# Your top two Black & White movies - one comedy, one drama. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154 "2019-04-28T01:19:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/1 "2019-04-28T01:19:58Z")
For me, the comedy has to be _The Philadelphia Story_, with its three act / three actor structure and perfect pitch by Kate, Jimmy and Cary. For drama, there’s really no contest: _Casablanca_. Perfectly balanced ensemble cast, Bogie and Bergman, plus Rains and Greenstreet and Lore and Dooley. Great story (sure, wartime propaganda, yadda yadda - still a great story). Plus _As Time Goes By_ and _La Marseillaise_. And the best closing speech to the eternal love triangle ever. (I’d mention _The Maltese Falcon_ as a close runner-up, but hey: _La Marseillaise_!) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/2 "2019-04-28T01:30:14Z")
I want to reply but am uncertain. Do the movies have to have similar themes, or is it always just a comedy that complements a drama, of any sort/ ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/3 "2019-04-28T01:33:13Z")
I’m torn between The Women (the original, obviously) and Some Like It Hot for comedy. My drama has to be Stage Door. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/4 "2019-04-28T01:34:49Z")
Comedy: _Bringing Up Baby_. The screwiest of screwball comedies. I wish I could forget this movie so I could experience for the first time again. Drama: _Seven Samurai_. The only action/adventure movie that can be put forward as the greatest film ever made and not get side eyes and smirks. And no CGI (that looks outdated a few years later). ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/5 "2019-04-28T01:37:04Z")
Im sure im overlooking tons of great movies. But the two that immediately popped into my brain are Schindler’s List and The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. Yinz can guess which movie goes in which category. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/6 "2019-04-28T01:38:48Z")
_Some Like it Hot_ for comedy. _Inherit the Wind_ for drama. It’s particularly apt for today. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/7 "2019-04-28T01:42:02Z")
Comedy: _The Lady Eve_ Drama: _Gentleman’s Agreement_. I can watch it over and over, and I still find it relevant. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/8 "2019-04-28T01:47:36Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > _Some Like it Hot_ for comedy. > > _Inherit the Wind_ for drama. It’s particularly apt for today. These are my choices. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/9 "2019-04-28T01:48:16Z")
_Arsenic and Old Lace_ for comedy. _Casablanca_ for drama. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/10 "2019-04-28T01:59:32Z")
I just went through my list of my 100 favorite films, and these are the ones that are completely in black and white (although several of my favorites are both color and black and white): _All Quiet on the Western Front_ (1930, U.S., dir. Lewis Milestone) _Camille_ (1937, U.S., dir. George Cukor) _Casablanca_ (1942, U.S., dir. Michael Curtiz) _Citizen Kane_ (1941, U.S., dir. Orson Welles) _Dr. Strangelove_ (1964, U.K., dir. Stanley Kubrick) _Duck Soup_ (1933, U.S., dir. Leo McCarey) _Freaks_ (1932, U.S., dir. Tod Browning) _The Great Dictator_ (1940, U.S., dir. Charles Chaplin) _It’s a Wonderful Life_ (1946, U.S., dir. Frank Capra) _King Kong_ (1933, U.S., dir. Merian C. Cooper) _La Jetée_ (1962, France, dir. Chris Marker) _La Strada_ (1954, Italy, dir. Federico Fellini) _The Last Picture Show_ (1971, U.S., dir. Peter Bogdanovich) _M_ (1931, Germany, dir. Fritz Lang) _The Maltese Falcon_ (1941, U.S., dir. John Huston) _Modern Times_ (1936, U.S., dir. Charles Chaplin) _Psycho_ (1960, U.S., dir. Alfred Hitchcock) _The Searchers_ (1956, U.S., dir. John Ford) _Seven Samurai_ (1954, Japan, dir. Akira Kurosawa) _The Third Man_ (1949, U.K., dir. Carol Reed) _The Treasure of the Sierra Madre_ (1948, U.S., dir. John Huston) I have no idea which is my favorite drama and which is my favorite comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/11 "2019-04-28T02:02:10Z")
_Casablanca_ is a strong contender for best movie, ever, which, given that it’s a black and white movie and a drama, would also make it the best black and white drama. On the other hand, if it’s _my_ top black-and-white, then I’m going to have to say _Forbidden Planet_. It takes a lot of skill to improve on Shakespeare (and my favorite Shakespeare, at that), but they did it. B&W comedies I’m not as familiar with, but I’ll toss out a vote for something of Charlie Chaplin’s. EDIT: Oh, and I also fixed the title. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/12 "2019-04-28T02:08:13Z")
I thought Forbidden Planet was in color? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/13 "2019-04-28T02:08:40Z")
Comedy: Some Like It Hot - “Well, nobody’s perfect,” is probably the second\* funniest one-line-joke in any movie. Drama: Citizen Kane - really just lives up to its reputation. \*First for me is “Hey, where all the white women at?” in Blazing Saddles. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/14 "2019-04-28T02:14:39Z")
Comedy: It Happened One Night Drama: Casablanca ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/15 "2019-04-28T02:15:51Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I want to reply but am uncertain. Do the movies have to have similar themes, or is it always just a comedy that complements a drama, of any sort/ Just whatever you think is the best if each category. Personally, I like good ensemble movies, so my comedy and drama both had that. And love stories are one of the most basic themes in comedy and drama. Plus, for _Casablanca_, perhaps the best closing line in any movie: “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/16 "2019-04-28T02:18:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > EDIT: Oh, and I also fixed the title. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/17 "2019-04-28T02:20:23Z")
Comedy: Bringing Up Baby or Arsenic and Old Lace. Don’t make me choose. Drama: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/18 "2019-04-28T02:20:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Comedy: Some Like It Hot - “Well, nobody’s perfect,” is probably the second\* funniest one-line-joke in any movie. > > \*First for me is “Hey, where all the white women at?” in Blazing Saddles. How can you overlook: “I’ll have what she’s having.” 😉 But yes, _Some Like It Hot_ is certainly a contender. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/19 "2019-04-28T02:22:29Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Arsenic and Old Lace. I found Cary just a bit too frantic in that one. I don’t like frantic. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154/20 "2019-04-28T02:24:32Z")
**Metropolis** and **City Lights.** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-two-black-white-movies-one-comedy-one-drama/833154.md?page=2)