Black and white movies in Blu-ray. Is this pointless? - Blu-ray Forum

Steelmaker · 10-23-2007, 06:29 PM

I was thinking about this today. Old b&w movies such as King Kong, Psycho, Citizen Kane, Frankenstein, Dracula, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, etc. Would these movies really benefit all that much from blu ray in comparison to the dvd releases upscaled to 1080p? Out of my entire movie collection I'd say I have around 10 black and white movies and I'm just debating about whether I'll double dip on these when/if the high def versions are released.

The Big Blue · 10-23-2007, 06:33 PM

They will benefit exactly as color films do.

BigB88 · 10-23-2007, 06:37 PM

They will benefit in clarity and sound, so definitely YES.

cathexist · 10-23-2007, 06:46 PM

Yes they would benefit nearly the same amount. Although they will not get the new vibrant colors that most color movies you see on blu-ray have, they will benefit from the upgrade in audio quality not to mention video clarity. I would love to see some older black and white movies on blu. First off...Seven Samurai.

MacDaddyOJack · 10-23-2007, 06:59 PM

No, they aren't worth it..... You can't turn a turd into a Porsche if it is still a turd to begin with.....

Joe Cain · 10-23-2007, 07:05 PM

I'd hardly call Seven Samurai a turd...or it's Japanese equivalent.

Bullseye · 10-23-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacDaddyOJack

No, they aren't worth it..... You can't turn a turd into a Porsche if it is still a turd to begin with.....

Stupid statement. Some of the greatest films ever made were B&W.

Ben · 10-23-2007, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacDaddyOJack

No, they aren't worth it..... You can't turn a turd into a Porsche if it is still a turd to begin with.....

So, do you honestly categorize all B&W films as "turds?"

For any of you who doubt how great black and white films can look on BD, please see the already released examples Good Night and Good and Memento.

I guess if MacDaddyOJack has his way, we'll never see Psycho, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, Casablanca, The Bicycle Thief...

rushmore9 · 10-24-2007, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacDaddyOJack

No, they aren't worth it..... You can't turn a turd into a Porsche if it is still a turd to begin with.....

Guys, i think he's joking.

CptGreedle · 10-23-2007, 08:05 PM

It is not just the color the BD does well.. it is the contrast, the grain, the details, the subtle nuances of shades and highlights... the sound!

I would LOVE to see some of the great classic B/W films on BD. They would look fabulous!

grainock · 10-23-2007, 08:06 PM

Good point.

Gibbs

bluperch · 10-23-2007, 08:15 PM

Many old TV shows (Twilight Zone, for example) were shot with film (in later years of TZ they went to terrible video, but most of the show is on film). It's just a matter, as someone pointed out, finding a clean master to, uh, master from. I know the Marx Bros. sDVD I have from a 1929 print is pretty bad in spots, but that might be the only print they have. Though it can also be a matter of the producer of the DVD doing it as cheaply as possible and simply not caring if there's a better print available. But all film is decaying, just a matter of how bad it is. And not everything turned into digital content is done with great care and re-mastering.

Teazle · 10-23-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

I was thinking about this today. Old b&w movies such as King Kong, Psycho, Citizen Kane, Frankenstein, Dracula, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, etc. Would these movies really benefit all that much from blu ray in comparison to the dvd releases upscaled to 1080p? Out of my entire movie collection I'd say I have around 10 black and white movies and I'm just debating about whether I'll double dip on these when/if the high def versions are released.

There's Good Night and Good Luck. (Haven't seen the BD but watched it on cable).

almy · 10-24-2007, 11:37 PM

Look at the vast improvement in the standard-def "deluixe edition" of the original KING KONG compared to the earlier release. I have numerous black and white standard-def DVDs that are better than their Laserdisc counterparts and would definitely buy them on Blu-Ray - Burt Lancaster's THE TRAIN and SINK THE BISMARCK come to mind.

movie · 10-31-2013, 05:40 AM

Did anyone ever start a thread on here listing B&W movies on blu? There is something about a good B&W movie that instils a sense of mystery and escapism when viewing it. I wouldn't mind increasing my collection.

Steedeel · 10-31-2013, 03:13 PM

Watch the white ribbon on bluray and you wouldn't even need to ask the question. Black and white can look stunning on bluray.

Geoff D · 10-31-2013, 10:08 PM

From Here To Eternity, Strangelove, Casablanca (remastered), Night Of The Living Dead, there's plenty of beautiful B&W movies on Blu. The rich tonalities of the process were lost on prior home video releases, even on DVD, and they've been restored on Blu-ray. Properly calibrated greyscale always help to release that gorgeous detail, too.

movie · 11-01-2013, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff D

From Here To Eternity, Strangelove, Casablanca (remastered), Night Of The Living Dead, there's plenty of beautiful B&W movies on Blu. The rich tonalities of the process were lost on prior home video releases, even on DVD, and they've been restored on Blu-ray. Properly calibrated greyscale always help to release that gorgeous detail, too.

Thanks! I hope they continue to restore as much BW movies as possible. There sure are a lot of classics that never seem to see the light of day on BD.

