Jake056 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 291 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1075 times:
I like all kinds of movies, but the old black and white ones seem to hold a special place in my heart. I was recently at the local "mega" video rental store and was once again reminded how little a selection they had. Not to mention the 300 plus cable channels still show the same recycled crap on a seemingly endless loop. Is Sister Act 2 ever NOT showing on cable???? And the 2 cable channels that do offer "older" movies here in the US--TMC & AMC--don't have a lot of depth in their choices.
I think those movies from the 30's, 40's, and 50's were great. Not ALL of them of course!
I feel badly for those who grow up now and will miss some great movies!
Anyone else out there wish there was better access to old movies???
Aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 7588 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1070 times:
Certainly. One of the most brilliant and hilarious movies of all time, "One, Two, Three" by Billy Wilder, would probably lose half of its fascination were it not in b/w.
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
WhiteHatter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1068 times:
Some of the greatest movies of all time were shot in black and white, and some of them could never be done in colour because that would detract from the film as a whole.
So yes, I happily watch black and white movies. Some are timeless. Some are atmospheric, and the B&W is all part of that.
Searpqx From Netherlands, joined Jun 2000, 4343 posts, RR: 23 Reply 3, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1065 times:
Pretty much what everyone has already said, part of the charm and alure of those old movies is the B&W. I can't imagine watching a classic like "The Women" colorized.
"The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity"
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 28959 posts, RR: 66 Reply 4, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1062 times:
Absolutely.
Some recommendations from my personal library-in no particular order
The Seven Samurai
12 Angry Men
Island in the Sky
The house on haunted hill
Sgt. York
Psycho
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Jake056 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 291 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1059 times:
Quoting Searpqx (Reply 3): can't imagine watching a classic like "The Women" colorized.
But then we could see Norma Shearer's "jungle red" nails in color!!
Redngold From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 6907 posts, RR: 53 Reply 6, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1055 times:
There's a local show called "Big Chuck and Lil' John" on Saturday mornings and late night Saturday/early Sunday morning. The hosts are Chuck Schodowski and John Rinaldi and the show specializes in B-quality action and horror movies. Some of the movies are old enough that they are broadcast in black and white.
DL021 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 11372 posts, RR: 88 Reply 8, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1047 times:
Colorizing movies was a terrible idea, for the most part, and took away from the director and cameramans work to provide the shading and textures from black and white films.
I love the older movies, and black and white are part and parcel to them. They had to actually get you excited without the incredible technology available today, and consequently it was more difficult to keep the audiences attention because it was mostly acting.
I'll give an example. "The Best Years of Their Lives" was filmed in B&W and they had to find an actor who really was a double amputee since they couldn't blue screen out his hands, and they did not have CGI to show fleets of bombers in the protagonists head so they simply showed him in an actual surplus cockpit and used a rising orchestral crescendo to give the viewer a clear picture of what the man was thinking and feeling.
B&W films are great as is and don't need colorizing, and I obviously watch them.
Exarmywarrant From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 267 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1042 times:
My daughter gave me a boxed set of Marx Bothers films...hilarious!
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 28959 posts, RR: 66 Reply 10, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1042 times:
Quoting DL021 (Reply 8): Colorizing movies was a terrible idea, for the most part, and took away from the director and cameramans work to provide the shading and textures from black and white films.
A lot of people credit the colorizing process with reviving interest in the older films. People like the movies, but hated the color versions.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
QANTASforever From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1036 times:
Two of my favourite films are black and white: Sunset Boulevard, and Citizen Kane.
I think colourising these would really detract from the very intentional cinematic and filmic techniques employed by the makers of those two films. Let them be.
Imagine hanging a digital projection of the Mona Lisa on a gallery wall? It's the same thing. We should respect artists enough not to tamper with their work (with the exception of working to physically preserve it).
