# Your All-Time Favorite Black & White Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284 "2016-01-26T19:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![iljitsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/77aa72/32.png) [@iljitsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iljitsch)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/61 "2016-01-27T06:28:41Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Yes, most old movies are very slow, because all the people in those days were very slow, and stupid. Come back after you’ve seen “2001”. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/62 "2016-01-27T11:21:04Z")
The Apartment ---
**Author:** ![Greekfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Greekfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekfreak)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/63 "2016-01-27T11:42:31Z")
On the Waterfront From Here To Eternity Angels With Dirty Faces ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/64 "2016-01-27T12:28:37Z")
**T Dark Corner 1946** - Lucille Ball, Clifton Webb, William Bendix - This is a really nice drama about a private investigator - Lucille plays a loveable girl and does a great job. \*\*Invasion Of T Body Snatchers 1956 \*\*- Kevin McCarthy & Dana Wynter - There was a remake in 1978 - but this one was always my favorite. **Kansas City Confidential 1952** - a fine crime caper film. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/65 "2016-01-27T12:38:01Z")
Dr. Strangelove Young Frankenstein Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid Twelve Angry Men Seven Samurai ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/66 "2016-01-27T17:52:26Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > **The Third Man (1949)** > The most beautifully shot movie I’ve ever seen. Try watching **Night of the Hunter** sometime. People have already listed most of my favorites, so how about **The Mad Miss Manson** **Rebecca** **Laura** ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/67 "2016-01-27T18:39:26Z")
Here are 3 films that I’m very surprised no one has yet mentioned \*\*On T Beach 1959 \*\*- magnificent film about the end of the world - Directed by Stanley Kubrick - Great cast - Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire (but no dancing unfortunately) \*\*T Killing 1956 \*\*- an early film by director Stanley Kubrick - one of his best movies - a real crime thriller \*\*Roman Holiday 1953 \*\*- a beautiful love story with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/68 "2016-01-27T18:42:18Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Try watching **Night of the Hunter** sometime. > People have already listed most of my favorites, so how about > **The Mad Miss Manson** > **Rebecca** > **Laura** Do you mean The Mad Miss Manton (1938)? I have never heard of it before. But I looked it up and it would appear to be a fine film. I will def try it out. I love Barbara Stanwyck & Henry Fonda. Thank you, 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/69 "2016-01-27T18:59:02Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Try watching **Night of the Hunter** sometime. I have. That’s great too. But it’s not Third Man-great. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/70 "2016-01-27T20:28:37Z")
Not previously mentioned, Hud A Midwinter’s Tale ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/71 "2016-01-28T00:08:15Z")
Young Frankenstein Them Psycho ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/72 "2016-01-28T03:30:31Z")
\*\*T Big Steal 1949 \*\*- Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer & William Bendix - one of my favorites - love & crime in Mexico - extremely entertaiing \*\*Mystery Street 1950 \*\*- Ricardo Montalban, Sally Forest & Bruce Bennet - very entertaining crime caper **Murder My Sweet 1944** - Dick Powell, Claire Trevor, Anne Shirley - great crime movie - remade in 1978 as The Big Sleep with Robert Mitchum ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/73 "2016-01-28T12:56:30Z")
Night of the Hunter The Man Who Wasn’t There (Cohen Brothers) ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/74 "2016-01-28T15:47:27Z")
\*\*T Web 1947 \*\*- stars Edmond O’Brien, William Bendix, Vincent Price and Ella Raines. Ella Raines is just stunning in this film. \*\*Scrooge 1951 \*\*- Alistair Sim & Jack Warner - remake of “A Christmas Carol”. There have been other remakes, but IMHO, this is the best one of them all. \*\*Lady In T Lake 1947 \*\*- Robert Montgomery & Audrey Totter - not everyone loves this one - but I sure do. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/75 "2016-01-28T17:06:18Z")
My all-time favorite B&W movie is **The Third Man**. Nice to see it getting so many mentions here. Although not technically in black and white, Francis Ford Coppola made a movie recently called \*Twixt \*in which he attempted to evoke the same feel as old b&w movies using muted color palettes and other cinematic tricks. Although it sank like a stone at the box office (if it ever hit the big screen at all), I suspect fans of black&white would love it as much as I do: > **[Twixt (2011) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1756851/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)** > > Twixt: Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. With Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning, Ben Chaplin. A struggling horror writer visiting a small town on a book tour gets caught up in a murder mystery involving a young girl. That night in a dream, he is... ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/76 "2016-01-28T17:06:19Z")
_To Have and Have Not_ (1944) What’s not to like. Howard Hawks directs, Hemingway writes, Bogart & Bacall fall in love for real. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/77 "2016-01-29T02:46:01Z")
Allright you guys are great but I didn’t notice heretofore mentioned these classics: a thousand clowns sweet smell of success the killing Knife in the water ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/78 "2016-01-29T07:40:38Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Allright you guys are great but I didn’t notice heretofore mentioned these classics: > > a thousand clowns > sweet smell of success > the killing > Knife in the water I posted The Killing in #67 above. I have never heard of the other three before and will look forward to checking them out. Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/79 "2016-01-30T04:15:06Z")
There are so many good B&W films that it’s impossible to pick just one favorite, but one that stands out to me is Cop Hater, based on the first 87th Precinct book. It stands out for a couple of reasons: 1. It’s the first screen appearance of Jerry Orbach, who plays the 17 year old leader of a street gang. 2. It seems to have no beginning and no end. It’s as if we came in to watch the detectives work just as they get a report of a cop being killed, and we watch until they’ve closed the case. Only the show doesn’t stop – the detectives just go on about their business as we decide it’s time to go home. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284/80 "2016-01-30T16:02:38Z")
Just now got done watching To Kill A Mockingbird with my daughter. Good movie, although I did find the final few scenes somewhat irksome. Thanks for the chance to look back and recall so many wonderful black and white movies that have stayed good through the ages. I suppose my favorite B&W movies, in approximate order, would be: Schindler’s List Psycho Casablanca Young Frankenstein The Great Dictator Roman Holiday Citizen Kane Modern Times Twelve Angry Men The Seven Samurai The Day the Earth Stood Still Night of the Living Dead To Kill a Mockingbird The Cabinet of Dr Caligari Woman in the Dunes Wings of Desire Vampyr Nosferatu I’ve got a nagging feeling I’m forgetting a few others. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-all-time-favorite-black-white-movies/744284.md?page=5)