# Old Black & White Movies and Modern Audiences
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 31, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968 "2013-07-31T03:25:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Hottius\_Maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hottius_Maximus)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/1 "2013-07-31T03:25:48Z")
When the dreadful remake of “Psycho” was released, I had heard that the director made it because his children refused to watch the original version because (GASP!) it was in BLACK & WHITE! I know many current moviegoers of perhaps Generation X and thereafter don’t like to watch those “old fashioned black & white movies.” SO…as a 50-year-old man, I have to wonder if the younger generation would appreciate certain black and white films if they gave these movies a chance. I’ll make some suggestions for films that I wish those who shun black and white films WOULD watch from start to finish. I’d like your recommendations as well. Also feel free to comment on mine and each others’ picks on whether or not you think the younger generation would appreciate my/and everybody else’s suggestions:
“Days Of Wine & Roses”
“Les Diaboliques”
“Psycho”
“Strangers On A Train”
“The Incident”
“Experiment In Terror”
“Notorious”
“Night Of The Hunter”
“Invasion Of The Body Snatchers”
“Them”
“King Kong”
“The Apartment”
“Sunset Boulevard”
“Marty”
Yeah, I know there are numerous others; I want to hear your suggestions.
---
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/2 "2013-07-31T03:44:35Z")
I worked with a 24-year-old who said she doesn’t like B&W films. _sigh_ Personally, I love B&W. Of course, most of them were made when movies had actual stories and acting instead of fast editing and loud noises.
> [@Hottius\_Maximus](#):
>
> “Them”
I’m a big fan of B-grade monster movies. _Them_ is one of the best. Several times I’ve almost started a thread to ask if a B-grade B&W monster/science fiction/horror movie that is _not_ played for laughs would be successful.
---
### Author:  [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/3 "2013-07-31T03:55:17Z")
**To Kill A Mockingbird**
**It’s a Wonderful Life**
**Gaslight**
**12 Angry Men**
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/4 "2013-07-31T04:03:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> I worked with a 24-year-old who said she doesn’t like B&W films. _sigh_ Personally, I love B&W. Of course, most of them were made when movies had actual stories and acting instead of fast editing and loud noises.
> I’m a big fan of B-grade monster movies. _Them_ is one of the best. Several times I’ve almost started a thread to ask if a B-grade B&W monster/science fiction/horror movie that is _not_ played for laughs would be successful.
One of my fondest childhood memories was when my best friend’s father dropped us off at the movies every Sunday afternoon. It was always a double feature, separated by newsreels and cartoons. Most of the movies were of the monster/scifi/horror genre, in their first release. And the best thing: admission was only 25 cents!
Now, I’d say probably 75% of the movies I watch are from the B&W era. Superlative acting, directing, screenplay, music, editing. And even though it was dark gray, you just KNEW Bette Davis’s dress in \*Jezebel \*was red!
---
### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/5 "2013-07-31T04:05:31Z")
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Seventh Seal
On the Waterfront
Casablanca
The Palm Beach Story
Frankenstein (1931)
The Bride of Frankenstein
There are great black and white movies, they have great story and acting, and they may have great artistic use of monochrome, and when they have both there are few movies in color that can compete.
---
### Author:  [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/6 "2013-07-31T04:16:22Z")
I’ve watched plenty of black and white films. If there’s anything I loathe about them, it’s not the palette, it’s the pacing.
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### Author:  [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/7 "2013-07-31T04:24:12Z")
\*\*Duck Soup
Flying Deuces
Beau Geste
Call of Cthulhu (2005)
The 39 Steps
Sands of Iwo Jima
Dr. Strangelove
\*\*
The list is endless.
