Back in the first half of the 20th century, films were mostly made in black and white. But as the color film came into existence, black-and-white movies slowly faded into the background. However, these days, many filmmakers are trying to go back to the black-and-white cinema to accentuate the story or add more aesthetics to their films. This is why many of the old black-and-white movies still hold so much charm even decades later.
Today, we will have a look at some of the best classic black-and-white flicks that have stood the test of time. These old movies may be devoid of the vivid color palettes we are used to seeing in films today, but they are beautiful time-capsuled stories that are not just remnants of cinema’s glorious past but are also immensely entertaining even today.
This timeless Christmas tale tells the story of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), who, overwhelmed by life’s trials, is about to give it all up. That too, during Christmas. However, just as he is about to take his life, his Guardian Angel, Clarence, appears and shows the man how his life would have turned out had he never been born. George sees the positive impact he’s had on his town, family, and friends and looks at his life in a completely new light.
Nothing quite lifts us like the heartwarming and wholesome ending of this film where George runs through the streets of Bedford Falls declaring, “I wanna live, Clarence! I wanna live!”
The entire film is a flashback and that was considered groundbreaking for the era. It tells the story of Charles Foster Kane, an incredibly affluent newspaper publisher, and industrial magnate. When a reporter is assigned to figure out Kane’s dying words „Rosebud”, the investigation eventually reveals a remarkable portrait of a complex man who rose from nowhere to reach astonishing heights. It’s a captivating mystery and a brilliant character study that still gets us hooked.
This is the story of Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) who lives with his mother in a worn-out house that overlooks the motel he runs. The motel doesn’t see a lot of visitors, though, because of an interstate highway that was built to carry travelers away from the road.
On one rainy night, a woman, who’s on the run from the police, checks into the motel. She interacts with Norman and his mother and what follows is a captivating mystery that unravels in the most terrifying way. The music, the setting, the direction, and the mystery all make Psycho a hair-raising watch even today.
Ellie has run away from the clutches of her rich father who had decided to hold her captive after she eloped with a man he believes is after his money. Ellie meets Clark in her travels and the reporter offers to help the young woman reunite with her new husband in exchange for an exclusive story. However, the more he interacts with the feisty Ellie, the more Clark begins to fall for her.
It Happened One Night clinched the „Best Picture” Oscar along with, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay.
The story is quite simple. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), who owns a nightclub in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, discovers that his old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) is in town with her husband in the midst of World War II. Ilsa wants to escape to America with her husband, and Rick is the only one who can make that possible. However, Ilsa’s feelings for Rick soon resurface and what follows is an intricate play of emotions between the one-time lovers.
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Cristina David
Unlimited Possibilities 