Starting a thread about B&W v colour remakes in films

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Sezit

I am at the moment re-reading Jayne Eyre which I downloaded for nowt on my Kindle.

I am loving every word of it.It got me thinking about all of the films that have been made about Jayne Eyre, and my all time favourite is the old black and white one with Orson Welles as Mister Rochester and Joan Fontaine as Jayne Eyre. I think that, apart from from the superb acting, the black and white film does add atomosphere as well. The remakes which have all been in colour are not a patch on the one I have mentioned.
I was interested in finding out if other peeps have favourite films which have been re-made and which version they prefer.
I also like the Alistair Symm A christmas Carol better than any of the others.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Former Member

Oh thats a tricky one....

I can't think of any remakes cos most of them seem pointless..

I will have a think

2/10/1110:34 AM

SezitMember

Do you see that I don't start threads I can't get rid of that "kes" on the end of my title.

2/10/1110:34 AM

Former Member

Reference:

Do you see that I don't start threads I can't get rid of that "kes" on the end of my title.

I didn't notice it...

2/10/1110:38 AM

SezitMember

I have managed to sort it Issy.

2/10/1110:39 AM

CosmopolitanMember 10 years

Reference:

Orson Welles as Mister Rochester and Joan Fontaine as Jayne Eyre.

A classic and all the better for being in B&W as you said, Sez.
Same as Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights, or as talked about on an other thread, What Ever Happened To Baby Jane.

I can't imagine them in colour

2/10/1110:43 AM

CosmopolitanMember 10 years

oooh, and just a thought, but this wouldn't be right in colour either:

I suppose it's because we're used to it

The flip side to this is Gone With The Wind, The Big Country, Zulu etc.,... can't imagine any of them NOT in colour.

2/10/1111:03 AM

SezitMember

Thats true Cosi, maybe just because we are used to it, and as you say Wuthering heights, that would have loads taken away from it of it was in colour By the way Casablanca, another all time favourite.

2/10/1111:09 AM

CosmopolitanMember 10 years

Sezit - Rebecca..!

Imagine that in vibrant colours; it just wouldn't work.

Of course they've got the technology now to mute and tone everything down (I'm thinking of the original Godfather film where most of the scenes depict drab colourings).

2/10/1111:17 AM

SezitMember

Of course Rebecca. Again Joan Fontaine. I have read that book a few times as well. As for the Godfather films, they also rank among my favourites, and yes they were done in a sepia like colour.
By the way, a bit off topic, but is anyone watching Boardwalk Empire. It is all based on fact and it is fabulous. I likes a bit of "Nucky" I do.

2/10/1111:27 AM

CosmopolitanMember 10 years

I've Sky+ them and will watch with Mr. C hopefully over the weekend. I've seen a few short trailers - it looks very Once Upon A Time In America-ish and if Nucky is anything like Noodles........that'll do nicely

2/10/1111:51 AM

SezitMember

He is a bit Cosi, and a lot more. The fact that it is based on true events makes it all the more interesting to me. And the peeps that are in it arn't shy by a long chalk.

2/10/1112:14 PM

BazMember VIP10 years

I love B & W films..... and yes, I am watching Boardwalk Empire, and thoroughly enjoying it

Although I was a bit disappointed that, after the first couple of episodes it is only going to be on once a week

2/10/1112:28 PM

BazMember VIP10 years

It is like Once Upon a Time Cosmo..... but while the Nucky character is quite well crafted, give me De Niro any time

2/10/1112:29 PM

cologne 1Member Memoriam

Rebecca was redone as a TV series, but it couldn't touch the original.

2/10/1112:30 PM

CroctacusMember

I can't watch Boardwalk Empire cos Atlantic isn't on Virgin...but I think the husband has an app on his phone where he can watch it so I may have to steal his phone.

Talking off old B/W films...i do love Mildred Pierce.

2/10/1112:38 PM

stonksMember

Sweettttt..

..I love every B&W in this thread and most probably a thousand more that I can't think of, i don't think its been remade but I loved Hobsons choice....

2/10/1112:44 PM

kattymieowwMember 10 years

"Some like it hot" was filmed in black and white,even though colour was available.I think it was for the" Atmosphere "of the twenties,which it was set in.

Just checked on Wiki....
The film was planned originally to be filmed in color, but after several screen tests, it had to be changed to black and white because of a very obvious 'green tint' around the heavy make-up required by Curtis and Lemmon when portraying Josephine and Daphne.

