My favorite movies are the old black and white crime films. There was little if any special effects and it always amazes me to see "life" during the days prior and when I was a kid portrayed. They did not need to curse back then (at least not on screen) and not every six shot revolver shot 25 or 30 bullets without reloading, cars did not crash into a building and explode and so many impossible things just did not happen!
The one I love most is The Third Man, filmed in post-war Vienna. It's so atmospheric and would not have been the same if it wasn't black and white. The famous scene chase where Orson Welles tries to hide in the deep shadows of a doorway is so memorable and mujch more thrilling than any special effects scene could be.
Hi Ruth! Yes it was a great film! Even the old Hitchcock films in black and white had a special feel to them that was more natural than a lot of the color ones. A more recent one (1995) was a Johnny Depp black and white called "Dead Man" It was fantastic!
My all time favourite film is "Goodbye Mr Chips" - 1939. Watched it a hundred times and always tears me up. The remake was OK, and quite close to the original, but just didn't carry the same feeling. I think the black and white actually adds to the experience. Also love the old b&w gangster flicks - can't beat Cagney, Bogart, Robinson etc.
I'm not that crazy about black and white films, but I do agree with you that there is way too much violence, sex and adult language in today's movies, and books for that matter. I've actually gotten to where I actively look for more "family friendly" movies and TV shows. I think when the producers and directors stop trying to figure out ways to kill people or show sex scenes, they're actually able to focus more on the plot and story lines - they're able to develop the characters and put more thought into the message they're trying to convey. The movies/TV shows are then more thought-provoking and original.
Although I have certainly seen some black and white films that I enjoyed, I avoid them whenever possible. We didn't go out to movies when I was a kid (a church thing) and I don't have fond memories of class black and white films from television, perhaps because we didn't have television until I was in high school, the reception was awful, and it seemed that everything was either a Western or a musical.
Given a choice; I do much prefer colored films, just because I like to see things in colors that make it look more real. Now, as far as the actual movie itself goes; I think that there are some totally awesome movies that were made back in the days when black and white were the way movies were made. Some of the older ones are probably enhanced by the fact that they are black and white; but for the most part, I would have preferred all of them to be in technicolor. One of my greatest favorites of movies was (and is) Jane Eyre, with Orson Welles. I have read the book several times over, and watched both the old original move and at least one of the newer versions. Even though the newer one is in color; I still prefer the original one better, just because I think that it was done truer to the book, and I also really like Orson Welles.
Dоublе Іndеmnіtу (1944). Ісоnіс сrіmе nоіr frоm Віllу Wіldеr. Yоu hаvе gоrgеоus В&W сіnеmаtоgrарhу... vеnеtіаn blіnds shоwіng uр thе соntrаst еvеrуwhеrе, lоts оf shаdоwу sсеnеs wіth smаll рооls оf lіght. Yоu hаvе а sсrірt јust sраrklіng wіth dуnаmіtе dіаlоguе. Іt's sоmеwhаt stуlіzеd, but іf уоu'rе іntо hаrd-bоіlеd dеtесtіvе nоvеls оf thе 30's аnd 40's іt'll bе musіс tо уоur еаrs (nо surрrіsе, sіnсе Јаmеs М Саіn wrоtе thе оrіgіnаl stоrу аnd Rауmоnd Сhаndlеr hеlреd со-wrіtе thе sсrірt wіth Wіldеr). Yоu'vе gоt а grеаt саst, wіth Frеd МасМurrау dеfіnіtеlу gоіng аgаіnst tуре frоm hіs usuаl nісе guу асt, Ваrbаrа Ѕtаnwусk аs thе fеmmе fаtаlе whо lеаds hіm аstrау, аnd Еdwаrd G Rоbіnsоn dоggеdlу оn thеіr tаіls. Аnd уоu'vе gоt а рlоt thаt's sіmрlе іn thе lаrgе, but stіll sеrvеd uр sо nісеlу wіth grеаt mоmеnts оf susреnsе аnd trеасhеrу.
Hi Edward! That is definitely a classic! I believe there was a colorized version some time ago but it did not even compare!
I have to share this story from around 1964. On our local channel, they used to show black and white movies every morning (weekdays) from around 10:00 a.m. until noon. They would have a daily segment in the show called 'Dialing for Dollars'. I was an avid viewer of this during the summer months, with the exception of when I worked with a group of people to harvest our neighbor's crop. I believe it was on a Wednesday morning (I found out from friends who were watching that day), our phone number was chosen for dialing the $630.00 grand prize! If I had been home and had called, that would have been more than I made all summer and then some! I have recovered from this loss, but all sympathy will be happily received!
My husband has a similar story - when he was 10 or 12, he entered a contest on the Captain Tugg show (in Washington, DC) to win a bright, shiny new bike. They pulled the slip and said his first name then tried to pronounce his last name (which was a very unusual one), got flustered when he couldn't pronounce it, then proceeded to set it aside and draw another name. He still mourns the loss and rails at the injustice in this world!!
I am not really into the old black and white movies. I do like Double Jeopardy both the orginal and the remake. I don't think I have a favorite black and white movie. Casablanca was on last night, I like it but it was time to go to sleep. If there is a black and white that I would like at again it would be a Hitchock thriller.
I think that the best black and white films are the old horrors. I think that they are far way more scary than those typical horrors that come out nowadays. Here are some of my favourites and that have been rated highly: -Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920) -The Shining (1980) -Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) -Rosemary's Baby (1968) -Jacob's Ladder (1990) -The Exorcist (1973) Those are really good horror movies, I recommend any horror lovers to check them six out.