film directors from the silent era to 2008 and approximately 200 directors not previously included in other books on French film. Some of the entries include Jean Renoir, Rene Clair, Francois Truffaut, and Jean-Luc Godard. Each entry has brief biographical information about the director with date of birth and death, education and professional training, and a filmography. Any film or television production completed before December 31, 2008, is listed in the filmography. The author admits he did not include directors of porn movies because it was not possible for him to develop an accurate filmography of their works. The majority of the directors here are French born, but there are also those who are foreign born but created significant parts of their work in France. The second volume ends with a bibliography and name and title indexes. BOTTOM LINE: This two-volume encyclopedia would be a nice addition to an academic library, especially any school with a film studies program. Library Journal, April 2010 Author Rege's aim was to identify every French director who had made at least one feature film during the first century of cinema (1895--2005), and the result is a bull's-eye: a comprehensive catalogue of nearly 3,000 directors born in France as well as many others whose work was based there or who spent a significant amount of time living there. All manner of filmmakers are represented, including early film pioneers such as Louis Lumiere and George Melies, avant-garde auteurs, documentarians, and contemporary directors. Rege's wide lens takes in a panorama of film history starring Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard, Louis Malle, Roman Polanski, Jean Renoir, Alain Resnais, Eric Rohmer, Francois Truffaut, Agnes Varda, and many, many more. Entries are arranged alphabetically and have brief biographies and complete filmographies that include television works and short films. There are no pictures of the subjects who worked behind rather than in front of the camera. Alternate titles are provided when the films listed are coproductions of two or more countries, and in the case of films released in the U.S. or the UK, the American and/or English titles are included. These are the kinds of details that make film research easier, as do the name and title indexes, which make up half of the second volume. Wide-ranging in scope and exhaustive in detail, this would be a solid addition to any film or performing-arts collection. Booklist, June 2010 Its layout is excellent!. An essential work for film schools and other institutions running courses that include European and world cinema. Reference Reviews Despite the enormous amount of data included, its layout is excellent. A good-sized font has been utilised, which makes for clarity of reading... It is certainly an essential work for film schools and other institutions running courses that include European and world cinema. Reference Reviews

Author Information

Philippe Rège is a freelance writer and film historian, who has contributed to many French and Spanish movie magazines. He is the author or coauthor of five other books, including biographies of Klaus Kinski and Johnny Depp.

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