Dish of the Day
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Sunday, February 5, 2023
A topic that consistently arises in our cinema chatroom (all readers are encouraged to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902349343110685) relates to…
… older black and white films and how so many film goers remain reluctant to see them. One cinema enthusiast even admitted generally avoiding both black and white films and cinema produced prior to the nineties because he found them less relatable and therefore not as engrossing. I expressed some thoughts on this subject that I hoped would be helpful to both those who wish to watch older, black and white films with friends or loved ones who might be resistant to doing so, and the young person raising similar objections, to whom I addressed the following response.
“I cannot tell you how many young people, actually people of all ages, who have declined to see anything past a certain time period or in black and white or both, I and others have totally captivated when showing them certain films that they otherwise would have not viewed. Some were so stubborn, I had to ambush them, like a girlfriend a long time ago who liked horror films but adamantly refused to see anything in black and white. The film I took her to see was Repulsion and it blew her mind, and bias out forever.
I've seen enormous crowds, at least over 500 gathered, people of all ages (from 11 - 90+) at theatrical or outdoor screenings of black and white films of the distant past who were laughing hysterically at A Night at the Opera or sobbing after Goodbye Mr. Chips.
Cinema is storytelling whether it be black and white or in colour, released recently or 100 years ago. As such, great films that speak to you have the capacity to change your life forever. Certain films will never be forgotten nor their importance diminished. Someday, thoughts of black and white or when was it made you'll look back on as trivial as what colour of popsicle you preferred as a kid. Think of watching a film as a totally engrossing story told around a campfire. Would the campfire itself, the weather, the others who were there really matter if you were hanging on every word? Wouldn't all those thoughts disappear with the right story told by a master storyteller?
What would you say to someone who claims to be a fan of cinema who only wants to see films made yesterday that cost half a billion dollars? That's just an extreme example of what you're doing. Films like the ones mentioned here [by others on this particular post] transcend colour and time period. That is why they are constantly mentioned in rooms like this one, discussed in magazines and books, issued on Blu-ray, played on TCM and other cable channels, shown on television, discussed and revered by so many including contemporaries in the movie business, experts and laypersons alike.”
All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.
Hope to see you tomorrow.
A.G.