MovieChat Forums > Westward the Women (1951) Discussion > Black and White vs. Colorize

Black and White vs. Colorize

posted 16 years ago by ducdebrabant
11 replies | jump to latest

I hate colorized films but if I hadn't known this one was colorized when I saw it on TCM in the colorized version I'd never have guessed. The colorization is so well done that I can only object to it on principle (we're losing somebody's black and white art direction and gaining a palette Wellman didn't approve). So if the only version you can get is the colorized, I say go for it.

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***You must be old and wrinkled to have that type of reaction. - Liana***

[–] ghostfan 16 years ago

I managed to find an uncut black and white version -- I think I will stick with that one. I have seen the colorized one though, several years ago, and agree it was better done than say, "Topper." But the cinematogrophy was designed for black and white and B&W adds to the hardships the ladies went through -- color doesn't enhance, but softens that because the LAYERS can't be shown. But I am a purist anyway. When I was first looking for this movie, TBS was running the color version, so I recorded it. Then when I watched it, I would adjust the color on my TV to black and white. Finally I found an original version.

Unless I am totally losing it, I don't see as many colorized films these days.

[–] SkaterDave 12 years ago

I think they stopped colorizing films when the response they got was mostly negative. Most were too obvious and poorly done. Others changed the feel of the movie. Some movies are just meant to be in black and white.

[–] Sylvie17 12 years ago

I just got through watching the black and white version. Your post explains why I kept thinking that when I watched this movie before that it was in color-maybe even glorious technicolor. I didn't even realize that it was colorized-I usually hate that. But I'm surprised they filmed it in black and white, with all that beautiful scenery...

[–] hobnob53 12 years ago

Neither the OP nor anyone else ever saw this colorized on TCM, which only runs films in their original form. I never saw the colorized version and don't care to. Hopefully it, and all other colorized junk, will be buried someplace. Colorization, whatever its so-called "quality", is unreal, inaccurate, false and an artistic travesty.

[–] movies789 9 years ago

What's "inaccurate" is the notion that life in the old west was all black and white. Movies in the fifties and before weren't made in black and white for "artistic" reasons, but for one reason only: it was cheaper.

[–] hobnob53 8 years ago

Movies in the fifties and before weren't made in black and white for "artistic" reasons, but for one reason only: it was cheaper.

That is ridiculous and shows how little you know about the history of filmmkaing. Very few movies were made in b&w solely for budget reasons. Most were made in b&w because the people making them wanted them that way, and because it was for a long time the preferred way of making movies. Not everyone was so unable to cope with b&w that they had to have color.

What's "inaccurate" is the notion that life in the old west was all black and white.

Right. And not only in the old west. All life is in color. So, since you're such a stickler for "accuracy", then all movies should be stripped of their music scores, since real life isn't accompanied by music in the background. Also close-ups, make-up, sound effects and other cinematic techniques, and everything else that isn't an accurate reflection of reality -- plots, stories, characters, whatever -- should be done away with.

Yes, films would be so much better if they would only reflect strict, accurate reality and do away with all that artistic nonsense.

Incidentally, life in the old west wasn't colorized either. The colors were real...or, to put it another way, accurate.

[–] movies789 8 years ago

If you like, fine. But, why always so nasty? Just curious.

[–] beverlym-76105 8 years ago

It's fun to see the difference. Please, don't junk ALL of the copies!

[–] beverlym-76105 8 years ago

I like the differences. You see things in B&W that you miss in color...and things in color that you miss in the B&W.

[–] hobnob53 8 years ago

You see things in B&W that you miss in color...and things in color that you miss in the B&W.

But since the colors are all fake and don't represent what the actual colors of the things being photographed were, what can you see in the colorized (not "color") version that you can't see in the b&w -- besides artificial and false colors?

Incidentally, since this thread started the DVD has come out, with the b&w version only.

[–] beverlym-76105 8 years ago

It's funny, but the coloring draws out shadows and lines that are not visible in B&W. It was through the colorized version that we first spotted the tire tracks. Further, it makes the "night" scenes quite differently lit.