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Film Studies: Find Films to View

Whether you are a film student looking for research materials or just want to sit back and enjoy a classic movie, this guide will help direct you to resources to make your search easier.

The complete DVD collection at Meyer, which includes both feature films and the documentary/educational DVDs, is located in the NE corner of the Lower Level (near the microforms collection). You will need to check these out at the main level Information desk.

We have a small collection of VHS tapes in storage. If you would like to check out one of those (the call number would be N followed by a three or four digit number), please ask for assistance at the Circulation/Information desk. 

Two viewing stations for VHS and DVD are available for your use on the west side of the second level, towards Glass Hall. These have 27" flat screens.

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Animations

PINOCCHIO (2022)

2022 Academy Award - Best Animated Feature

Enjoy the Criterion edition of director Guillermo del Toro's take on the classic morality fable, using Fascist Italy as the backdrop. The stop-motion animation is stunning!

International Films

THE RED BALLOON / LE BALLON ROUGE (1956)

1957 Academy Award - Best Original Screenplay

Newly restored and available on DVD for the first time, this 34-minute film by Albert Lamorisse remains one of the most beloved children's films of all time. In this deceptively simple, nearly wordless tale, a young boy discovers a stray balloon that seems to have a mind of its own.

Performing Arts

STEVIE WONDER: SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE (1999)

Take a deep dive into Stevie Wonder's iconic Songs in the Key of Life album from 1976. Interviews with Wonder and the musicians and technicians involved revisit many now-classic songs like "I Wish," "Sir Duke," and "Isn't She Lovely" (which includes a vocal appearance by Wonder's then-infant daughter, Aisha). 

Feature Films

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1966)

Directed by Jonathan Miller, this is a very adult (think "Victorian") take on the 1865 story by Lewis Carroll. The cast includes Peter Sellers (the March Hare), Sir John Gielgud (the Mock Turtle), Peter Cook (the Mad Hatter), and Dudley Moore (the Dormouse). Ravi Shankar provides the soundtrack on the sitar.

Performing Arts

FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES (2022)

2023 Grammy Award - Best Opera Recording

Terence Blanchard, whose credits include the soundtracks to Malcolm X (1992) and BlacKkKlansman (2018), made history when this became the first opera by a Black composer to be presented by the Metropolitan Opera Company (beating out Scott Joplin's Treemonisha from 1910, William Grant Still's Blue Steel from 1934, Ulysses Kay's Frederick Douglas from 1985, and many others).

Feature Films

The AFI Top 100

To celebrate one hundred years of American filmmaking history, the American Film Institute created a list of its "Top 100" American films. We are proud to include all of these films as a part of our video collection.

Educational and Documentary Films

B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

D, E, F - History

G - Geography, Anthropology, Recreation

  • G - Geography
  • GR - Folklore
  • GV - Sports & Recreation
  • GV1580 - Dance Productions

H - Social Sciences

J - Political Science

K - Law

L - Education

M - Music

  • M1500 - Opera and Musical Theatre Productions

N - Fine Arts

  • NA - Architecture

P - Language and Literature

  • PN1992.77 - Television Series
  • PN1995.75 - Silent Films
  • PN1995.9.S53 - Short Films
  • PN1997.5 - Animated Films
  • PN1997.9 - International Films

Q - Mathematics/Science

R - Medicine

S - Agriculture

T - Technology

  • TR - Photography

U - Military Science

Z - Books and Libraries

Streaming Video

LIBRARY DATABASES

  • Academic Video Online
    • This ProQuest/Alexander Street collection features over 70,000 films across a broad selection of disciplines. All titles are indexed and discoverable by using our "Discover@MSU" search box.
  • Films on Demand
    • Access over 35,000 highly interdisciplinary videos! Direct links to available films are provided through our "Discover@MSU" search box.
  • Films on Demand: Archival & Newsreels
    • Throughout modern history, cameras have recorded public events, wars, cultural phenomena, and government programs. This collection is a treasure trove of archival and historical films from multiple sources.
  • Ambrose Video
    • Includes over 500 streaming video programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and physical/life sciences. The videos typically range in length from 25-60 minutes. A number of re-mastered series are available, including: Bronowskia's Ascent of Man; Attenborough's The Living Planet; James Burke's Connections; History of Civil Rights in America; History of the U.S. Constitution; History of Western Art; and the entire BBC Shakespeare series.
  • Naxos Video Library
    • Over 2500 full-length videos of music performances, opera, ballet, master classes, and documentaries.
  • ICE Video Library
    • Provides 175 media clips geared for occupational and physical therapy programs.

OTHER ONLINE SOURCES