Just finished watching Casablanca for the plentieth time, and was reminded of how much I love good b&w cinematography (most of the last fifteen minutes or so are splendid). Movies that were made in black-and-white and were more than just the recording of the story on film. Movies (or scenes, or still shots) that display the range and the drama and the elegance (and eloquence!) that black-and-white film has to offer. Other examples that quickly come to mind would include The Third Man, Shanghai Express, Citizen Kane, Double Indemnity, The Seventh Seal,The Letter, I Know Where I'm Going, and Manhattan. There are countless others. What are some of your favorites? Movies, scenes, or just establishing shots?
March 26, 2019, 10:31 PM
Ripley
Just passing through, a couple quick thoughts --
Dr. Strangelove Paper Moon
I'll be back.
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
March 27, 2019, 01:39 AM
YooperSigs
One of my favorites has been: The Oxbow Incident. The lighting and photography help to set the grim tone of the hanging.
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March 27, 2019, 02:26 AM
depusm12
Dr Stangelove Casablanca
We the unappreciated must do the unimaginable and see the unthinkable to protect the ungrateful
Too many really. But today, off the top of my head, I'll stick to Welles films. Citizen Kane, of course. Magnificent Ambersons. Also The Trial with Anthony Perkins. Nevermind B&W, the cinematography and lighting in that film were very inventive.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
March 27, 2019, 09:11 AM
f2
quote:
Originally posted by oddball: Too many really. But today, off the top of my head, I'll stick to Welles films. Citizen Kane...
lots of ppl don't get citizen kane. i didn't. one way is to check if your library's dvd has Roger Ebert's commentary. if you're in any way interested, you'll be glad you did.
March 27, 2019, 10:08 AM
TMats
Just to be different, I’ll say The Last Picture Show
_______________________________________________________ despite them
March 27, 2019, 12:39 PM
Ripley
M (1931) Psycho (1960) In Cold Blood (1967) Der Blaue Engel (1930)
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
March 27, 2019, 02:11 PM
Bigboreshooter
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. Luke 11:21
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March 27, 2019, 04:44 PM
GWbiker
"Odd Man Out".
"Magnificent Ambersons".
"The Dawn Patrol" (1938)
"Manhattan".
********* "Some people are alive today because it's against the law to kill them".
March 27, 2019, 05:46 PM
sjtill
I’ll go with Eisenstein: Battleship Potemkin Alexander Nevsky
I recall a number of B & W Soviet films with striking cinematography. The brightest went into art, music, science, chess.
_________________________ “ What all the wise men promised has not happened, and what all the damned fools said would happen has come to pass.”— Lord Melbourne
March 27, 2019, 06:21 PM
Butch 2340
****************************************************************************** Never shoot a large caliber man with a small caliber bullet . . .
March 27, 2019, 09:52 PM
Jim Shugart
Nobody has mentioned Frank Capra. He was no slouch; checkout the lighting here:
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) The Innocents (1961) The Haunting (1963) Frankenweenie (2012)
March 28, 2019, 08:17 AM
Ripley
FWIW It's hard to separate cinematography from set design, lighting, makeup and what's actually in front of the camera, they work as one to create the image. Sometimes the camera has to move, other times it must not. Selective focus, film stock and lenses chosen, video processing, yikes, a complicated topic.
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
March 28, 2019, 09:30 AM
amals
quote:
Originally posted by Ripley: FWIW It's hard to separate cinematography from set design, lighting, makeup and what's actually in front of the camera, they work as one to create the image. Sometimes the camera has to move, other times it must not. Selective focus, film stock and lenses chosen, video processing, yikes, a complicated topic.
Well, I'm not trying to get too technical, nor to isolate various elements. I'm using it in the broad sense of what you see on the screen. Besides, I think most of the elements you list would be included in the definition. But that's not what I started this thread to discuss; I was looking for other people's favorite examples of black-and-white images onscreen. Not their favorite movies that happen to be in b&w, but films that show good use of the medium.
March 28, 2019, 12:51 PM
Ripley
quote:
Originally posted by amals: ..the broad sense of what you see on the screen.
Yes, and the choice to use B&W defines the movie, with all that goes into creating the images.
I'm reminded of the recent stink over the Oscars choosing not to air the cinematography awards as well as other technical categories. It looks like AMPAS thinks it all comes down to the personalities.
BTW with the great examples in your opening post, "Citizen Kane" used the camera in new ways and set a higher bar.
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
March 28, 2019, 01:45 PM
parabellum
Too many excellent choices, but off the top of my head, anything by the master himself, John Alton. Take a look at a little B-picture called He Walked by Night. Gorgeous.
