Old Black-and-white Films, Any other fans out there? Options

[skylark]

Gedall40 and I have just been talking about Fred Astaire films on another thread - is anyone else a fan of old black-and-white films?

Two which have always been my favourites are Portrait of Jennie with Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones, and the original Rebecca with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine (and Judith Anderson as Mrs Danvers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hides.gif) )

I can't remember any others offhand but I've got loads on video - I used to tape them off the television for a member of my family many years ago so I ended up watching most of them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ianporsche]

The seventh seal
Mr Smith goes to Washington
Who'se afraid of Virginia Wolfe ?
Battleship Potempkin

[lottie]

I don't know much about black-and-white films but I did see Rebecca some time ago (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[diapason]

B/W film fan here

Film4 on Freesat has some excellent b/w films on in the early afternoon, not that I'm often around to watch them but J records them if he remembers.

Some of the British comedies are great fun - the other week I was able to watch "Sailor Beware" with a whole cast of great actors - Peggy Mount, Shirley Eaton, Esma Cannon, Gordon Jackson.

Passport to Pimlico, Brief Encounter..........all very re-watchable

And the original b/w non-musical version of "State Fair" was on - this was the first of three versions to be based on the novel of the same name. Later Rodgers & Hammerstein made a musical in the late 40's (think??) which was then updated in the 60's.

The three scripts are virtually identical

Mrs Danvers.................creepy

[Deborah]

Brief Encounter

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

My all-time favourite film! It has, in no particular order, spiffing hats, repressed passion, RP, Rachmaninoff and steam trains at Carnforth (so basically it's my life in film (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)). What's not to like?

Altogether now - my birthday's in June and there aren't any pantomimes in June.

[Crotchetymum]

I love so many of the black and white films.
Fred Astaire and Rebecca definitely.
Mildred Pierce, Philadelphia Story, Now Voyager and Mr Skeffington are a few I've watched recently and I bought It's a Wonderful Life at Christmas.

There are so many more, British and American - if people post their favourites I'll now spend the rest of the day going 'Oh yes!' and 'Me too!' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Just remembered - James Mason in The Man in Grey and The Wicked Lady (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) and
Blithe Spirit and The Ghost and Mrs Muir and
Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple.

[mel2]

Brief Encounter

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

My all-time favourite film! It has, in no particular order, spiffing hats, repressed passion, RP, Rachmaninoff and steam trains at Carnforth (so basically it's my life in film (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)). What's not to like?

Altogether now - my birthday's in June and there aren't any pantomimes in June.

Absolutely; I almost know it word for word. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) -not here, Alex; someone will see.....

If it is British and in black and white I will watch it - no better accompaniment to the ironing.

[diapason]

I love so many of the black and white films.
Fred Astaire and Rebecca definitely.
Mildred Pierce, Philadelphia Story, Now Voyager and Mr Skeffington are a few I've watched recently and I bought It's a Wonderful Life at Christmas.

There are so many more, British and American - if people post their favourites I'll now spend the rest of the day going 'Oh yes!' and 'Me too!' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Just remembered - James Mason in The Man in Grey and The Wicked Lady (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) and
Blithe Spirit and The Ghost and Mrs Muir and
Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple.

I think Blithe Spirit (with Rex Harrison) was in colour, because they used a green over-wash to highlight Elvira - but what the heck it's a good OLD film

and b/w Miss Marple - Murder At The Gallop, Murder She Said - wonderful. Who would have thought that Joan Hickson in Murder She Said, would have played Miss Marple herself in later years/

It DOES pass an ironing afternoon very pleasantly.

[Maizie]

Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple.

Absolutely brilliant! I want to be Margaret Rutherford when I grow up/old, providing I can find a decent cloak-maker. Style icon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Rebecca I really enjoy. I'd read the book before I saw it, my husband didn't know the story at all, so he thought we were watching just a rather sweet romantic film until...well, you know (I won't spoil it for anyone who doesn't know!) It was just so funny to see him sit bolt upright and say 'did you know that was going to happen?' as his perception of the genre he was watching did an about-face.

Arsenic and Old Lace surely deserves a mention.

Not entirely b'n'w, but A Matter of Life and Death is a great one - probably as much for its use of b'n'w v. colour as part of the film.

To Kill a Mockingbird - interestingly I'd only ever seen it in b'n'w, but then when I saw it on DVD to buy it was a colour version. It wasn't a colourised version (you know, where they've painted the colour on later), it actually was filmed in colour but b'n'w copies were done too. I couldn't bring myself to watch it in colour though, it just wouldn't be right!


TCM and TCM2 can be good for old black and white films, though they do put more recent stuff on as well. It was TCM, I think, that introduced me to the Marx Brothers...

[david123]

Every Christmas for more years than I can remember we have had all the family around for the Christmas holidays. Every year without fail "White Christmas" has been on, and every year without fail we have said (almost in unison) "not that old chestnut again".

Well a few years ago the television happened to be on and "White Christmas" was playing, we suddenly realised that none of us had actually seen it before (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) . It was brilliant. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[skylark]

Now Voyager

Oh let's not wish for the moon, we have the stars... (IMG:http://geeks-have-feelings-too.net/images/smileys/crying.gif)

and the music (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-KGiwGn1d8


Dated? un-PC? Carcinogenic? Nah!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

It's a Wonderful Life

One box of tissues just isn't enough (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I want to be Margaret Rutherford when I grow up/old, providing I can find a decent cloak-maker. Style icon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

... especially the bags that she used to have... mine are getting that way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)



Random Harvest with Ronald Coleman and Greer Garson [grabs another box of tissues]


and the old swashbuckler The Prisoner of Zenda - I keep telling St George he reminds me of Stewart Granger (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[david123]

Box of tishoo's and a packet of fags.....Hang on I don't smoke (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

Classic

[Crotchetymum]

I think Blithe Spirit (with Rex Harrison) was in colour, because they used a green over-wash to highlight Elvira - but what the heck it's a good OLD film

Yes of course, Elvira was ghostly green (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Absolutely brilliant! I want to be Margaret Rutherford when I grow up/old, providing I can find a decent cloak-maker. Style icon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Definitely

(And I love Arsenic and Old Lace (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif))

and the old swashbuckler The Prisoner of Zenda - I keep telling St George he reminds me of Stewart Granger (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

When my sister and I were younger, as far as we were concerned Stewart Granger was perfection in tights (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (though not in The Prisoner of Zenda, but great film (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif))

Box of tishoo's and a packet of fags.....Hang on I don't smoke (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

Classic

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[DaisyChain]

I love It's A Wonderful Life and Brief Encounter too..

Psycho is another favourite..

Two recent films which I don't think would have had so much impact had they been filmed in colour, are The Elephant Man and Schindler's List. Inspired use of black and white film there.

[Deborah]

Sounds like we ought to have a Brief Encounter party! I'll bring the Banbury buns, and the sugar will be in the spoon.