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/8 "2013-07-31T04:51:42Z")
Cat People, the Jacques Tournier version (I like the color remake too, actually think it’s a better film in some respects, but this is about black and white films)
Mark of the Demon
The Longest Day
Fury of Achilles
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### Author:  [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/9 "2013-07-31T05:16:00Z")
Out of the Past
Young Frankenstein
Casablanca
pre WWII 2 3 Stooges
From Here to Eternity
The Killing
---
### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/10 "2013-07-31T05:46:07Z")
> [@Hottius\_Maximus](#):
>
> When the dreadful remake of “Psycho” was released, I had heard that the director made it because his children refused to watch the original version because (GASP!) it was in BLACK & WHITE! I know many current moviegoers of perhaps Generation X and thereafter don’t like to watch those “old fashioned black & white movies.” SO…as a 50-year-old man, I have to wonder if the younger generation would appreciate certain black and white films if they gave these movies a chance. I’ll make some suggestions for films that I wish those who shun black and white films WOULD watch from start to finish. I’d like your recommendations as well. Also feel free to comment on mine and each others’ picks on whether or not you think the younger generation would appreciate my/and everybody else’s suggestions:
>
> “Days Of Wine & Roses”
> “Les Diaboliques”
> “Psycho”
> “Strangers On A Train”
> “The Incident”
> “Experiment In Terror”
> “Notorious”
> “Night Of The Hunter”
> “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers”
> “Them”
> “King Kong”
> “The Apartment”
> “Sunset Boulevard”
> “Marty”
>
> Yeah, I know there are numerous others; I want to hear your suggestions.
Well, I’m not that much younger than you are (43), but I liked “Gaslight” (the Ingrid Bergman version), “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and “Arsenic and Old Lace”. Of the ones you listed, “Days of Wine and Roses”, “Psycho”, and “Sunset Boulevard”. My husband liked “Laura”, I wasn’t that impressed (but it was watchable).
I’ll probably be barbecued as a heretical moron, but I really didn’t care for “Citizen Kane”. I think I lasted ten minutes before the total lack of plot activity caused me to give up.
---
### Author:  [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/11 "2013-07-31T07:22:21Z")
The Third Man
Some Like It Hot
All About Eve
The Maltese Falcon
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The Philadelphia Story
Bringing Up Baby
The Hustler
Paths of Glory
Bicycle Thieves
If we include silents:
The General
The Gold Rush
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/12 "2013-07-31T07:30:00Z")
Paper Moon. Don’t forget Paper Moon.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/13 "2013-07-31T08:38:03Z")
Eraserhead
Raging Bull
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
Man Bites Dog
Schindler’s List
Clerks
Ed Wood
American History X
The Artist
…wait, what?
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### Author:  [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/14 "2013-07-31T09:43:41Z")
I used to think that Black and White movies were crap, until I grew up. I think MOST people, when they’ve matured, can see quality no matter how old it is. (Seeing _Casablanca_ in a movie theater with an appreciative audience was a revelation to me).
My niece thinks any movie made before she was BORN is crap. that would be pre-1997. I fully expect her opinion to change as she gets older.
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/15 "2013-07-31T09:50:14Z")
> [@Seanette](#):
>
> I’ll probably be barbecued as a heretical moron, but I really didn’t care for “Citizen Kane”. I think I lasted ten minutes before the total lack of plot activity caused me to give up.
You aren’t the only one. I’m not saying CK wasn’t a good movie, just that I didn’t **like** it at all. I don’t know why we are such a minority.
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### Author:  [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/16 "2013-07-31T11:40:39Z")
Double Indemnity
Pi
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/17 "2013-07-31T12:09:45Z")
> [@Hampshire](#):
>
> **Gaslight**
I’m not sure how Gaslight would translate into a ‘current’ movie. Either they would have to restructure the movie and find a new way to drive the one of the main characters crazy or it would still take place in the past, essentially just remaking it color. I think people that ‘don’t like old black and white movies’ would be bored by this movie. Too bad, it’s one of my favorites. It’s a good movie if you’re willing to just sit in your damn chair and pay attention instead of think a movie is something you can sort of half watch and half do something else while it’s on.
> [@tellyworth](#):
>
> Double Indemnity
> Pi
I don’t think this counts as an ‘old black and white movie’ it’s just a black and white movie. It’s black and white for cinematographic reasons, not because color wasn’t available to them.
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### Author:  [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/18 "2013-07-31T12:14:02Z")
I know it is heretical, but has anyone seen the colorized version of “Casablanca”? does color add anything to it?
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### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/19 "2013-07-31T12:16:36Z")
My grandson (age 12) is terribly suspicious of anything in black & white. So we watched _Young Frankenstein_ last week. By the time we were half-an-hour into it, he’d forgotten he wasn’t watching a color movie.
All of the above, and
Woody Allen’s _Manhattan_
---
### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2013, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-black-white-movies-and-modern-audiences/664968/20 "2013-07-31T12:19:52Z")
**Key Largo**
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