Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises: a memory cell array 11; and a control circuit 16 that controls a voltage applied to the memory cell array 11. The memory cell array 11 includes: a plurality of word lines WL and bit lines BL that intersect each other; and a memory cell MC disposed at each of intersections of these word lines WL and bit lines BL. The memory cell MC includes a variable resistance element VR and a non-ohmic element NO. The variable resistance element VR is formed by a hafnium oxide crystalline film of monoclinic crystal in which a proportion of a component oriented in a (?1, 1, 1) plane and a (1, 1, 1) plane is 90% or more. This hafnium oxide crystalline film can be manufactured by a film-forming process by atomic layer deposition, employing an inorganic type hafnium precursor.