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SALT LAKE CITY — In a cinematic era of high-octane computer graphics, some younger viewers may not be accustomed to vintage black and white movies. Admittedly, some of the older classics haven't transferred well into modern mainstream cinematic relevance. There are a few movies so timeless, though, they are all but required viewing for any cinephile. If you love big drama, incredible acting, and riveting plots, don't pass up a selection of classic black and whites. These films are sure to satisfy even the most modern of movie tastes.
This was one of Alfred Hitchcock's earlier films. While not paced as fast or as violent as some of his later works, "Rebecca" still delivers chills and suspense in spades. The film follows a young woman who marries the mysterious and dashing millionaire, Maxim. The two begin their life together at Manderley, a sprawling manor on the English countryside.
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At once, the young bride (who is never named) begins to feel haunted by the ghost of Maxim's first and now deceased wife Rebecca. What this movie really has going for it, apart from Hitchcock's standard eagle-eye for detail, is the masterfully crafted script adapted from author Daphne Du Maurier's novel of the same name.
Most will say "well, duh" to this one. What's incredible to me though is how many younger people have never seen this iconic film. Most viewers from the current generation will be able to spot moments in the film they've seen parodied over and over again in modern popular culture. The film follows Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund as they search for love in tumultuous Casablanca, Morocco during World War II.
Each frame could be, well, framed and hung on the wall for all the attention to detail director Michael Curtis took when he crafted the scenes. What really makes this movie a must-see are the powerhouse performances by pretty much every actor on screen, from Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman to Peter Lorre and Claude Rains. Make it an event, dress in your finest tuxedo or cocktail attire, and spend an evening with Sam and the gang at Rick's.
A black and white western is mandatory viewing for the burgeoning classics aficionado. "High Noon" delivers everything a classic western should; horses, gun fights, Gary Cooper and lots of trains and dust. The cast is rock solid, with Cooper playing a sheriff turned storekeeper turned sheriff, and Grace Kelly as his new bride.
Cooper and Kelly work wonderfully together as the conflicted lawman and his Quaker, principled wife. When a villain is set to ride into town on the noon train, Cooper's character Will must face him down in a standoff clasico. Full of tense moments and heartfelt romance, "High Noon" is a definite must-watch for any and all movie buffs.
The quintessential farcical satire, perfectly paced and uproariously delivered, "Some Like it Hot" will please even the most modern of film predilections. Marilyn Monroe shines as Sugar Cane, a lounge singer with a bad eye for men. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon round out the cast as her two cross-dressing band mates who deliver a laugh a minute.
Director Billy Wilder spares no expense with the jokes and plays every scene up to a 10. If you think older movies can't be funny, think again. Interesting tidbit; this movie earned a C (Condemned) from the National Legion of Decency when it was released in 1959. I wonder what the NLD would think of some of our contemporary comedies.
This is one of those movies where the book and movie may be equally matched in quality. I'd recommend reading the book first so you can get a good feel for the setting and details of the plot (everyone should read the book at least once, and I dare you not to reread it every year or so).
The movie is a stand-alone, bringing in what has been called the best performance by an actor in the 20th century. Gregory Peck plays Atticus Finch, a widowed southern lawyer with two young children and an acute moral compass. He takes on the case of an African American man accused of a heinous crime at a time in history when rights for black Americans were not held to a high standard. Peck earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in 1963 as well as a spot at the top of film history.
What are your favorite black and white movies? Are there any you'd suggest for people who aren't as fond of the genre?
