(This is NOT a picture of a Library, but my new friend named Sir Rabbit Melmac 1999 (don't ask!!!) really wanted to be on this page.)
Here are the beginnings of a list of movies with libraries in them. It makes no attempt to be definitive, and should be expected to grow and grow. Feel free to send additions or corrections to Wayne Gloege, the author,
at mallard@u.washington.edu. All participants are welcome!
(Thanks to T.S. of Victoria for several useful additions). It has been attempted to provide links to reviews or other web sites. Special
mention should be made here of Tom Goodfellow's master's thesis, "The Depiction of American Public Libraries in Film," which can be found on the Web
at www.angelfire.com/oz/tomgoodfellow/LibrariesinFilm.htm.
ADDAMS FAMILY, 1991, has a swell library with a pivoting section, and also swords and instruments of torture.
BATMAN, 1989, features a sumptuous library in Bruce Wayne's mansion.
BATMAN BEGINS, 2005, has a lovely library in Bruce Wayne's mansion, including a secret passage to the bat cave. Unfortunately, the whole place burns up!
BISHOP'S WIFE, 1947, much of which is set in the Bishop's study or library.
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, 1961, in which Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard visit the New York Public Library to see and autograph the book he has written.
CASINO ROYALE, 2006, we see Judi Dench as M in a magnificent library office.
CATWOMAN, 2004, with scenes set in the delightful home library of Catwoman's mentor.
CLEOPATRA, 1963, with Taylor, Burton, and Harrison, includes a scene where Cleopatra notes that Caesar has burned the library at Alexandria.
DAY AFTER TOMORROW, 2004, where New York City ice storm survivors preserve themselves by burning books, in what must be the New York Public Library. They DO feel guilty about this.
DESK SET, 1957, with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy (newspaper librarian fears she and her staff will be supplanted by a computer. Wonderful Christmastime movie with Hepburn/Tracy magic!)
DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE, 1995, (When the police are detailing personnel to search New York City public schools for the gigantic bomb, all public employees, including the "g... d..... librarians, are detailed to work).
DINOTOPIA, 2002 (Miniseries, Zippo the Dinosaur presides over a sumptuous library of scrolls in Waterfall City)
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, 2000, (with a gorgeous library operated by and for the Mages)
FOUL PLAY, 1978, with Goldie Hawn (featuring a stalking and exciting chase through Hawn's place of employment--a San Francisco Library. Other later scenes include her good buddy at work, and help from a reference librarian.)
GAUDY NIGHT, 1987, based on the super book by Dorothy Sayers (the women's college's library is vandalized)
GHOSTBUSTERS, 1984, with Bill Murray (major "ghostbusting" sequence involves a library haunting, with most memorable card catalog drawers).
GOLDENEYE, 1995, with Pierce Brosnan (featuring James Bond in Saint Petersburg and another collapsing library (compare "The Mummy" below))
GONE WITH THE WIND, 1939, (where Butler overhears Scarlet make an embarrassing confession to Ashley)
GOOD NEWS, 1947, with June Allyson as an assistant Librarian (though she is only a student). The library is interesting; there are no call numbers on the books. Ms. Allyson reshelves books at random. They sing and dance in the Library--perhaps a good idea.
GOSFORD PARK, 2001 (A lovely home library is the scene of the crime!)
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, 2005, (the Hogwarts Library is particularly attractive, with a new marvel, self-shelving books!)
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, 2009, (the books shelve them selves at the Hogwarts Library)
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, 2001, (Harry and his chums do research in the Library at Hogwarts. Very atmospheric and lots of fun!)
HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY, 2008, (We see the paranormal society's library, where it is important to find the right blue-bound book)
HIGH SOCIETY, 1956 (Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby Sing about "Have You Heard" in a wonderful private library)
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL 2008, (Indiana and his son ride through his University's Library on a motorcycle)
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, 1989, with Sean Connery and Harrison Ford (part of the hunt for the Holy Grail involves a trek through a sumptuous Venetian Library, where "X" indeed may mark the spot! includes a very funny book-stamping confusion!)
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, 1946, with Donna Reed playing a Librarian (in the alternate-universe Pottersville version of life, Reed has never married and is a very mousy librarian)
JUMANJI, 1995, with Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt, includes a wonderful library in a mansion, which is at one point destroyed by stampeding Rhinoceroses and Elephants
LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN (with a real [and gorgeous] Czech library and a huge library set built for the move [the latter of which is pretty well trashed] this film qualifies twice).
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS 2004, (we catch glimpses of the Baudelaire home library before the fire)
LIBRARIAN--CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE, 2008, (again visit the magnificent library)
LIBRARIAN--QUEST FOR THE SPEAR, 2004 (Such a library, full of such mythic objects as the Holy Grail and the Arc of the Covenant--the basis of a fun action/adventure romp)
LIBRARIAN--RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES 2006 (return to magnificent library, with new adventures)
MALXOLM X, 1992, with dramatic scenes in a prison library
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, 1997, Jim Williams has a nice home library, which also serves as the scene of the crime
MR. MOTO IN DANGER ISLAND, 1939, Mr. Moto visits a Puerto Rican Library and encounters an eccentric librarian
THE MUMMY, 1999, with Brendan Fraser (includes a delightful shelving disaster and a fine quote from librarian Rachel Weisz--"I'm PROUD to be a librarian!")
THE MUMMY: THE TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR, 2008 (In early scenes, we see the O'Connell home library, a very nice room)
THE MUSIC MAN, 1962, with Shirley Jones playing a Librarian (not set IN a library, but major character IS a librarian)
THE NAME OF THE ROSE, 1986, with Sean Connery (set in a medieval monastery with a library which combines elements of Escher, Borges, and Piranesi. Wonderful visual elements here, with thrilling Library scenes.)
NATIONAL TREASURE (1), 2004, wherein the heroes do research on the National Archives in the Library of Congress
NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS, 2007, wheren the heroes penetrate the Library of Congress to find the Presidents' Book of Secrets
NINTH GATE, 1999, with Johnny Depp, involves visits to some sumptuous home libraries
NORTH BY NORTHWEST, 1959, Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint (several scenes are set in the Townsend private library, quite a nice room indeed)
PAGEMASTER, 1994, with Macaulay Culkin (most action set in a very lively animated library, with books as central characters Adventure, Fantasy, and Horror. Demonstrates some of the values of reading in exciting manner)
THE PAPER CHASE, 1973, with John Houseman (the law students' foray into the library archives for Kingsfield's writings is memorable and pivotal.)
PARTY GIRL, 1995, where an irresponsible party girl finds self worth through becoming a library clerk and mastering the Dewey Decimal system
PHILADELPHIA, 1993, with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington (includes a scene set in a Library where Washington comes to terms with Hanks disease; includes a gauche library employee who seems eager to hide Hanks problems from the world.)
PHILADELPHIA STORY, 1940, includes the lovely home library in the Lord mansion
PRIMARY COLORS, 1998, with John Travolta and Emma Thompson (early in the film, presidential candidate visits an adult literacy program set in a modest but pleasant library.)
QUEEN OF THE DAMNED, 2002, Features a fine library in the Talamasca mother house, and Jessica Reeves is referred to as a "clever librarian"
SCARLET PIMPERNEL, 1934, featuring Leslie Howard (includes lovely 18th-Century libraries both in the Baron's home and in that of the Prince of Wales)
SHANGHAI KNIGHTS, 2003, with Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson (involves a violent fight in the private library of an English manor house, with books and shelves and bodies flying everywhere.)
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, 1994, featuring considerable plot involving building a prison library. Said to be a must see for librarians
SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, 1978, in which Lex Luthor's subterranean home includes a gorgeous home library
TARZAN, Disney, 1999, Animated Feature (Collapsing library stacks, like those in THE MUMMY above)
THE TIME MACHINE, 2002, Featuring the New York Public Library in the future, then in the VERY distant future. A holographic sort of Information Specialist volunteers information, then sings hits from the Lloyd Weber musical of "The Time Machine." In the ultra-distant future, books have crumbled into dust but the holograph lingers on.
TOMCATS, 2001, by all accounts a miserable show! (features bondage with stuffed animals performed by domanitrix librarian)
WATER HORSE, 2007, includes a marvelous home library on a Scottish estate where the young hero researches his strange critter friend
WHISPER OF THE HEART, 1995, Shizuku is the daughter of a Librarian, and spends much of her time in libraries, and loves books
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