10 Comments

I'm 64 and adore black and white movies, but my 20-something kids refuse to watch even one. Apparently, they're boring!

Expand full comment

That's too bad! Please share this article with your kids. The whole point of this post is to encourage readers to try new things because doing so may open us up to new worlds of wonder and enjoyment. I believe your kids will not find "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962) or "Casablanca" (1942) boring. In fact, I predict they will be quite impressed with these incredible movies—or your money back!

Expand full comment

Harvey Weinstein was carrying a biography of controversial Hollywood director Elia Kazan as he turned himself in to police in New York City, was he sending a message? What's the purpose of the names for Comet Ping Pong and Jeffrey Epstein's Lolita Express????

Watch this scene from the movie "Lolita" on YouTube (Stanley Kubrick). Ping Pong is featured in the movie... Peter Sellers is also a movie producer in the movie, which is about a snuff film/pedophile blackmail/extortion racket... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhbk23rqKsY

Expand full comment

I’ve always watched black and white since I was little. TCM was one of my favorite channels 😊 They have a romance to them that modern movies don’t. Last night, I watched Enchantment which was one of those depressing ones where the couple doesn’t end up together, but the acting was phenomenal.

Expand full comment

It's wonderful that you started watching black and white movies as a child, Daisy Anne. Everything is easier if you are introduced to it early in life. But it is also nice to discover things even later in life. I agree with you that the acting in these movies is usually so much better than many more-contemporary movies.

Expand full comment

Love that Dr Strangelove is on here!! Strong list overall. I know for me, I was wary to watch Some Like it Hot after AFI dubbed it the best comedy of all time. "But it's an old b&W movie. How can it be funnier than Caddyshack or Super Troopers?"

Nope, it was indeed worthy of the title.

Nice topic, thanks!

Expand full comment

Thank you for mentioning "Some Like It Hot", Skye! It's an interesting and clever film.

Expand full comment

Shades of Gray . . . Black and White music videos . . . https://cwspangle.substack.com/p/shades-of-gray

Expand full comment

I like the vibe of this but I think you're missing a bunch of really good movies. For example modern times is a much better movie than the Great dictator, but better still would be any of the features of buster Keaton. You can watch those with or without sound, as you can with Harold Lloyd. Wings is another fantastic silent film. I don't see any Kurosawa on your list. I would definitely include either seven samurai or stray dog, both of which are vividly visual despite being black and white. Miracle on 34th Street is sentimental dreck, and Frank Capra can be better represented by it happened one night which was a much better movie then a wonderful life. I get what you're trying to do, but the list is pretty vanilla. I'd like to see more non-American movies in it. I like the inclusion of Doctor strangelove but it would be also neat to see paper moon. I like when modern directors make the deliberate choice of black and white. Anyway just a few thoughts from a cranky cinophile.

Expand full comment

Hi J. Thank you. I appreciate the suggestions. The movies you mention are definitely classics and absolutely worth viewing. I will update this post with additional movies in the coming months. Thanks again.

Expand full comment