Penton-Man · 11-01-2013, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by movie

Did anyone ever start a thread on here listing B&W movies on blu?

Glancing here….https://forum.blu-ray.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31 without doing a formal search, I see no “official” or unofficial listing.

jackranderson · 08-09-2021, 08:48 AM

I love that some of the films in the OP have now gotten 4K releases and look stunning.

10-23-2007, 06:29 PM	#1
Steelmaker Blu-ray Count Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Chattanooga, TN Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	Black and white movies in Blu-ray. Is this pointless? I was thinking about this today. Old b&w movies such as King Kong, Psycho, Citizen Kane, Frankenstein, Dracula, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, etc. Would these movies really benefit all that much from blu ray in comparison to the dvd releases upscaled to 1080p? Out of my entire movie collection I'd say I have around 10 black and white movies and I'm just debating about whether I'll double dip on these when/if the high def versions are released. Last edited by Steelmaker; 10-23-2007 at 06:31 PM.

10-23-2007, 06:37 PM	#3
BigB88 Active Member Member since:Aug 2007	Of course They will benefit in clarity and sound, so definitely YES.

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10-23-2007, 06:33 PM	#2
The Big Blue Blu-ray Guru Member since:Feb 2007 Blu-ray collection:98 Blu-ray reviews:1	They will benefit exactly as color films do.

10-23-2007, 06:46 PM	#4
cathexist Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Aurora, CO 4K collection:122 Blu-ray collection:1129 DVD collection:72 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:8	Yes they would benefit nearly the same amount. Although they will not get the new vibrant colors that most color movies you see on blu-ray have, they will benefit from the upgrade in audio quality not to mention video clarity. I would love to see some older black and white movies on blu. First off...Seven Samurai.

10-23-2007, 06:59 PM	#5
MacDaddyOJack Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Richmond, VA PSNetwork: MacDaddyOJack Trophy Level: 12(4%) Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:71 Blu-ray reviews:23 Trading Score:4	No, they aren't worth it..... You can't turn a turd into a Porsche if it is still a turd to begin with.....

10-23-2007, 07:05 PM	#6
Joe Cain Power Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:The Tragic City Blu-ray collection:79	I'd hardly call Seven Samurai a turd...or it's Japanese equivalent.

10-23-2007, 08:05 PM	#10
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	It is not just the color the BD does well.. it is the contrast, the grain, the details, the subtle nuances of shades and highlights... the sound! I would LOVE to see some of the great classic B/W films on BD. They would look fabulous!

10-23-2007, 08:06 PM	#11
grainock Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Layton, UT	Good point. Gibbs

10-23-2007, 08:15 PM	#12
bluperch Active Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Lakewood, CO	Many old TV shows (Twilight Zone, for example) were shot with film (in later years of TZ they went to terrible video, but most of the show is on film). It's just a matter, as someone pointed out, finding a clean master to, uh, master from. I know the Marx Bros. sDVD I have from a 1929 print is pretty bad in spots, but that might be the only print they have. Though it can also be a matter of the producer of the DVD doing it as cheaply as possible and simply not caring if there's a better print available. But all film is decaying, just a matter of how bad it is. And not everything turned into digital content is done with great care and re-mastering.

10-24-2007, 11:37 PM	#14
almy Active Member Member since:Aug 2007	Look at the vast improvement in the standard-def "deluixe edition" of the original KING KONG compared to the earlier release. I have numerous black and white standard-def DVDs that are better than their Laserdisc counterparts and would definitely buy them on Blu-Ray - Burt Lancaster's THE TRAIN and SINK THE BISMARCK come to mind.

10-31-2013, 05:40 AM	#15
movie Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Jan 2010 Location:Milky Way Blu-ray collection:210 DVD collection:45 Blu-ray reviews:34 Trading Score:22	Did anyone ever start a thread on here listing B&W movies on blu? There is something about a good B&W movie that instils a sense of mystery and escapism when viewing it. I wouldn't mind increasing my collection.

10-31-2013, 03:13 PM	#16
Steedeel Blu-ray Grand Duke Member since:Apr 2011 Location:England 4K collection:150 Blu-ray collection:919	Watch the white ribbon on bluray and you wouldn't even need to ask the question. Black and white can look stunning on bluray.

10-31-2013, 10:08 PM	#17
Geoff D Blu-ray Emperor Top contributor Member since:Feb 2009 Location:Swanage, Engerland 4K collection:1097 Blu-ray collection:2399 Blu-ray reviews: 6 Trading Score:33	From Here To Eternity, Strangelove, Casablanca (remastered), Night Of The Living Dead, there's plenty of beautiful B&W movies on Blu. The rich tonalities of the process were lost on prior home video releases, even on DVD, and they've been restored on Blu-ray. Properly calibrated greyscale always help to release that gorgeous detail, too.

08-09-2021, 08:48 AM	#20
jackranderson Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2019 Location:United Kingdom 4K collection:89 Blu-ray collection:1117 DVD collection:3	I love that some of the films in the OP have now gotten 4K releases and look stunning.

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