We've now watched three films shot in black and white that come from an
era where colour film was the normal choice. Choose one of the three (“Some
Like it Hot”; “Psycho”; “Dr. Strangelove”) and comment on how being shot in
black and white suits the film and its subjects.
Stanley Kubrick’s choice of black and white for his feature, “Dr. Strangelove,” seems completely in keeping with his “black” comedy and satirical intentions. One of the scenes that works very well in black and white is the one where General Jack D. Ripper explains to Lieutenant Mandrake his suspicions of a “Communist conspiracy.” The camera is kept low and Ripper’s face fills the frame from below. As he puffs lustily on his cigar, we get a sense of his insanity and somehow it seems even more sinister and crazy without colour to distract us. The “war room” scenes are also particularly well suited to black and white. Dramatically lit, I particularly love the scene where the generals are all listening in on the phone call between Dimitri and the U.S. president. Stark contrasts of light and dark are certainly appropriate for the serious nature of the discussion (and, yes, I do know that the telephone conversation with a drunken Soviet leader are among the most comic in any movie I have ever seen!). Even the final scene of atomic bombs exploding in the atmosphere is better in black and white as it emphasizes the burst of bright light against the dark. Amazing work by Kubrick and, in my opinion, one of the best “anti-war” films of all time.
ReplyDeleteAlfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" was perfectly suited for black and white, not only did it enhance the visual horror effect but it created the perfect ambiance to support the story line. Each character that Mr Hitchcock introduced early in the film had a certain villain like feel to him or her, because there was no color to distract your visual sense , you were more aware that anyone in the film could be the villain. When we finally get to the Bates Motel the house on the hill is creepy and catches your eye, and interest immediately. I love the fact that the leading lady was killed early into the film it allowed the other characters such as Norman Bates to take the suspense of the film and increase it ten fold. One would think that after the shower scene were Norman thrust's his knife into Marion Crane many times, that the worst was over, but it was not Norman had much more work to do. I think that if this film was in color it would have been just another movie ,being in black and white created the dark horrible mood ,and let the villains be cast into the spot light, not because of their colourer full surroundings but because of the dark evil that is "Psycho " .
ReplyDeleteI think those three movies would be better with colors. Certain films may better with black and white such as noir film, but not for those films.
ReplyDeleteFor ‘Some like it hot’, colors are desperately needed to express her sexiness properly. It is shame that the movie was shot with black and white only. The charm of bright and vivid beauty can’t be described without colors. The ‘Psycho’ is a great horror movie, but I have one thing really irritating in it. To me, red is the color of blood. Chinese ink is not the color of blood. If there was red as like the movie ‘Sin City’, it could be perfect. I agree with the idea that black and white are already good in ‘Dr. Strangelove’, but I think it could be better with some colors especially in some characters and some scenes. For instance, blue for the president and Mandrake, and red for Ripper and Turgidson generals as like the small girl with red cloth in Steven Spielburg’s ‘Schindler’s list’. The progress display panel in the war room and soldiers who brought the air force head quarter under control could use some more colors, too. With those colors, watchers could have more insight about relations and situations, because not everyone has enough knowledge about political issues. I enjoyed watching those films really much, but I have a little bit of skeptical view on black and white films. Especially, under the circumstance after color film invention already been done.