So it was just to hide heavy greenish makeup.

ah well.

2/10/1112:50 PM

CroctacusMember

Everyone looks better in black and white....hides all sorts of skin blemishes.

2/10/1112:52 PM

CosmopolitanMember 10 years

Ooh, here you all are

I went off on a wander and ended up on a David Niven website

Olivia De Haviland; she looked gawj in colour or b&w. But I think my favourite (not for her acting but just for her sheer sass) was Ava Gardner.

Hobson's Choice was fab

and I can never not watch This Happy Breed when CH4 (usually) show it for the umpteenth time.

2/10/111:02 PM

LeccyMember

I've never seen any film of series of Jane Eyre, yet I must have read the book about 50 times. I'm not sure anyone will ever look like Rochester in my head (I have an inappropriate crush on him)

2/10/111:05 PM

CroctacusMember

I much prefer the balck and White Hitchcocks to the colour ones....

2/10/111:08 PM

SezitMember

Oh my. Stonks.

I was gonna mention Hobsons choice with Charles Laughton and John Mills.It is a fantastic film and so funny. I havn't seen it for a few years though. In fact you may have talked me into getting it from Amazon.

2/10/112:56 PM

SezitMember

Leccy, I think the original one may come up to par for you.

Croc. That is the thing about the b&W it brings atmosphere to the film, so the older Hitch films would maybe lacking in something.

2/10/112:59 PM

SezitMember

Baz. I agree about De Niro.

Cologne. I didn't see the series, but I can imagine.

2/10/113:02 PM

LeccyMember

Leccy, I think the original one may come up to par for you

I enjoyed the Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth one) and the new Wuthering Heights (Tom Hardy) in spite of thinking I'd hate them...I'll have a look out for it, I love old films.

2/10/113:03 PM

brisketMember Memoriam

One immediately springs to mind (because of Christmas.)
Miracle on 34th Street with Edmund Gwenn, Maureen o@Hara and Natalie Wood.
Loved the original black and white version.
I disliked the coloured remake.

2/10/113:03 PM

SezitMember

Brisket. I agree, the Dickie Attenborough one wasn't as good. Also I think that the film "It's a wonderful life is better in B&W than the new made over coloured version.

2/10/113:08 PM

SezitMember

Brisket.Could I ask a favour? Could you do one of your montages of the above mentioned films if that is possible? It doesn't matter if you can't, but I do enjoy your pictures that you put up.

2/10/113:10 PM

LeccyMember

Brisket, I'd somehow managed to miss that film my whole life. I got to see it this Xmas (the B&W version) and sobbed my heart out

2/10/113:12 PM

brisketMember Memoriam

Leccy - it never fails to do it to me. Every time!

Sezit - good to see you.
I note your 'favour' request.
I make no promises yet, but I'll have a look at the possibility on Sunday.

2/10/113:27 PM

SezitMember

Thankyou Brisket.I am off to my bed now so Na night all, thanks for the chat.

2/10/113:33 PM

Former Member

Film4 on freeview seem to be showing a lot of old b/w films lately dating from the 30s to the 50s. My personal faves are old mother riley,laurel and hardy and george formby.

2/10/113:36 PM

MargueritaMember

I love the old black and white movies

2/10/115:06 PM

~Sparkling Summer~Member 10 years

I read the book late last year and loved it! I haven't seen any of the films yet but I do have one on my rental list with lovefilm

2/11/111:30 AM

Yogi19Member 10 years

Originally Posted by Marguerita:

I love the old black and white movies

Me too, Marguerita. I watched Brief Encounter recently - loved it.

2/11/113:09 AM

machelMember VIP10 yearsModerator

Originally Posted by Leccy Endellion:

I've never seen any film of series of Jane Eyre, yet I must have read the book about 50 times. I'm not sure anyone will ever look like Rochester in my head (I have an inappropriate crush on him)

i watched a series - must have been early seventies - because i was allowed to stay up an extra half hour to see it, and it scared the beejesus out of me, bedtimes and watersheds are there for a reason!!

2/11/113:19 AM

brisketMember Memoriam

A few reminders of some of the aforementioned films.

2/13/119:20 AM

SezitMember

Thankyou so much Brisket.

I loved Gilda. When I was young I always wanted to be Rita Hayworth, or Alice Faye, either would do as both could act and sing and were beautiful.

2/13/119:24 AM

El LoroMember VIP10 yearsModerator

Rita Hayworth as Gilda. The film is in black and white but she is red hot.

2/13/119:57 AM

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