Old Black and White Films

Thank you heaps! :) Wonder could I get that book, will have a look.
Of course you are right on both. I've just put 'Imitation of Life' into IMDB.com & it was made in 1934, in b&w and starring Claudette Colbert, but a 1959 version, starring as you say Lana Turner must have been colour. Seems it was the maid's daughter who ran off, not her employer's, as I said.
Socha & hobbes too, thank you too...my memory is worryingly bad on books & films :o
 
There is one missing from your comprehensive list--it is quite
old but fits with your list---SUSPICION-- fantastic suspense!!
Starring Cary Grant..Joan Fontaine-Nigel Bruce-IF you ever
get the chance--watch it-Suspense--the only word to begin
to describe it!!! :eek: :eek:
 
Its a sad state of affairs but shows the stupidity of much of the population who won't watch something just because its in black and white.

Bang goes Schindlers List then.
 
The james M Cain novel of Mildred Pierce is in print. Honestly it is a great book. If you like Ruth Rendell/Minette Walters type books you will love it.
 
I adore Black and White movies. I got into them when i was about 15 years old. I was at home alone during the school holidays - and it was the only thing on TV. I was glued.

Since then, i watch loaRAB of them. Even the war films were brilliant. And their accents .... they all talk very 'proper'.

My fav black and white movie is 'Goodnight Mr. Chips' from 1939. It never fails to make me cry, and Greer Garson is stunning in it.
 
I feel the same. The last passing I think was Glenn Ford and I started to think then that that was it. There are still a few living. The ones I know about are Jennifer Jones, Joan Fontaine and Jane Wyman ( ex - Mrs Reagan and Oscar winner). A forgotten one is Luise Rainer who won 2 back to back best actress Oscars in the 30's. Celeste Holm is still around at 91. Karl Malden is 95 and Ernest Borgnine who is 90.

I also believe the Potters Rent collector in Its a Wonderlife is still alive although of course not a true film star in the truest sense.

Its difficult for me to grasp that some are 'forgotten' as they've been a bit part of my movie watching. But a certain forgotten star who was also stunning was Margaret Sullivan. Another of my favourites was Myrna Loy who the book and drama mini series Queenie was loosely based.
 
Yes, Plan 9 is definitely B&W.
Has anyone seen Glen or Glenda - Ed Wood's masterpiece?
And the film about Ed Wood made by Tim Burton was also B&W - brilliant film.

Hellzapoppin is great!

And all the Will Hay comedies - especially Ask a Policeman, Where's That Fire, Windbag the Sailor and Oh Mr Porter.
 
There was some university research which revealed that the number of movies made increased near exponentially in the eighties there were more fims made than in the years 1900-1980, apparently.

"Black & white" may be a synonym for "boring" amongst the young but many older films, even "B" movies, tended to put story before spectacle in a way that many modern films don't seem to these days.
 
She's amazing in Top Hat too.

You can't beat a bit of Fred 'n' Ginge on a wet Sunday afternoon :)

EDIT: Almost forgot Batchelor Mother - v funny Rodgers film.
 
Thats the first film I thought of (A Matter of Life and Death). One of my all time favourite films, it was on telly a couple of days ago, I watched it for about the hundreth time :)
 
Scots..........turn away now...........;)

I remember back in '66 when we won the World Cup, everyone had watched it in black & white on telly........

A few months later the official film of the tournament reached the cinemas and the big marketing campaign was 'now you can see it in colour'...........:D

( we still won..........:cool: )


Anyone seen Pleasantville ?.........that's a fantastic modern film that uses black and white to terrific effect.


As for proper b&w films...........all those great comedies from Laurel & Hardy, Bob & Bing, ...........musicals, Fred & ginge, Busby Berkeley............gangster films with James Cagney.........adventures with Bogie


My favourite b&w film.........the original Born Yesterday with Broderick Crawford and Judy Holiday...........
 
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