Films that work very well in B/W?

[BladeRunner2007]

I'm not talking about films which were shot in b/w. I am talking about films which were shot in color but also work very well when you watch them in black and white. I've done this a couple of times. I think these films work excellent in b/w:

Batman
Batman Returns
The Crow
Star Wars
Reservoir Dogs


Has anyone ever done this?

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

Batman
Batman Returns
The Crow

These three are practically B&W movies as is.

[The Great Owl]

Assault on Precinct 13 (the original 1976 version)

Maybe it's just because I used to see watch this movie on a black-and-white television during childhood, but it seems to work particularly well as such.

[rakos]

Raiders of the Lost Ark works really well

[Mahatma]

Think I'll try Reservoir dogs in B&W.

Wonder if Apocalypse now would work in B&W...

[Doctor Jack]

L.A. Confidential. Also turn down the contrast to make the blacks really black. Will never watch normal again.

[surfdude12]

dumb question: how do you make it b&w?

[Joos519]

Dark City
Bladerunner
The Nightmare before christmas
31 days of night

[bsweetness]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

dumb question: how do you make it b&w?

Through the picture settings on your TV.

[bsweetness]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jack

L.A. Confidential. Also turn down the contrast to make the blacks really black. Will never watch normal again.

I'm going to have to check this out. Sounds like the perfect candidate to watch in black and white.

[JavaJulien]

The real question is which B/W film will look great in Color.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Someone at Fangoria discovered the color control on their TV not so long ago and now this seems to be all the rage. This is something I did when I was about 8 and then I quickly grew bored with it. But hey, I'm not your mother, so you do what you like...

[Monterey Jack]

The Mist.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

Someone at Fangoria discovered the color control on their TV not so long ago and now this seems to be all the rage. This is something I did when I was about 8 and then I quickly grew bored with it. But hey, I'm not your mother, so you do what you like...

JUST turning down the color doesn't work, since classic B/W cinematography emphasized stark color contrast (bright lights, dark shadows), and all you'll get is a group of color-washed grays.
Maybe if you also turn up the Contrast knob to 11, you'll get something resembling the 30's-40's, but it'll wash out some details.

(That said, it's been theorized that most comedy works better in B/W, for some reason. Laurel & Hardy and the Three Stooges would agree.)

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

The Mist.

...was carefully graded to look like a film that has actually been shot in b&w.

There are enough great b&w films to watch and there is an art to b&w cinematography which involves more then just turning down the color on your TV.

[ilovenola2]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

..

There are enough great b&w films to watch and there is an art to b&w cinematography which involves more then just turning down the color on your TV.

Absolutely correct!! And I find that one of the very best and demonstrative of b&w films on disc is the Criterion release of Preminger's "Anatomy of a Murder" with gorgeous Michigan U-P location photography--- including great shots of mens' fashions-- herring-bone coats, etc.

[MifuneFan]

[rakos]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

[Show spoiler]

Blade Runner Trailer - Classic Noir - YouTube

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by rakos

Blade Runner Trailer - Classic Noir - YouTube

That's awesome

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by rakos

Blade Runner Trailer - Classic Noir - YouTube

Thanks for posting that brilliant little flick.