Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What is your opinion on "colorized" movies that were shot in b and w? (Original Post) CTyankee Jun 2021 OP
There's a whole building full of people making those decisions. jimfields33 Jun 2021 #1
There is one movie that was made in black and white after we had color: Judgment at Nuremburg. CTyankee Jun 2021 #2
I can see that. Makes sense. jimfields33 Jun 2021 #5
CTyankee... Upthevibe Jun 2021 #14
I really don't think it makes a difference. Most you can watch either way however you like. Srkdqltr Jun 2021 #3
Some movies that are in color are so dark anyway that they are unwatchable. Srkdqltr Jun 2021 #4
It depends. Some directors set up shots very Phoenix61 Jun 2021 #6
I love that movie but I think I only saw it in B and W. CTyankee Jun 2021 #13
I do not recall seeing a colorized "It's a Wonderful Life." alphafemale Jun 2021 #15
I don't like colorized anything. It always looks fake to me. 50 Shades Of Blue Jun 2021 #7
B&W photography is it's own art form. Leave it alone. Sneederbunk Jun 2021 #8
*** ailsagirl Jun 2021 #18
Orson Wells exboyfil Jun 2021 #9
If it doesn't ruin the original, I don't see the problem. Lunabell Jun 2021 #10
Bogdanovich was smart enough to go with B&W on his best films. Paladin Jun 2021 #11
I don't mind the colorization, if it's done artfully FakeNoose Jun 2021 #12
I never saw one myself. But I did see early attempts at color that were done beautifully. I am CTyankee Jun 2021 #21
I'd be pissed if they colorized Young Frankenstein! csziggy Jun 2021 #16
I prefer black & white movies ailsagirl Jun 2021 #17
Definitely not a fan. Leave the old movies alone...nt Wounded Bear Jun 2021 #19
Interesting discussion. I have no general objection Glorfindel Jun 2021 #20
Not A Fan RobinA Jun 2021 #22

jimfields33

(15,473 posts)
1. There's a whole building full of people making those decisions.
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 12:00 PM
Jun 2021

I like some that changed. And some that wasn’t necessary. I really don’t think a wonderful life needed it but the decision was made and done. I think you can see it in both versions still.

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
2. There is one movie that was made in black and white after we had color: Judgment at Nuremburg.
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 12:05 PM
Jun 2021

I think the movie's lesson is why b and w was chosen for this film. It harkens back to a time when b and w was the only choice, and it delivers its message more forcefully in b and w.

Upthevibe

(7,884 posts)
14. CTyankee...
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 10:23 PM
Jun 2021

I'm watching Judgement at Nuremburg at this very minute.. I happen to love the B & W movies if that's how they were made in the first place, and if they are made in B & W for effect (like Schindler's List). I'm not much for Colorization but I guess different strokes for different folks.

I just went with two friends today to one of the arthouse theatres we love (and none of us has been to a movie in 1 1/2 years due to COVID so it was great being back in a real movie theatre). We saw the movie, The Final Account. It consists of various interviews with Germans (all subtitled) who are elderly now (apparently it took the filmmakers around 10 years to make it) talking about the Nazi's and the Holocaust. At the time, the people interviewed were as young as 8 and as old as 23 during this horrible time.

I wish we could've gone somewhere afterward and processed what we saw but we all had to go home afterwards. We were able to chat a little by our cars for a few minutes

Srkdqltr

(6,129 posts)
3. I really don't think it makes a difference. Most you can watch either way however you like.
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 12:06 PM
Jun 2021

If colorizing a good movie makes it more watchable for people Why ever not?

Phoenix61

(16,954 posts)
6. It depends. Some directors set up shots very
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 12:14 PM
Jun 2021

purposefully, using the subtle shading of light and dark to add to the story. Those don’t colorize well, like Bogey in a pink shirt in Casablanca. Others, like It’s a Wonderful Life, work fine in color. And a few like the original The Bishops’s Wife are better colorized.

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
13. I love that movie but I think I only saw it in B and W.
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 04:45 PM
Jun 2021

I think that the last scene in Casablanca would definitely NOT work in color. The whole scene "works" in black and greys and white.

 

alphafemale

(18,497 posts)
15. I do not recall seeing a colorized "It's a Wonderful Life."
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 10:36 PM
Jun 2021

I just don't.

And I think are look bad and are very fake looking.

exboyfil

(17,857 posts)
9. Orson Wells
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 12:59 PM
Jun 2021

"Keep Ted Turner and his damn Crayola crayons away from my movie!" ~ Orson Wells on "Citizen Kane" being colorized.

I personally think the older films should be left alone in general. I couldn't imagine colorizing noir movies for example.

We also now have the problem of updating CGI effects (and in some cases adding extraneous effects - see Star Wars). In the case of Star Wars, Lucas himself is doing that desecration.

There are times when changes are an improvement. For example removing evidence of wires from the War of The Worlds Martian ships.

The one thing about black and white especially for documentaries it gives the wrong impression of the past being colorless. There could be cases in which colorization does make sense. There are World War I photos that were in color using a different process (I once had a book with them in it). It gives a different impression seeing it.

Lunabell

(5,920 posts)
10. If it doesn't ruin the original, I don't see the problem.
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 01:43 PM
Jun 2021

Just keep the original black and white for those who prefer it.

Paladin

(28,204 posts)
11. Bogdanovich was smart enough to go with B&W on his best films.
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 03:21 PM
Jun 2021

I wouldn't waste time on a colorized "The Last Picture Show."

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
21. I never saw one myself. But I did see early attempts at color that were done beautifully. I am
Thu Jun 3, 2021, 01:59 PM
Jun 2021

thinking of "Robin Hood" which I think was shot in an early color film. Technicolor was stunning, a truly artistic color film.

csziggy

(34,120 posts)
16. I'd be pissed if they colorized Young Frankenstein!
Wed Jun 2, 2021, 11:56 PM
Jun 2021

For older movies, I'm not sure. I don't particularly like B&W photos but I'm so used to the B&W classic movies, they would look wrong in color.

ailsagirl

(22,842 posts)
17. I prefer black & white movies
Thu Jun 3, 2021, 12:55 AM
Jun 2021

When those films are colorized, I think they look terrible and so-o fake. IMO

Glorfindel

(9,706 posts)
20. Interesting discussion. I have no general objection
Thu Jun 3, 2021, 10:08 AM
Jun 2021

to colorizing movies, but I can't imagine "To Kill a Mockingbird" in color. It just wouldn't work.

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»What is your opinion on "...