I think more of today’s films should be in black and white. Is black-and-white the best choice for every film? Of course not. But it can absolutely be a powerful storytelling technique. The limited onscreen colorization keeps the viewer focused on the character, scene, and story. For that same reason, Orson Welles once said that black and white is an “actor’s best friend.”
Many modern films work well in black and white. They help the viewer experience their own feelings and minimize how “busy” the scene can feel. Overproduction goes the opposite direction – some films tend to create feelings and emotions for the viewer, without giving the viewer a chance to actually feel them. For instance, I’m not a huge fan of Baz Luhrmann’s films because they have too much production value. I couldn’t finish Moulin Rouge! (2000) because of it. I still liked The Great Gatsby (2013), but it didn’t need to be a film made for IMAX.
Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy the occasional CGI spectacle. For instance, Marvel movies work because of their source material: comic books. You can’t tone down these kinds of movies – they’re supposed to be bright, colorful, and a little unbelievable.
Though this is not a modern film, The Last Picture Show (1971) works in black and white because it forces you to focus on the performances. Cloris Leachman won an Oscar for her role, and I think that focus is part of the reason why. Director Peter Bogdanovich also quoted Orson Welles regarding his decision to film in black and white. Colorization was a common practice before 1971, but thankfully it hadn’t overcome every film just yet.
The Last Picture Show takes place in a small town in North Texas in the early 1950s. A few teenagers, fresh out of high school, are trying to make the most of their lives in a town that’s fallen on hard times. Bogdanovich’s decision to film in black-and-white was a wise one because it provides the story’s setting with an appropriately bleak tone. I feel that filming the story in color would have been distracting. The viewer doesn’t need to know the exact colors of the characters’ clothing, hair, or surroundings – they only need to experience the story. The lack of color helps the viewer sympathize with the characters.
Another film that works well in black and white is Schindler’s List (1993). The prologue and epilogue are in color, but the bulk of the film is not. I believe the use of black and white is intended to not only create a sense of desolation, but also to serve as a somber look back at a tragic time.
The Holocaust was unimaginably difficult for those who experienced it. Director Steven Spielberg was also wise to make this film in black and white. The inspiration for this decision came from the way documentary films were shot during that time: no Steadicams or dollies, and limited crane shots. This is a huge turnaround from Jurassic Park (1993), which Spielberg released only a few months before Schindler’s List.
The emotionally disturbing scene of the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto had limited use of color. A young girl catches the eye of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) as he witnesses the horror of what’s going on. She is wearing a red coat – the only color on the screen. This is very much a source of symbolism, and I believe it prompted the change in Schindler. At the time of the liquidation, he was a war profiteer, but seeing the girl gave him a change of heart. This provokes him to act, using his power to save as many lives as he can.
The girl in red, against the stark black-and-white environment, is one of the best uses of color in film. The extremely limited use of color here makes the scene more powerful – the little girl stands out, evoking strong emotions in both the viewer and Schindler.
Kevin Smith’s debut film Clerks (1994) works in black and white. Since black-and-white was the only film stock that Smith could afford on the limited budget, he lucked out! Regardless of the reasoning, the dreariness works well for this film. Clerks is a “day in the life” perspective of Dante, a convenience store clerk, and Randall, who works in the video store next door.
These two spend most of the day complaining about their jobs and the types of people they have to serve. Dante is more depressed than Randall since he is working on (what was supposed to be) his day off. Randall, however, doesn’t seem to mind as much because he thrives on not living up to the standards of customer service.
The black-and-white look of the film helps us empathize with Dante and what he’s going through. I can relate – I’ve been called in on my day off before, and it’s difficult to give 100%. Clerks is another film I appreciate because it’s so relatable. I see the film’s monochromatic look as the way most retail workers feel about their reluctance to work at the whim of others, particularly in a setting where not much goes on.
Nebraska (2013) is one of my favorite films, not only for its performances, script, and direction, but also for its use of black and white. I read that Paramount Pictures tried to persuade Payne to make this film in color, but Payne was adamant that the film remained in black and white. He won that battle after test audiences responded positively to the film.
This film is like The Last Picture Show with its small-town setting, except that it takes place in the modern day. Woody (Bruce Dern) goes on a road trip with his son David (Will Forte) after he receives a circular in the mail saying that he won a million dollars. David knows that the letter is phony but decides to take his dad anyway. They leave Billings, Montana for Lincoln, Nebraska, but stay in the fictional Hawthorne, Nebraska after a couple of mishaps.
The lack of color in this film again shows the monotonous nature of small-town life. It also helps provide a focus on the powerful performances. I love the use of black and white because of how it represents the way the main characters feel after being away from small-town living for so many years. It’s an evocative film about looking back and reminiscing.
A lack of color in modern films doesn’t mean they’re not worth watching. It doesn’t show laziness or a lack of production value. They’re certainly better than over-produced films! I’ve made the argument before that no one should ever convert a black-and-white film to color. The use of black and white is more powerful than you think.
Happy watching!
