Am I the only one that enjoys these?  My husband introduced me to them, and I have to say I love them FAR FAR more than modern day movies.  Black and white movies were about plot... not about the most snazzy graphic with the brightest lights and loudest colors.  The dialogue back them is FAR superior to that of modern movie chit chat. And the morals displayed in them are typically priceless.

Not to mention that the actors were GREAT!  Cary Grant and James Stewart are my favorite.

One of my favorite black and white films is "It's a Wonderful Life".

Do you have a favorite?  If so, please share!

As a connoisseur of film I find it necessary to like all kinds of movies. Of course, many of my favorites are Black and White, and I know this might sound harsh to some but, its less a matter of fact and not opinion; If you can't watch a movie just because it doesn't have color then you're not really a hardcore fan of filmography. I know that's a little uptight and pretentious to say, and don't get me wrong whoever doesn't like B&W films isn't horrible or anything like that. They're just missing out on too much. So, yeah, I pretty much agree with Singelli, well maybe except for the acting since I think there are some actors in the modern age that are just as good as those from the past (Daniel Day-Lewis instantly pops into mind).

Anyways, three of my top ten films that are in black and white include The Seven Samurai, Schindler's List and Raging Bull. I know the latter two of those three are more modern (Early 90's & Early 80's respectively), but they're both still fantastic pieces of film. Other B&W favorites include; Ed Wood (That is, the Biopic of the director. Not the Director or his films), Night of the Living Dead, Citizen Kane (Even though I think its maybe a pinch overrated), Dr. Strangelove, Dracula,  Psycho, Its a Wonderful Life, and Nosferatu (Which is also a 1920's silent flick. So that's like reaaaally ancient). There's a ton more I could name drop as well but Ive already dropped quite a few good starter B&W films along with the more advanced stuff.

EDIT: Oh yeah there's also Satantango, but I wouldn't watch that one unless you're absolutely bat**** insane about movies and cinematography. Its freaking loooooong (Over seven hours).

Bloodpump :  I agree with you about people not being able to watch films just because they don't have color.  My students are like that. It doesn't matter how exciting of a movie I put on; if it's black and white they -immediately turn their heads and scoff, talking with one another instead of giving the film a chance.

As for Daniel Day-Lewis, I don't know who he is.  I googled him, but I don't recognize him.  What is he in?
I've never seen the first three you've listed either, though I've wanted to see Schindler's List because it is a classic and I'm told it's excellent.  I'm going to have to see if I can find them on netflix.  Thanks for offering your opinion, so I can do that!

I've only seen It's a Wonderful Life (obviously) and Citizen Kane (and yes, I'll agree with you on the overrating though it is very good.  My husband just LOVES it and is one of the over-raters.  LOL)  I can't believe I haven't seen any of those!  I've probably watched 1000 black and white movies since I've married him!  LOL

A seven hour movie though?!?!  Phew...!!!!  LOL  Just HOW good is it?

darthyoda :  Ooooh my goodness!  Two WONDERFUL movies! Those both are in my favorite five.  I think you should suggest more movies to me.  LOL

neilbuckley97 : Are you spamming my thread? I have no idea what that means...

darthyoda :  Hmm...I'm not sure, but Gary Cooper is third on my list of favorite actors.  LOL

*goes to google High Noon  (I'm not very good with movie names, sorry!)*

I looked at some pictures and read the summary, and I think I have watched it, but I'd have to watch about five minutes of the actual film to be sure.  Is that the one where they go to build a house outside of town, and the house isn't ever shown as completely built, but as just a frame?  (I don't think that's it, but asking just in case.)

I agree with you about It's A Wonderful Life. That is an example of terrific writing. This is a bit different, but I also really like Charlie Chaplin films as well. Those are not only black and white, but silent. Speech/Theater being my other teaching field, Chaplin is very useful to me in showing the importance of nonverbal communication in entertainment.

rcarter2 : It's a Wonderful Life is one of the only black and white films my family watched.  We'd watch it every Thanksgiving after the Macy's Day Parade. However, when they started putting the dog show on instead, we would watch it at Christmas.

