The introduction to the first edition of Ephraim Katz's The Film Encyclopedia begins with the words, "This work is a one-man project." That Katz could single-handedly accomplish such a monumental work, probably the best single movie reference book around, was amazing in the pre-electronic-revolution year of 1979. Because Katz died in 1992, this third edition cannot, by definition, be a one-man project, but Fred Klein and Ronald Dean Nolen's revised and updated version is still a great—if flawed—tool, the best aspects of which still stem from Katz's original creation. The new edition mostly lives up to its "encyclopedia" tag, complete with technical terms, biographical entries, and extensive essays on the output of individual studios and nations. For example, the entries for "deep focus" and teen idol Sandra Dee can be found on the same page, not far from a short piece on Danish cinema, as well as entries for John Derek, Caleb Deschanel, and Donald Duck. There are limits, however, to The Film Encyclopedia's comprehensiveness. Though its filmographies contain listings through 1997, a quick glance shows that things could be more up to date. Vic Damone is represented, but Matt Damon is not; Alec, Stephen, and William Baldwin all are here, but Daniel is absent. If Bernardo Bertolucci is willing to go to the trouble of bringing deathbound French superstar Jean Marais out of retirement for Stealing Beauty, this guide ought to give him credit for the effort, while Tanya Roberts' performances in National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins and Night Eyes should probably be mentioned as well. Klein and Nolen's decision to place "a little less stress on private lives" robs the biographical material of some of its flavor: That Sydney Greenstreet once tried to make his fortune as a tea planter in Ceylon before becoming an actor is considerably more interesting than the Patricia Arquette entry, which does little beyond piling fawning adjective atop fawning adjective. Still, warts and all—and it's not like Katz's editions were flawless—The Film Encyclopedia is an indispensable reference tool for movie fans.