Top 5 Favorite Black and White Films from 1960-2009

 by Paul Gordon

By the year 1960, color movies had gradually become the norm, not just for musicals and westerns but for all movies, and it was a conscious decision for a director to make a film in black and white from that point on. But whether it was for effect or to fit the budget, black and white films were still made after then, and are still made every once in a while now. I personally love it when a director takes the risk of making a black and white film nowadays, and without further ado, I present my favorite black and white films from 1960-2009. (Make the jump to see the list).

5. FOLLOWING (Dir. Christopher Nolan) (1998)

The first film from director Christopher Nolan, this ultra-low budget film (made for $1000) is one of my favorite noir movies. Just like his second film Memento, this movie has scenes that are out of sequence which do a nice job of keeping the audience guessing, and the completely unknown actors actually do a great job of portraying an almost constant sense of urgency or suspicion.

 4. RAGING BULL (Dir. Martin Scorsese) (1980)

Not so much about Ray LaMotta's success in the ring as it is about his controversial life outside the sport of boxing, director Martin Scorsese's biopic starring Robert De Niro is one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. I think of all the movies on this list, this movie is the hardest to imagine in color because the fact that it's black and white makes it that much more potent and raw.

3. MANHATTAN (Dir. Woody Allen) (1979)

One of most beautifully shot movies I have ever seen, Manhattan is one of director Woody Allen's best. It seems in this one that Allen is just as in love with the city as he is with Mariel Hemingway, who plays his 17-year-old love interest, Tracy, in the movie. Once again, Allen displays his ability to talk about his favorite subject, love, in a most unique fashion. I could watch this movie over and over and never tire of it.

 

2. PSYCHO (Dir. Alfred Hitchcock) (1960)

This all time classic horror movie, from the master of horror himself, Alfred Hitchcock, just barely fits the criteria of being made post-50's. Hitchcock, however, had made a few movies in color before this one, and his decision to make Psycho black and white was genius, giving it a very independent and realistic feel.

1. DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (Dir. Stanley Kubrick) (1964)

Quite possibly my favorite comedy of all time, this gem of a satire is directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick. With spectacular performances from Peter Sellers (who plays three different characters) and George C. Scott, what's not to love (pun intended) about this movie?