Is There a Future for Films of the Past? (Part One)
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- MindyB
- Bard4C
- Hackenbush
- Hackenbush
- billie0
- CheyenneGold
- Hackenbush
- CheyenneGold
- Hackenbush
- CheyenneGold
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» MindyB - B&W
Good point! I, too, catch the oldies on Turner (don't get AMC). I love the Sunday night Silent features, also. You are right, however, that I never see them on our locally owned stations or on the major 3. Of course, I'd never expect to see one on something like TBS. My kids get bored with most of the old black and whites, although, believe me, they have been exposed! The do sit for hours and watch Laurel and Hardy, The Three Stooges and Abbott and Costello on tapes my husband made in the early 1980s --- on regular channels. Thinking about what else my husband taped back then on a variety of channels, I wonder how long ago the B&Whites were relegated to the classic stations. We have "Bells of St. Mary's,"To Kill a Mockingbird," "All About Eve" that he taped, amongst many, many others. Until I read your article it hadn't occurred to me that they are no longer regular fare on other channels. Was viewership down when these movies were aired because the younger audience wasn't used to them? I also notice there isn't the flashy musical score behind most of them. The music is more subtle and not in your face. This subliminal effect might be part of it, too.-- posted by MindyB
» Hackenbush - Re: Re: B&W
In response to message posted by Bard4C:The links for Turner Classics and American Movie Classics can be found in my list of links here at Black and White Movies. - John B.
-- posted by Hackenbush
» Hackenbush - Re: B&W
In response to message posted by MindyB:I remember still being able to catch Laurel and Hardy, CASABLANCA and lots of other great movies on local stations in the mid-eighties. I think in the late eighties and early nineties, cable television really took off and affected everything on the local stations - from news to entertainment. I don't know if the cable stations have exclusive rights to old sitcoms and movies, but if they do, that means these are no longer available to the local broadcast stations, and so those stations have filled their mornings and afternoons with much different entertainment.
One of my concerns is that cable is still not everywhere, and so there are many areas in the U.S. where people do not have access to classic movies.
I had quite a collection of black and white movies taped from local stations, though I have managed over the years to replace most of them with newer copies from cable. But I still have THE GRAPES OF WRATH - the first movie I ever taped, probably 17 years ago! - John B.
-- posted by Hackenbush
» billie0 - I hope there is a future
In response to message posted by MindyB:I hope there is a future for B&W movies. They are still being made and I hope they will continue to be made. I make a point of watching black and white films on tv because I know a lot of them will be wonderful. A lot of people won't take the time to watch black and white films, they are missing out on some excellent entertainment.
My next article on my site (to be published on Tuesday) is about In The Bleak Midwinter (A Midwinter's Tale). It was made in 1995. It's a black and white film from Kenneth Branagh.
-- posted by billie0
» CheyenneGold - An appreciative youth
I am a fifteen year old girl, and I love the classic movies. I spend more time watching AMC and Turner than I do any other channels. I also like to watch TV 34 Classics when they're broadcasting. There's another channel that also plays a lot of black and white movies, but I don't know what broadcasting company it is. Just the other day in fact I watched Guys and Dolls, Anchors Aweigh, Singin' in the Rain, and I'm no Angel in one day. It was a rainy day so I could get away with it. It is my strong opinion that the acting in these movies are far superior to most of the movies you see today, and so are the storylines. If you could recommend any good movies to me, I would really appreciate it.-- posted by CheyenneGold
» Hackenbush - Re: An appreciative youth
In response to message posted by CheyenneGold:
It was heartening to read your message. As for movie recommendations, I can start off with a quick list of some of my favorite black and white films (just to keep it in topic) along with a short description:
ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES - Two childhood friends grow up in New York. One grows up to be a priest, the other a local gangster. James Cagney stars as the Gangster, Rocky Sullivan. My favorite James Cagney film.
MONKEY BUSINESS, HORSE FEATHERS, DUCK SOUP or A NIGHT AT THE OPERA - Four classics starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico and sometimes Zeppo). In order, the films feature The Brothers hiding out in plain sight on an ocean liner (that's about all there is to the story of MONKEY BUSINESS); Groucho as president of a college; Groucho as president of the mythical country of Freedonia; and The Brothers (minus Zeppo) unleashed in the world of high society and opera. Some people don't like The Marx Brothers, but I think the above four films are amongst the funniest in history.
Just about anything starring Humphrey Bogart, but try these: CASABLANCA, THE MALTESE FALCON,THE BIG SLEEP or my favorite, KEY LARGO. Movies don't come any better than KEY LARGO.
Of course, I have to name Orson Welle's CITIZEN KANE simply because if I didn't, my Bachelor of Arts Degree in film would probably be taken away by the powers that be. But you can also check out Welle's later classic TOUCH OF EVIL, starring Welles and Charlton Heston.
And a personal favorite, available on video and sometimes shown on Turner Classics: OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES, starring Edward G. Robinson as an immigrant farmer and Margaret O'Brien as his daughter. A beautiful little movie without much of a story.
You can also get some good recommendations by reading the articles on this site. I usually review my favorite films, though sometimes (as in my review of COLLEGE CONFIDENTIAL), I write about bad movies.
John
-- posted by Hackenbush
» CheyenneGold - Re: Re: An appreciative youth
In response to message posted by Hackenbush:First of all I would like to thank you for all of your suggestions, I really do appreciate them.
Lets see, I've seen Casablanca, and coincidentally the morning that I read your response Key Largo was on, but I was only able to catch a few minutes of it because I had to go out. But I did manage to catch another Bogart film, The African Queen with Katherine Hepburn. I love that movie, especially the ending.
What else...Oh I just saw Harvey Girls with Judy Garland, and Every Girl should be married with Carey Grant (one of my favorite actors).
Thanks again for your suggestions, and anyone else who knows any other good films, your suggestions are welcome.
-- posted by CheyenneGold
» Hackenbush - Re: Re: Re: An appreciative youth
In response to message posted by CheyenneGold:If you liked The Harvey Girls, you should check out Meet Me in St. Louis. A wonderful Judy Garland musical. The "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" scene is a heartbreaker. Turner Classics plays it often.
The African Queen is an outstanding film. I can't review it on this page, but if I could, I would. If you ever see Key largo listed again, try to catch it. Or see if a local video store rents it. With a cast featuring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson steals the whole picture in one of his last great roles as a gangster. And... it's in glorious black and white!
- John
-- posted by Hackenbush
» CheyenneGold - Re: Re: Re: Re: An appreciative youth
In response to message posted by Hackenbush:Thanks a lot, I've never been able to finish Meet me In St. Louis, but I'll have to now. I also just saw Ocean's Eleven, which I thought was a very good movie. I didn't expect the ending, plus I love just about anything with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack (including the old leader Bogart) whether its on film or music. I'm going to the library soon so I'll definitely look up some of those movies you suggested to me.
-- posted by CheyenneGold
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