Black and white film was predominantly used in the early days of cinema because there just wasn't color film available. In the 1960s, that changed, and from that point on, most film was shot in color. But sometimes a filmmaker chooses to use black and white, and like anything in a movie, they do it for a reason. Check out our favorite movies that are in black and white even though color film could have been used.
8.) Clerks (1994)
Plot:
Dante Hicks is a clerk at his local convenient store, who, on his day off, is asked to work by his boss. While at work, Dante and his coworker Randal Graves discuss certain aspects of their lives, play street hockey, and even attend the memorial service for an ex-girlfriend of Dante's. The two flee the service after a scream is heard from inside the house. No one knew what had actually taken place during the service until the release of the 10th anniversary DVD.
Why Black And White Made This Movie Awesome:
At the time of its' production, Clerks was produced entirely on Kevin Smith's money. Black and white cameras were much cheaper, so Smith purchased them. But even if black and white was a budgetary choice, the lack of color adds to the mundane feel of Dante's day. It suggests that Dante is depressed over his ex-girlfriend's infidelity, the death of his other ex-girlfriend, his current girlfriends' past sexual experiences, and his job at the convenient store. Black and white makes Clerks a deeper flim.
Non Black And White Moments:
None
7.) Manhattan (1972)
Plot:
Woody Allen plays comedy writer Isaac Davis, whose girlfriend is beautiful high school student Tracy. Soon, he falls in love with a woman much more his age, and spends quite a bit of time debating which of the two he is meant to be with.
Why Black And White Made This Movie Awesome:
According to Woody Allen himself, he wanted to show New York in black and white, giving it that old time feeling.
Non Black And White Moments:
None
6.) Pleasantville (1998)
Plot:
David (Tobey Maguire) and his sister Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon) are high-school students and twins, but are vastly different. David prefers to stay home and watch re-runs of Pleasantville a Leave It To Beaver-esque 1950s television show. David regards the show as the way life should be. Jennifer is a social student and has many friends. Their lives are changed one day when they fight over the remote control. It breaks, prompting the appearance of a mysterious TV repairman who gives them a special remote. It transports the twins into Pleasantville, where things are perfect. There is no color until David and Jennifer, who are now the shows' main characters Bud and Mary Sue Parker respectively, begin to change things. Color starts to take over the world, prompting fear of change and hatred of all things with color.
Why Black And White Made This Movie Awesome:
Black and white represents the dullness of the community. Pleasantville itself is full of characters complacent with their unchanging society. When Bud and Mary Sue begin to introduce foreign concepts to the characters, color becomes visible, and only after a character undergoes change does the colorization occur.
Non Black And White Moments:
When people go against their nature they become colorized. The mayor of Pleasantville is the last person to change when he screams at Bud in front of everyone.
5.) The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Plot:
Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton) is a stoic man who rarely acts out or responds to anything with more than a wordless nod. His boss Big Dave (James Gandolfini) is the exact opposite. He's loud, often obnoxious, and incessantly brags about this various life achievements which include his heroic actions in World War II. One day, a salesman encounters Ed and asks him to consider investing in dry cleaning, which is currently a new technology. In a move completely out of his character, Ed anonymously blackmails his unsuspecting boss, who even asks Ed for advice in the matter. Soon, Dave puts the pieces together and realizes something is up. He attacks the normally reserved Ed, only to be killed when Ed stabs him in the neck. The events that unfold lead Ed to see the rift that has occurred between him and his wife.
Why Black And White Made This Movie Awesome:
Since it takes place in the U.S. in the 1950s, black and white gives the film a very authentic feel. When we watched it, many of us remarked that it could very easily have been mistaken for being made in the 50s, that is, if you didn't recognize a lot of the actors. Black and white makes this movie feel like it should be the 1950s style "perfect America" (similar to Pleasantville) which adds to its dark subject matter.
Non Black And White Moments:
None
4.) American History X (1998)
Plot:
The plot centers around Danny (Edward Furlong), a high-school student and aspiring neo-Nazi skinhead influenced by his incarcerated older brother, Derek (Edward Norton). Both brothers have become white supremacists following the drive-by shooting death of their firefighter father by a black drug dealer as he attempted to put out a fire. Derek is in prison for voluntary manslaughter for killing two black men after they attempt to steal his car. Danny is required to write a report on his older brother's life as punishment for writing a book report on Hitler's Mein Kampf. When Derek is released from prison, he manages to teach Danny why racism is wrong, and that they need to abandon their white supremacist ideals.
Why Black And White Made This Movie Awesome:
The entire movie is not in black and white, only the flashback scenes. The lack of color enhances the skin tones of the white and black actors. Since it is used only in flashback scenes, it can also show that Derek's former ideals are fuzzy, incorrect, and not representative of his current life.
Non Black And White Moments:
Only the flashbacks are in black and white. Scenes in current time are color.
3.) Good Night And Good Luck (2005)
Plot:
The plot addresses Edward R. Murrow's courageous battle against Senator Joe McCarthy and "McCarthyism" which plagued America in the 1950s.
Why Black And White Made This Movie Awesome:
It creates an authentic atmosphere much like the actual broadcasts of "See It Now" which Murrow was the host.
Non Black And White Moments:
None
2.) Sin City (2005)
Plot:
The film is based on Frank Miller's series of graphic novels by the same name. The film is comprised of several plot lines mostly following police officers and prostitutes in Basin City, a fictional place characterized by corruption, violence, crime, and seemingly persistent darkness.
The "That Yellow Bastard" storyline follows Detective Hartigan (Bruce Willis), one of the few uncorrupt police officers in the city. He tracks down a pedophile who also happens to be the son of a powerful politician who manages to keep his son out of trouble.
"The Hard Goodbye" follows Marv (Mickey Rourke), a gigantic and powerful bad-ass who gets framed for the murder of a beautiful woman named Goldie. He vows to avenge her death, and encounters all sorts of violence along the way.
"The Big Fat Kill" centers around Dwight (Clive Owen) and his girlfriend, Shellie. After Jackie-Boy treats her with disrespect, Dwight beats him up, and Jackie-Boy flees. Still angry, Dwight follows him, and watches him and his friends harrass some prostitutes, prompting Dwight and his friends to attack and kill the gang. They find out that they are actually undercover police officers. News of their murder would bring to an end the long standing truce between cops and prostitutes.
Why Black And White Made This Movie Awesome:
Black and white gives the movie the same feeling as the graphic novel, as only certain objects are colored giving the film a stylized and neo-noir feel.
Non Black And White Moments:
Some things are in black and white, some things aren't. Sometimes blood is deep red, sometimes flowers or cars are. It's interesting to see what items get color and what items are in black and white.
1.) Schindler's List (1993)
Plot:
Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) is a factory owner in Poland during World War II. At first, he uses the Jews from the Krakow ghetto as cheap labor, but soon, he becomes attached to his workers, going as far as bribing Nazi officials with money and diamonds just to prevent them from being transported to concentration camps.
Why Black And White Made This Movie Awesome:
The audience feels like they're watching a documentary the entire time. Black and white makes the film feel almost like a first hand account of the horrifying violence and hatred the Nazi regime had for the Jews.
Non Black And White Moments:
After watching a movie in black and white, you sort of get used to it, color doesn't matter anymore. It's the perfect set-up for the girl in the red coat. She walks through the street and the red of her dress stands out against the black and white surrounding her.