20 best black-and-white movie that is worth watching even now
Educational Program Cinema / / December 19, 2019
1. Nosferatu, a symphony of horror
Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens
- Germany, 1922.
- Horror.
- Duration: 94 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,0.
Classic Silent Film German film director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, which entered the list of Empire magazineThe 100 Best Films Of World Cinema "100 best films of world cinema."
It was after the release of "Nosferatu," the legend of the vampire can die from sunlight began to use in other works. First it is nowhere mentioned, even in the novel by Bram Stoker's "Dracula", which was created based on "A Symphony of Horror."
Decades later, the other directors filmed various remakes of "Nosferatu". In one of them - "Shadow of the Vampire" in 2000 with John Malkovich - states that in the filming of the picture almost a hundred years ago it was a real a vampire.
2. City Lights
City Lights
- United States, 1931.
- Drama, romance, comedy.
- Duration: 87 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,6.
Silent film comedian Charlie Chaplin tramp about the relationship and the blind flower girl, taken at a time when the talkies existed for several years.
The picture has been ranked in the listTOP 10 ROMANTIC Comedies 10 best romantic comedies according to the American Institute of Motion Picture Arts and included in the National RegisterComplete National Film Registry ListingUS films.
3. It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night
- United States, 1934.
- Romantic comedy, road movie.
- Duration: 105 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,1.
The film is about a road adventure reporter loser and daughter of a millionaire. Starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
This two-tone pattern for the first time in history has won as many as five "Oscars"In major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Screenplay. Later, it was only two color film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975) and "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991).
4. citizen Kane
Citizen Kane
- United States, 1941.
- Drama.
- Duration: 119 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,4.
First Full Movies Orson Welles that the British Film Institute named five timesThe 50 Greatest Films of All Time best film of all time.
The film tells about the life of media tycoon, using money and power to satisfy their own whims. The action takes place against the backdrop of journalistic investigation, which aims - to find out why Kane said before his death, the word rosebud ( «pink bud").
"Citizen Kane" won the "Oscar" for best screenplay.
View in Google Play →
View in iTunes →
5. Bicycle Thieves
Ladri di biciclette
- Italy, 1948.
- Drama.
- Duration: 89 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,3.
Vittorio de Sica's film about the head of the family, trying to ensure that their loved ones after the war, became a classic neorelizma. The picture won the special prize of the American Film Academy Award, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and "Golden Globes". It consistently ranks in the top hundred rankings IMDbTop 250 as rated by IMDb Users and occupies one of the top lines in the list of the 100 greatest movies of the world The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema.
6. Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
- United States, 1950.
- Drama, noir.
- Duration: 110 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,5.
Young writer accidentally falls into the mansion aging Hollywood actress, who lives the illusion that she was still the star. Agreeing to help her work on hopeless scenario, the hero remains to live in the mansion. But soon it becomes a hindrance for his new novel.
One of the best works of the director Billy Wilder takes the viewer intrigue not so much a story as tragic predestined: at the beginning of the viewer sees floating in the water body of the protagonist. The film received three "Oscars" and four "Golden Globe".
7. Rashomon
Rashomon
- Japan, 1950.
- Crime drama.
- Duration: 88 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,3.
Akira Kurosawa for the first time in the film shows the same event from different perspectives.
In the ruins of the stone Rashomon gate hidden from the storm woodcutter and the monk, who testified at the trial for the murder of the samurai and the rape of his wife. They are joined by passers-by who they are and tell the story. However, participants are not the same version.
Revolutionary film about the search for truth has received numerous awards, including a special prize of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and "Golden Lion" at the Venice Film Festival.
8. Roman holiday
roman Holiday
- United States, 1953.
- Comedy, Romance.
- Duration: 118 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,1.
For the role of the princess in this romantic comedy actress Audrey Hepburn for the first time he received the "Oscar" and "Golden Globe" and the award of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Two more "Oscars" film was awarded for Best Costume Design and Best Screenplay.
American Film Institute put "Roman Holiday" to fourth place in the list of "100 most passionateAFI's 100 GREATEST LOVE STORIES OF ALL TIME films for 100 years "and" top 10 AFI's 10 Top 10 films in 10 classic genres. " US National Council made a tape in the registerComplete National Film Registry Listing films of particular cultural, historical or aesthetic significance.
View in Google Play →
View in iTunes →
9. 12 Angry Men
12 Angry Men
- United States, 1956.
- Legal drama.
- Duration: 96 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,9.
This film adaptation of the play by Reginald Rose on the meeting of 12 jurors. film critics named AFI's 10 Top 10 its one of the greatest paintings in the history of law. The film won the main prize of the Berlin Film Festival and the Prize of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and entered the top IMDbTop Rated Movies.
10. Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot
- United States, 1959.
- Screwball comedy.
- Duration: 119 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,3.
Billy Wilder's film follows the adventures of two musiciansWho are forced to hide in a female guise of pursuing their gangsters. The best American comedy of all timeAFI's 100 Funniest American Movies Of All Time collected at the box office of $ 25 million, has won the "Oscar" and three "Golden Globe".
11. Psycho
Psycho
- United States, 1960.
- Psychological horror, horror.
- Duration: 109 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,5.
