B is for Black & White

                             

It's April and that means the A to Z Blogging Challenge! This year my theme is film terms.

The use of black and white in filmmaking is an intentional choice because it creates a distinctive mood. If the same film were shot in color, it would have a completely different feel. Take a peek at some of the best B&W films of all time:

Citizen Kane (1941) - Directed by Orson Welles

Welles used filmmaking techniques that had never been done before. His unusual camera angles, framing, light, shadow and perspective were enhanced by his use of B&W, which made this movie one of the most ground-breaking films in American cinema.

Casablanca (1942) - Directed by Michael Curtiz

Casablanca was a romance filmed during World War II and focused on current political culture. The use of B&W emphasized the sadness of lost love and the bleakness of war.

Double Indemnity (1944) - Directed by Billy Wilder

This film is a classic example of film noir - crime dramas shot in B&W which created deep shadows and distinctive lighting.

The Seventh Seal (1957) - Directed by Ingmar Bergman

The B&W images in Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal are incredibly beautiful. The deep blackness of Death and the compelling silhouettes of the Dance of the Macabre display the power and drama of the story.

Some Like it Hot (1959) - Directed by Billy Wilder

Wilder wisely decided to film in B&W to portray Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon as women in this zany comedy. They would have looked garish in color and it would have made it difficult for the audience to go along on this crazy ride.

Psycho (1960) - Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

B&W can instill fear and dread in an audience. In Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock did this beautifully.

Manhattan (1979) - Directed by Woody Allen

To capture the glamour and beauty of New York, Woody Allen shot his masterpiece Manhattan in B&W. The city's streets, buildings, bridges and people became living, breathing photographs. B&W brings nostalgia to the present.

Schindler's List (1993) - Directed by Steven Spielberg

Historical footage of the deliverance of the concentration camps and the Nazi propaganda films were in B&W. Thus, modern films that portray the Holocaust are typically shot in B&W to show realism and authenticity. Spielberg's Schindler's List was inspired by the real life story of Oscar Schindler. This is a beautiful film with powerful images. The dramatic sequence of a little girl in a red coat is the only use of color in the film.

Do you have a favorite black and white film?