Ten Reasons to love Black and White Movies (Part 1)

So, to start us off, I thought I'd stay pretty broad and list some of my favourite black and white movies. I wanted the list to be evenly sprinkled with both well-known and rare films. I wanted to start out pretty general, not sticking to any genre because I intend to explore those more in depth in future posts. Well, needless to say, this list was hard to put together! There's so many favourites I plan to discuss later, so know this is just the beginning!

So here it goes. Not a top 10 and not in any particular order, but ten movies that come to my head when I think of why I love black and white movies.


The Shop Around the Corner (1940) with James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan

This rather simple film centers around the employer and employees of a shop in Budapest, Hungary. The always wonderful James Stewart plays the lead male, Mr. Kralik, opposite Margaret Sullavan. These two do not get along at work, but are falling in love as anonymous pen pals. It's the inspiration for the modern flick "You've Got Mail". Not only is the blossoming relationship between the two leads a joy to watch, but also the relationships between all the people in the shop - the gruff, distracted boss Frank Morgan (some of you might know him as the Wizard from "Wizard of Oz"), Kralik's soft-spoken and loyal friend Pirovitch, the funny errand boy Pepi, and a host of other talented supporting actors. The story feels like a play, with an interesting, well constructed plot and a script that can be funny and thoughtful by turns. See it on IMDB

My Darling Clementine (1946) with Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, Walter Brennan 

This western, crafted by the consummate director John Ford, is a retelling of perhaps the most famous story of the Old West - that of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. This may not be the most faithful depiction of the story, but I think it celebrates the legend in a special way. One of the best elements of this film is its cinematography. The scenes shot in Monument Valley are beautiful, but perhaps just as beautiful are those in the saloons or on the streets and porches of Tombstone. Another memorable aspect of the film is Henry Fonda's portrayal of Wyatt Earp. He gives us what a reviewer on IMDB called a "folksy" character, and in my opinion steals the show from anybody else who has played Wyatt Earp. He plays his part with understated charm, poignancy, wit, and strength. The story is quick-paced and engaging, culminating in the great gunfight. See it on IMDB

How Green Was My Valley (1941) with Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Roddy Macdowell

Another John Ford film (can you tell I like him?). It's the story of a whole family and the joys and trials that come to a family. It is seen through the eyes and narration of Huw, the very young Roddy Macdowell. The mother and father, played by Donald Crisp and Sara Allgood, are strong, especially Sara Allgood in some of her "confrontation" scenes! But it is also the story of a way of life. It's unique and lovely, set in a Welsh mining town at the turn of the century. It's about the hardships and exploitation they suffer, but also the joy and community they participate in. And there's some funny scenes where two characters teach Huw how to fight the bullies, and also offer their services for besting the biggest bully of all, Huw's teacher. The best part of the film for me may be the lovely scenes where the workmen sing together in Welsh. I've watched this one since I was a little kid with my whole family, and it still is enjoyed every time I watch it with others. Some trivia .. this one actually beat out Citizen Kane for an Oscar in 1941 (there's an interesting story behind that). See it on IMDB

Casablanca (1942) with Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid

Here's one that's more well known, often considered the quintessential classic black and white film. It's often thought of as a romance, but I think the most significant relationship here is between the people and the war. This film was in the making just on the brink of America entering World War II. Humphrey Bogart, previously known for gangster type roles, gives us a memorable performance as Rick, owner of the nightclub Rick's Cafe in Casablanca.  The film immediately draws you in with its almost newsreel-like beginning. It progresses through its theme of refugees trying to escape war-torn Europe through Casablanca while also giving us the more central story between the main characters. The plot is intricate and unpredictable, the themes are important, and the lighting beautifully done. This movie gives us several famous and favourite movie lines, and it's one you'll want to watch several times to appreciate fully! See it on IMDB

Shadow of Doubt (1943) with Joseph Cotten, Teresa Wright, Henry Travers

This is one of Hitchcock's movies from the 40's, and he often said it was his favourite of his films. I would agree. Shadow of Doubt is the perfect film. The script was written by the famous playwright, Thornton Wilder, who wrote the definitive American play, Our Town. And you can tell. It is like a perfectly constructed play. (I'm using perfect too much, aren't I?) It presents a picturesque vision of a family's life in a small town in America in the 1940s. That family is full of  well-drawn, well-rounded, quirky yet earnest characters (including Henry Travers brilliantly playing the father, known for his role as Clarence in "It's a Wonderful Life"!) That vision is shadowed by the coming of their Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten will give you chills), who first seems to illumine life for his young niece and namesake Charlie (played by the lovely Teresa Wright in her favourite film) until she begins to discover more about his dark past. Another up-side of this film is that it's usually in excellent quality, making it feel fresh and vibrant, and making you appreciate the great lighting and camera work. See it on IMDB

To be continued! Let me know if you want help accessing any of these movies.