At the heart of "Psycho" is a true story maniacDescribed by Robert Bloch. Alfred Hitchcock writer paid 9000 dollars for the film rights, and bought almost all instances of the same name novel, to keep the ending a secret film.
As a result, the picture has collected $ 32 million and has received several awards, including the "Golden Globe".
View in Google Play →
View in iTunes →
12. To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird
- United States, 1962.
- Drama.
- Duration: 129 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,3.
The picture tells the story of Robert Mulligan's father-alone Atticus Finch, a lawyer who works and has to defend in the African-American Court. Later, American Film Institute recognized Atticus (played by Gregory Peck) most positiveAFI's 100 GREATEST HEROES & VILLAINS hero in history.
The film based on the novel by Harper Lee received three "Oscars", three "Golden Globe" and the award of the Cannes festival. In 2006, the British Guardian newspaper calledThe big 50 "To Kill a Mockingbird" the best adaptation of of all time.
View in Google Play →
View in iTunes →
13. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
- US, UK, 1964.
- Black comedy.
- Duration: 95 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,4.
The picture of the obsessive American general who, bypassing the US high command organized nuclear attack the Soviet Union. The list of the best movies IMDbTop Rated Movies It stands above the rest masterpiece by Stanley Kubrick. This is not surprising: the film masterfully satirizes the arms race of the Cold War.
"Dr. Strangelove" has received a lot of winning, including the award of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and ranks third in the listAFI's 100 Funniest American Movies Of All Timethe best comedies of the American Film Institute.
14. Andrei Rublev
andrey Rublev
- USSR, 1966.
- Drama. biography.
- Duration: 175 minutes - short version, 205 minutes - complete.
- IMDb: 8,2.
Two-part film by Andrei Tarkovsky shows the events in Russia, the beginning of the XV century through the eyes of an icon painter Andrei Rublev.
The film received the prize of the International Federation of Film at the Cannes Film Festival. Ranked among the top 250 movies IMDbTop Rated Movies and the 100 greatest films of cinema according to Empire magazineThe 100 Best Films Of World Cinema.
View in Google Play →
View in iTunes →
15. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- United States, 1966.
- Drama.
- Duration: 131 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,1.
A painting of Elizabeth Taylor in the title role is considered a classic of social drama. Viewers were shocked seen on screen family conflicts and swearing.
The last black and white film studio Warner Bros. already received five awards "Oscar" and three awards of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, entered in the National Register of US films Complete National Film Registry Listing.
View in Google Play →
View in iTunes →
16. Manhattan
Manhattan
- USA, 1979.
- Drama, comedy.
- Duration: 96 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,0.
The film is about a middle-aged intellectual throwing became a hit at the box office and over the years has gained a cult status. According to critics, this is the best work Woody Allen.
"Manhattan" has received numerous awards, including the "Cesar", a BAFTA Award and the National Society of Film Critics United States.
17. The Elephant Man
The Elephant Man
- US, UK, 1980.
- Drama.
- Duration: 124 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,2.
David Lynch's film is based on the biography of the famous XIX century Briton Joseph Merrick - the main "exhibit" traveling circus with growths on his body. Once Dr. Sir Frederick Treves (played by Anthony Hopkins) discovers Elephant Man and decides to help him.
The film received three BAFTA Award "Cesar" and the Grand Prix at the International Festival fiction Film Avoriaz.
View in Google Play →
18. Mad bull
Raging Bull
- USA, 1980.
- Biopic.
- Duration: 129 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,2.
Martin Scorsese made this film based on the memoirs of the American boxer Jake LaMotta. The role of the indomitable and ill athlete played by Robert De Niro. The picture won first place in the list of the top 10 sports movies AFI's 10 Top 10 and entered the list of 100 best American thrillersAFI'S 100 MOST THRILLING AMERICAN FILMS.
"Raging Bull" won two "Oscar", "Golden Globe", a BAFTA Award and many other awards.
View in iTunes →
19. Schindler's list
Schindler's List
- USA, 1993.
- Historical drama.
- Duration: 195 minutes.
- IMDb: 8,9.
The most expensive and commercially successful black-and-white film with a budget of $ 25 million from its global rental fees amounted to 321 million. This work of Steven Spielberg about the businessman Oskar Schindler, who saved more than a thousand Jews, has received numerous awards: seven "Oscars", a BAFTA seven awards, three "Golden Globe" and a "Grammy".
View in Google Play →
View in iTunes →
20. Ed Wood
ed Wood
- USA, 1994.
- Tragikomediyny biopic.
- Duration: 127 minutes.
- IMDb: 7,9.
Movie Tim Burton fun tells the story of the worst director in Hollywood history. This comedy-drama attracted stars of the first magnitude - Johnny Depp, Bill Murray, Sarah Jessica Parker and Martin Landau. Last of the Actor (he played Bela Lugosi) received the "Oscar" and "Golden Globes".
Total "Ed Wood" was already 25 awards, including two awards "Oscar" (in addition to the work of Landau, critics appreciated the make-up artists).
View in Google Play →
View in iTunes →
Do you want to add to the list? Then write the name of your favorite black-and-white film in the comments.
see also
- 12 black-and-white films of recent years →
- 20 beautiful retro films, from which it is impossible to break away →
- From Jane Austen to Chuck Palahniuk: 20 good films made from books →
- 12 female directors of our time, whose films are worth seeing →