Black and white movies not only create nostalgia but are what translates to magic on screen.
Anybody who is a serious fan of cinematography knows the charm of black and white movies. Black and white movies come from a time that has captured timeless stories in such a manner that they still have not lost their essence. It is the reminder of an era with different social etiquettes, fashion and of course, storytelling. Here are a few classic black and white movies that would make you fall in love with the genre.
When talking about black and white movies, Casablanca is always the first one to pop into your head. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film stars Hollywood legends like Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in the lead. The plot blends elements of a spy thriller, melodrama, romance and action with finesse and expertise. Also, this film has given us some of the most iconic lines that have turned into clichés. Remember, “Here’s looking at you, kid?” Yeah, that’s Casablanca!
Who says that classic Hollywood couldn’t handle race sensitively? Based on the play by Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun is an incredible story about a Black household where the members are striving to achieve better living conditions while living in Chicago at a racially removed colony. This domestic drama is one of the finest black and white movies Hollywood has ever produced and has won many awards during its time.
Black and white and Hitchcock! It doesn’t get any better than that! The Lady Vanishes is classic whodunit set on a train where an old lady disappears while travelling across Europe. The catch is that the only passenger on board to have seen her must solve the case. Sinister suspects combined with a bit of harmless humour, this one is a black and white masterpiece.
Directed by Charles Laughton, The Night of the Hunter, is a grim thriller with a plot a little too out of the box even for Hollywood. The film’s story follows the character of Robert Mitchum who is a serial killer, con man and drifter. He has married multiple women for money and later murdered believing it to be God’s good deed.
