Why do people consider black and white movies to be boring?

Question

I think some of the best films ever written are on the silver screen.
Help me understand. Is it the lack of color?

Answer 1

It may be a question of conditioning. It isn't just color that has changed. Plots have changed, acting has changed, special effects have changed. Rarely will a film simply rely on just plot. Back in the days of black & white, plot and acting were really all they had. I once rented a film (Paperhouse) and my friend's tv wasn't working properly; we couldn't get any color. Ten minutes into the film, we didn't even notice anymore.

If you look back at films like Casablanca, Maltese Falcon, Sunset Blvd, Laura, you will find outstanding films.

You can also ask the same question about subtitles. Personally, I find dubbing to be infinitely more distracting.

Answer 2

I think it is the lack of color. Also, I think because of the clothing, the way the movie is filmed, and even some of the dialogue and acting (which seems very unrealistic) makes people not like black and white movies. Personally, I like older movies, especially older movies that I didn't know were remade. For example, The Manchurian Candidate was very interesting, but when finding out that it was a remake and seeing the original, I was very much caught up in the original. I would then compare the two. I would look for the differences and similarities. Sometimes, watching remakes of old films makes me watch them more.

Answer 3

All the Bob Hope movies, White Christmas It's a Wonderful Life What ever happened to Baby Jane Gone With the Wind The Wizard of Oz (the part that is black and white) Miracle on 34th Street I loved the old Doris Day movies like The Silvery Moon. Shirley Temple movies. Casablanca

Answer 4

Sorry. Your not going to get any answers out of me here. Not only some of the greatest plot lines ever written were done in black and white. (Casablanca, To Have and Have Not, From Here to Eternity, Raging Bull, Citizen Cane, Rebel with out a Cause, The Searchers.) But some of the all time greatest actors to ever hit Hollywood graced the silver screen in B/W. (Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, James Cagney, Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, Betti Davis, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, The Marx Brothers, Boris Karloff, James Dean, Marlon Brando, Doris Day, James Garner) .
How anybody can dismiss this much talent and entertainment is completely beyond me. I actually had to pay more and look harder to find a copy of Casablanca in black and white. (I hate that colorizing cr@p! Ted Turner needs to leave the classics ALONE!)

Answer 5

Color is more realistic. I think people expect color. The emphasis is on cinematic special effects and less on story, plot development, and acting skill.

Sometimes Black and white can be more artsy. More Dramatic and it takes great deal of skill to light the scene for effect. The Film Noir, Casablanca, Maltese Falcon, Key Largo, would loose a lot of dramatic punch if filmed in color. I doubt if a remake of these movies would ever reach the acclaim of the original.

Answer 6

I don't.

But, I believe the reason is because (I am a video/film major mind you):

Lack of any special effects
Much slower pacing than today's movies
Bland camera angles and editing (usually)
Too much head room
Issues and plots that are old
More over-the-top, soap opera acting


I just watched "12 Angry Men" for the first time last week and I was positively rivoted - B&W movies are still amazing, so you must be talking to the wrong people.

Answer 7

We live in a very selfish, fast pace world today. People want what they want and are very impatient. Black and White movies seem to be slower than most movies made today. That's probably why. They sure are missing out on some great movies. I love many of them myself. They seem to have an in depth story plot. I wish more movies today were made that way.

Answer 8

Too many people think if a movie wasn't made in the last year, it's old and stale. Whereas I think if it was made in the last year, it is not nearly as interesting as the movies made in the 30's and 40's. Those movies had to make up in content and acting what was lacking in technology. They played to our imaginations. We filled in the blanks. Today, there is no need to bring our imaginations to the theatre to watch a modern movie.

Answer 9

Lack of color has a little to do with it but isn't the only reason. Movies nowadays pretty much get away with anything and everything, and thus viewers are desensitized to sex, language, violence, etc. While the sex, language and violence still occurred back then, it wasn't "glorified" onscreen like it is today and alot of things were left entirely to the imagination. People today don't generally like to use their imagination becasue they want everything laid out for them.

Answer 10

I think our short attention span is a contributor. Old B&W movies are usually slower paced than our films now. Also, the acting style is pretty different-often melodramatic and highly stylized.

They're just not tuned to the modern aesthetic.