Black and white films create a unique impression that can't be achieved with color. Whether some of these films were made in black and white because it was cheaper or color wasn't available is irrelevant because it's obvious the makers of these films took full advantage of the medium with the choice of camera shots and lighting. They were masters of light. The artistic use of shadow and light is beneficial to mediocre films and rapturous to good ones. When I see the disastrous effects of colorization I get angry. The process alters the character and drains the subtleties from the film.

A host of great photographers the likes of Ansel Adams, Robert Mapplethorpe and Matt Frank often made the artistic choice to make their pictures in black and white.

If movies are an art form, and they are, then there is clearly a custodial responsibility of the owners of films to preserve and protect them in there original form as much as possible. It is tragically short-sighted to alter this art just because an amazing technology was invented that can do it. Viewers of black and white films that have been time-altered, abridged or colorized, are being cheated of their right to experience the work in it's best and honest form, as well as short-changing the artisans that created it. Colorization is a travesty.

My perspective - If you want John Houston's 1941 classic, The Maltese Falcon in color, remake it, (but why on earth would you want to?)

I have included a few "Glorious Glossy's"
for your enjoyment.

The Maltese Falcon Humphry Bogart

Bringing Up Baby Kathrine Hepburn and Cary Grant

Shadow Of Doubt Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotton

It Happened One Night Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable

Roman Holiday Audry Hepburn and Gregory Peck

The Philadelphia Story Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart

Open City Anna Magnani and Aldo Fabrizzi

Brief Encounter Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard

Broadway Melody Of 1940 Elenor Powel and Fred Astaire

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