Nancy From United States of America, joined May 2004, 467 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1032 times:
I like "Night if the Hunter" (I think that's what it was called) -set during the depression, the antagonist has "love/ hate" tattooed on his knuckles. It's REALLY creepy!
AvObserver From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 2418 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1030 times:
Quoting DL021 (Reply 8): Colorizing movies was a terrible idea, for the most part, and took away from the director and cameramans work to provide the shading and textures from black and white films.
Well, not always. So many, if not most of those old films were in B&W due to budgetary reasons, long after color film had arrived. For some, colorizing does work because they'd have been in color anyway if their budgets had been bigger. "The Thing" (1951) is one that did work in color, as did the 1933 "King Kong" and 1934's "Miracle On 34th Street". By contrast, however, 1960's "Psycho" would have been totally ruined by colorization, as would have "The Maltese Falcon". Director John Huston vigorously protested cable TV magnate Ted Turner's colorization of that classic in the late 80's. I do think Turner should have respected his wishes, even though he'd bought the rights to it. Though I'm okay with the now nearly abandoned process of colorizing WHEN artistically appropriate, I still enjoy many B&W classic movies AND TV shows. Here's a source that has a surprising number available.
OzarkD9S From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 4496 posts, RR: 27 Reply 16, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1009 times:
The vast majority of my favorite films are from the pre-WW2 period. And of course the vast majority of those were in B&W.
In much the same way I find a B&W photo more interesting than a color photo, the same hold true for movies. Dramas always seem a tad more intense when in B&W, at least to my eyes.
Theres a reason so many VHS tapes had "In Glorious Black and White" along the top of the box!
Kiwiandrew From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 8308 posts, RR: 17 Reply 17, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1006 times:
my partner still watches them ... drives me completely nuts ... five minutes of b & w and I get a pounding headache ... I thought we had the problem solved when VCR went the way of the dinosaur , but no , he had them burned onto frigging DVD ...........arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhh!
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
IceTitan447 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1006 times:
I am a huge Bing Crosby fan. His music, and films.
My favorite Black and White movie is Bells of St. Mary's. My favorite color or B&W is White Christmas, with Bing, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, and Vera Ellen.
707CMF From France, joined Mar 2002, 4885 posts, RR: 38 Reply 19, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1005 times:
Quoting Aloges (Reply 1): Certainly. One of the most brilliant and hilarious movies of all time, "One, Two, Three" by Billy Wilder, would probably lose half of its fascination were it not in b/w.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 28959 posts, RR: 66 Reply 20, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 995 times:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 4): Some recommendations from my personal library-in no particular order
The Seven Samurai
12 Angry Men
Island in the Sky
The house on haunted hill
Sgt. York
Psycho
Hey guys thought of some more when I was at the house.
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The Maltese Falcon
Casablanca
12 o'clock high
The Longest Day
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Flyingbabydoc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 992 times:
Quoting Aloges (Reply 1): Certainly. One of the most brilliant and hilarious movies of all time, "One, Two, Three" by Billy Wilder, would probably lose half of its fascination were it not in b/w.
Couldn't possibly agree more with you. How about "Blue Angel"? I prefer my Diettrich very very pale....
Vzlet From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 806 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 990 times:
Perhaps not yet in the "old" category, but "Dr. Strangelove".
"That's so stupid! If they're so secret, why are they out where everyone can see them?" - my kid
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 986 times:
Quoting Jake056 (Thread starter): I like all kinds of movies, but the old black and white ones seem to hold a special place in my heart.
The visual artistry of good black-and-white movies is often to be marveled at. The directors, and art and departments (set designers, etc.) did quite a lot with very little. Contrast was often well-tuned to serve in lieu of differences in color, I've found.
AerospaceFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (6 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 971 times:
Black-and-white dramas can be some of the most interesting around. For example, Waterloo Bridge. When I first saw this tearjerker more than thirty years ago, I was struck by its deliberate and effective pacing. And I still remember seeing it to this day.
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