What is it about Black and White that turns you youngsters off so much? I've had to hear this dirge for almost 20 years now. "Ugh. Not another black and white film." "Is it in color?"
I love black and white. The atmosphere. The mood. The Manichean universe. And you Coen Bros. fanatics, why do you think they used b/w for "The Man who wasn't there?"
We will see three more b/w films, the rest in color. They are:
The Seventh Seal
Top Hat
The Asphalt Jungle
The last of these is one of my very favorite films ever. If you want to understand the genre known as "Film Noir" this is the film to watch. It has all the elements of the genre. Alas, year in and year out, the students tell me that they hate it. This does not deter me. You will watch it. This year will be different. You will love it. You will demand more b/w. And the Dow will hit 12,000 again by the end of the semester.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Yay for Top Hat! So we will actually be seeing a happy movie at some point, then? Good to know.
ReplyDeleteI like black and white better than color on most occasions. I'm just a snob that way.
I'm not opposed to Black and White, Mr. Bennett. I actually think that it offers a different perspective on film that is rarely seen nowadays. I enjoyed Good Night and Good Luck, a recent Black and White film and did not believe that it detracted anything from the film.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I believe that I will have to respectfully but vehemently disagree with your comments on the Stock Market. 12,000 by the end of the semester, even President Obama and his magic wand can't make that happen.
I look forward to the other Black and White films, and the color films, of course.
I'm sorry Jimmy I had to verbalize my audible scoff when I read the comment concerning Barack Obama's "magic". But this is a film blog and I will say no more regarding that subject. Now as for black and white films if they are good films then I have no bias colored or non. I find that if a black and white film engages me in the way you described in class today Mr. Bennett, that I am so involved in the world of the characters I feel that black and white is the only thing I've ever known and that this is how I view the world, through my own colorblind eyes.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do apologize for turning this film blog into something political. However, just to defend myself, I meant the "magic" comment in complete sarcasm, and I do not actually believe that Barack Obama is magic, or anywhere close to be honest. But this is a film blog and we are discussing Black and White films, and nothing further on this topic is necessary to be discussed.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with your comments Roberto about Black and White movies. If a movie is good, it is good, if it is bad, even in color, it will be a bad movie.
We aren't going to watch Dr. Strangelove? Oh man, I was looking forward to that.
ReplyDeleteA movie that is in black and white can add an element that does not exist in color movies. Movies that take place many years ago, often benefit from being in black and white because they make you feel more emotionally involved in the setting of the film. But I still want to see a movie that is in say in orange and blue or silver and gold, that would be cool.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sanbeg. Black and white films are just different from color. Not necessarily better and not necessarily worse. I think us youngsters tend to asssociate black and white with old films, films that we really can't relate to, and a style that we may feel is outdated.
ReplyDelete... and Dr. Strangelove.
ReplyDeleteThe fundamental problem with black and white films is that although we live in a Manichean universe it is not black and white...... literally. Our universe is a colorful one. I feel that watching a black and white movie is similar to watching a shadow or a ghost instead of real people.
ReplyDeleteBecause you correctly predicted the sharp decline in oil last year in AP US History I have persuaded my parents to bet the house in the stock market. If you have any particular stocks in mind please let me know.
Black and White isn't bad because it's old, that's completely irrelevant to the problem ... I have to agree with Danny White completely... the world isn't black and white, so having a black and white film is just as bad as having the words "THIS IS JUST A MOVIE" over every screenshot of a film. It kills the realism and the draw for me. And if I don't get sucked into a movie, then I don't enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased that you remembered my prediction that oil prices would plummet. I'm particularly proud of that prediction for the singular reason that it is the ONLY prediction of that kind to have come true. When it comes to economic trends, my track record is poor. On political matters, I'm more saavy. I knew, for example, that the invasion of Iraq was ill-advised. But, that's another matter entirely.
ReplyDeleteIf you analyze my statement about the DOW, you will see that it is linked to the previous sentence, where I predict that all students will come to love b/w films. Hence, the rhetorical import of my statement is that I do NOT beleive the DOW will hit 12,000 any time soon, nor do I believe you people will come to love those old films.
By the way, do we live in a Manichean universe? I certainly hope not, because I know for sure that I"m not "all good," so that only leaves me on the other side.
Personally, I enjoy black and white movies, often more than ones in color. I think it gives the audience better perspective on what is important. They are no longer distracted by the brightly-colored backround and can more easily focus on the action of the scene (unless, of course, this is merely a result of my short attention span). I never notice much of a difference, just that my attention is being spent on the more important matters of the film and not the single meaningless detail that caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteOf the few listed above, I have only seen The Seventh Seal, which is a great movie. I look forward to seeing the others, and and other b&w's.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete