Old Black and White Films

The first one is Joan Crawford in "Mildred Pierce". A great film noir and a brilliant book by James M Cain.

I think the second is probably Lana Turner in Douglas Sirk's "imitation of life" one of the best weepies ever although I thought it was made in colour?
 
I have just been watching an ideal film for a wet Sunday afternoon, a black and white British Classic from 1947 starring Googie Withers entitled, It Always Rains on Sunday! ;)
 
I absolutely adore black and white films. My favourite has got to be It's A Wonderful Life. It could quite possibly be my favourite film of all time. I have watched the film so many times and never fail to have a good cry at the end when the little girl says, "Every time a bell rings, and angel gets his wings" or something like that.
I also love every other film that James Stewart did, especially The Philadelphia Story, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington and Harvey.
Some Like It Hot is also a fantastic film and must be one of the best comedies of all time. It also has the best ending line in a film EVER.
Daphne: "You don't understand, Osgood! Aaah... I'm a man!"
Osgood: "Well, nobody's perfect."
 
Most of my favourite films are in black and white. It's a Wonderful Life has already been mentioned. Many Hitchcock movies are fantastic but one of my personal all time favourites is The Lost Weekend with Ray Milland.
 
Dambusters and Brief Encounter are part of the Summer Season of British Films at Cineworld cinemas on Tuesdays for the next 7 weeks starting with Goldfinger (which is in colour). All tickets
 
Did a course on Film Noir last year. I thought they were just good films - was I wrong.

They are nothing but rampant adventures in hidden obscene lust.

Absolute filth!
 
I didn't realise it was a book and that there was an old film version. I think I had assumed it was written as a radio play.

Can anyone get me the name of this old British thriller. Its been bugging me for years.

basically the plot involves the murder of a female violinist. A man is convicted and sentenced to death but his wife knows his innocence and sets out to prove it. The clues involve a head wound and a little tune that some kid plays on the piano. It all culminates with the real murderer trying to kill the wife in a railway carriage.

Sorry if this is a bit vague but I would like to see this again if anyone can assist.:)
 
My favourite of hers is Now Voyager, one of the best bad movies ever, wonderful score by Max Steiner and Gladys Cooper is brilliant as the tyranical mother, the whole thing is wonderfully OTT. Davis goes convincingly from nervous, shy, fat old frump to sophisticated society aloof beauty in about 3 seconRAB, makes modern makeovers look totally tame.

I also love Hitchcock - Rebecca is absolutely wonderful. It's not one of his best but Sabotage is a film I have loved since I was a child. Any Ealing comedies; anything produced by Alexander Korda is usually enjoyable too. Anything at all with Alastair Simm, Scotland's greatest contribution to mid-century cinema.

I love old early colour films as well - anything by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, surely the best British film makers of all time, and their wartime colour pictures shot by Jack Cardiff are stunning to watch.
 
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