Chambers Film Factfinder is a collection of useful and often fascinating information on many aspects of film, from the early days of silent cinema to the twenty-first century. With wide-ranging coverage and an international scope, it has something to interest everyone from casual film fans to dedicated enthusiasts.

Information is presented in five major sections: People in Film; Film Categories and Genres; Film-Producing Countries; 100 Notable Films; and Film Reference. Carefully researched factual information is combined with a measure of critical analysis, ensuring that each section can entertain as well as inform. Biographies of actors and directors offer suggested career ?highs? and ?lows?; genre and country sections give brief factual histories, alongside lists of key people and films; and the selection of notable films is designed to provoke interest and discussion, rather than representing a ?best-of? list. The reference section includes essential facts, figures and definitions, as well as varied and highly readable lists on such subjects as censored films, memorable dance numbers and notorious commercial flops. Throughout the book, ?fact boxes? provide intriguing snippets of film trivia, bringing added appeal to the text.

Within each section, sub-sections are clearly labelled, while cross-references help to make the reader aware of connections between entries. Further guidance is provided by the detailed contents pages at the front of the book, and by the index of film titles at the back.

Film lovers of all ages, whether seeking reliable facts or simply browsing, will find Chambers Film Factfinder an entertaining and thought-provoking read as well as an accessible reference tool.

NOTE

Throughout the book, foreign films are referred to initially by the title deemed to be most familiar to English-speaking audiences. In some cases, this means that a film's original (non-English) title is given first, followed by its English title:

La Regle du jeu (The Rules of the Game)

In other cases, the order may be reversed:

Raise the Red Lantern (Da hong deng long gao gao gua)

In some sections, where space is limited, only one version of a title may be given.

The list of ?100 American films? is copyright the American Film Institute, reproduced with permission.

The list of ?100 British films? is copyright the British Film Institute, reproduced with permission.

The ?Sight & Sound Top Ten poll? results copyright Sight & Sound magazine (published by the British Film Institute), reproduced with permission.