Classic Black and White Films???

The Third Man is great, Another slightly flawed film that is also by Carol Reed and Graham Greene is Our Man In Havana I like it a lot but it's not quite a classic
 
Not wanting to continually post the same things, but:

La Haine
Man Bites Dog

Both french films, both in black and white, and darn well classics in my book!
 
Re: A Matter of Life and Death.

There's a few other Powell & Pressburger films you could choose from. The wonderful I Know Where I'm Going and the even more wonderful A Canterbury Tale perhaps.

Also, a few odder choices:

Rumblefish
Broadway Danny Rose
Tetsuo The Iron Man (tricky one, this)
 
Agree about In a Lonely Place. It's interesting that Bogart plays such an unsympathetic character and the milieu he inhabits is populated with equally unpleasant types, yet we can identify with his plight. I can't think of many mainstream modern films where the audience is expected to accept the central character's flaws and that he isn't going to come out of it a better man. Bogart was a great actor, too.

Also how about His Girl Friday, Ace in the Hole, The Philadelphia Story... and Great Expectations (1946) is, er, great.

By the way I'm a big Powell and Pressburger fan and was going to suggest A Canterbury Tale, but changed my mind!
 
I know I maybe shouldn't say this but I don't get on well with Powell and Pressburger films except for Black Narcissus not sure why though.
 
I hadn't thought of High Noon, Night of The Hunter was on my list but I had no classic westerns so thanks for that (yeah I know Night Of The Hunter is not a western but Robert Mitchum makes me think of them)
 
doh!! - of course it was!! OK, take that one out and substitute any of the following:

  • The Man in the White Suit
  • Kind Hearts and Coronets
  • Carry On Nurse
  • Carry On Teacher
  • Whiskey Galore
  • Murder at the Gallop
  • Murder She Said
  • Murder Ahoy
  • Murder Most Foul
  • The Belles of St Trinians
  • Blue Murder at St Trinians
  • The Great St Trinians Train Robbery
  • Pure Hell at St Trinians
  • Bringing Up Baby
  • The Philadelphia Story
  • Gaslight
  • The 39 Steps
  • Strangers on a Train (original version)

I'm sure I'll think of loaRAB more now...
 
How about Green for Danger? Brilliant British thriller made by Sidney Gilliat, in black-and-white, where the colour of a particular item is crucial to the plot! (Didn't want to include a spoiler in case anyone hasn't seen it).
 
OP, there have been some interesting responses here.

i'd be interested to see what you initial B&W shortlist was (if you can divulge it!), and if any of the suggestions made have informed the shortlist.

i must add one more - it's not a 'classic' film as such, but it does have a classic feel and is one of the few modern black and white films i have seen recently - 'good night and good luck', starring the fantastic david strathairn, robert downey jnr and george clooney. the acting is great and real documentary footage is used to further enhance the period (50's) feel. a very hanRABome blu ray as well.

sorry to go slightly ot, but a few of the films mentioned ('M', 'the loneliness of the long distance runner', 'brief encounter') are out on blu ray and these would be fantastic for screenings of classic films, with an HD compatible projector.
 
The ones that come to mind

12 Angry Men (I am sure it has been mentioned but it's a great film)
Clerks
Angels with Dirty Faces
Raging Bull
Young Frankenstein
Seven Samurai
Citizen Kane
 
My list would be:
Battleship Potemkin
King Kong
Seven Samurai
Rashomon
The Third Man
Top Hat
Evergreen
To Kill a Mockingbird
All About Eve
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane
Rebecca
Now Voyager
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Dr Strangelove
Psycho
Roman Holiday
A Streetcar Named Desire
Casablanca
Any Marx Bros films
Raging Bull
Manhattan
Clerks
 
what is interesting about the posts so far are the films that have not been included,
Is this because they are so obvious that they needn't be mentioned or is it that they are not what we call classics today.
One in particular usually hits number one spot in the "best film ever made" polls but hasn't got a mention on here?
 
Back
Top