Posted on 02/12/2011 9:19:45 AM PST by JoeProBono
"There's been a recent debate as to the validity of black-and-white films. Many of the youngsters say, "I just don't get it." Well, don't feel like the Lone Ranger young children. Ted Turner has similar thoughts on the supposed curse of black and white.
Whether one would like to admit it or not, the greatest films in history, to include horror, science fiction, suspense and drama, have been made in the breathtaking anti-color of black and white. According to film director John Carpenter in his inventive opus They Live, the reason films are now in color is because of an invasion of aliens during the 1950s. Nice going John, for you are not far from the truth.
I have compiled an unquestionable list made up of the 20 greatest black and white films in the history of mankind. And mind you, I have added a bonus of five Honorable Mentions. For those of you unacquainted, this list is as good a place to start as any. Enjoy some of the greatest films ever made, and they are all in glorious black and white."
Orson Welles and Charlton Heston in Touch of Evil, 1958
Great movie! She should have married Wayne.
Definitely.
Sam the Lion: "You boys can get on out of here, I don't want to have no more to do with you. Scarin' a poor, unfortunate creature like Billy just so's you could have a few laughs - I've been around that trashy behavior all my life, I'm gettin' tired of puttin' up with it. Now you can stay out of this pool hall, out of my cafe, and my picture show too - I don't want no more of your business."
Wuthering Heights
A Night at the Opera ~ The Marx Brothers
Hunchback of Norte Dame. (With Charles Laughton)
I can't remember the name of the Andy Giffith movie where he played Dusty Rhodes and had a TV show.
Everyone always talks about “Vertigo” being Hitchcock’s masterpiece. I hate it. He dehumanizes everyone in it.
Thanks JoeProBono.
I rented that when my kids were little - they LOVED it. Got on a run of watching the old silent movies with them.
One of their favorite B&W (and mine) is “Creature from the Black Lagoon”. And for me - “They Died with their Boots on”.
To me, to be a really great black and white film, it has to be unimaginable in color.
The great cinematographers, instead of viewing it as a limitation, used it to heighten a certain mood and exploit light and shadow.
That’s why I consider Midsummer one of the best black and whites. You would think a forest movie about love and fairies should be in color, but instead its a masterpiece with the moon’s lighting and shadowy forest. It’s out of the box.
Others I respect are The Longest Day, Double Indemnity, Casablanca, The Uninvited, and Song of Bernadette. And of course, all of the great film noir. Remember Archer and Spade shadows in The Maltese Falcon?
I’ll tell you something else. Midsummer was the ONLY film ever to win best cinematography on a write-in vote.
Total agreement -- and I am embarrassed that I didn't think it myself. One of my all-time favorite Howard Hawks movies.
Hi, Revolting Cat:
I’ve always preferred Harold Lloyd’s physical humor to the too often telegraphed antics of Laurel & Hardy. Lloyd did all of his stunts with only one good hand and you never really knew where or when the punch line would show up.
Very much like Keaton. Who mas a master of comedic timing.
Jack.
Michael Curtiz
FRAU BLUCHER!
“HE VASS MY BOYFRIEND.”
FRAU BLUCHER!
“HE VASS MY BOYFRIEND.”
It’s a Krag Jorgensen
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.