Now that I'm away from my family, my in-laws have been kind enough to continue that tradition with me.  I have not ever missed it on a single Christmas, and I plan on keeping that tradition with my own kids (if the Lord blesses me with any) as long as they live with me.

As for Charlie Chaplin, I'd be inclined to agree with you, but I don't think I've actually seen any of his films... just heard of them.

Science and theatre?  How versatile!  that's impressive!  

Singelli : Daniel Day-Lewis's two greatest performances were in My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood, which he won best actor for both of those performances. I'd highly recommend viewing both. Neither are B&W but they're both still classics (TWBB's more of a modern classic then a classic though, since it was released in 2007). Of course DDL's also been in Gangs of New York (Which the film itself isn't as good as those two I mentioned, but his performance is stellar non the less) and will be portraying Abraham in the upcoming Lincoln film.

As for Satantango, all I have to say about it is its pretty much a two hour and a half movie stretched out into seven and a half hours of long takes. Its a scenery lovers wet dream but a casual fans nightmare pretty much.

Bloodpump :  If he's a great actor like you say though, I think I'll see if one of those is on netflix and give it a go.  In my opinion most actors today are mediocre, so it'd be nice to see some talent!  

I love scenery, but I'm not sure I could sit through seven hours of it.  LOL Maybe in bits and pieces.  

Singelli : I love watching black and white films. I agree that the morals were displayed in a much better way. You rarely seen anything that was considered immoral. I love how the actors and actresses looked and dressed as well. The actresses always looked so flawless, you rarely see that these days. Now all these celebrities do is get plastic surgery or botox. Ages them so much more, in my opinion. And they had a lot of more unique story-lines and plots in the older films.

I haven't watched, "It's a Wonderful Life" yet, but I've heard great things about it. I love watching Sabrina, the original of course and Roman Holiday. Can you tell I'm a big Audrey Hepburn fan? Haha. I would love to have a black and white movie marathon. My favorite black and white horror film is, "The Creature From the Black Lagoon. That movie always creeps me out. I remember when I saw it as a kid, I was afraid to go swimming because I thought the creature was going to be underneath me in the water, like it did with the woman that was swimming in the pond or lake. It's been awhile since I've seen it so I may be wrong about if it was a lake or pond.

Oldschool41 : Oh man, I've seen both of those, and they ARE both sooo sad! I remember my husband telling me that Of Mice and Men was one of his favorite movies.  Then I watched it and was practically bawling and I was all like WWWWHHHHYYY?!?!?!

SunflowerGaming :  You've never seen It's a Wonderful Life?!?!?

I order you to go see it!  Now!
I've never watched The Creature from the Black Lagoon, but I too like Audrey Hepburn, though my husband wouldn't agree.  LOL
I have lots of favorites with her in them.

Singelli : I know it was very sad (and I'm a guy who doesn't usually cry unless I make an connection between the character). I'm currently trying to find similar movies that were in Black and White and are similar story lines. Does anyone know if Cool Hand Luke is in black and white?

I've never seen that movie, so I wouldn't know. However, you should be able to find the answer easily enough if you just google it.  By the way, although I love Black and white movies, I'm not a huge buff.  That's my husband's job.    So I'll try and remember to ask him for suggestions and then I'll send them your way.  

Casablanca is a great movie in black and white.  The way it was filmed, with so many shadows and angles - it's a shame to see it in color.  Public Enemy with Jimmy Cagney and Little Caesar with Edward G Robinson - they are classic black and white movies.  Check them out if you get a chance.

I love black and white movies. I actually go on Netflix looking for old movies. A few b&w movies I've watched are:

Citizen Kane, Freaks, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Phantom of the Opera, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Lady Vanishes, The Mummy, and A Streetcar Named Desire.

Singelli : No your not the only one who enjoys classic movies. My dad is a movie buff and has always been. As I have gotten older some of that has started to rub off on me. I do have some personal favorites one of them which I guess would be considered a modern classic due to when it was released was raging bull for obvious reasons. I recently bought a channel on my roku player called movie vault which is all classic movies and such. For $3.99 it was a steal. I just haven’t spent as much time on there as I do some other channels. I started watching a movie on movie vault called Blake of Scotland yard but I haven’t finished it yet. If you have a roku player I recommend checking it out.