MovieChat Forums > Marty (1955) Discussion > Shot in black and white?

Shot in black and white?

posted 10 years ago by Hereafter
10 replies | jump to latest

why? colour had been around for way over a decade.
You would think black and white for a film like this would have not been tolerated back in 1955 low budget or not.

[–] nakke 9 years ago

Are you stupid? What about Hustler (1961) and countless other movies after 1955?

[–] MrMime2015 9 years ago

In the 1950s, Hollywood had to offer its audiences something TV could not. That meant wider, larger screens, better sound systems, 3D, and more color films. I'm not surprised the low budget Marty was produced in black and white. But Sabrina was another matter. I guess the producers blew the budget on the cast.

[–] Simplythebest11962 9 years ago

by Hereafter » Wed Dec 10 2014 14:46:34 Flag ▼ | Reply |
IMDb member since August 1999
Post Edited: Wed Dec 10 2014 14:48:48
why? colour had been around for way over a decade.
You would think black and white for a film like this would have not been tolerated back in 1955 low budget or not

I wish it would've been in color too! 

It was a good movie, though! 

Happy Valentine's Day!


[–] Craftsman1800 9 years ago

B&W films were commonly made into the mid 60s. Films like Dr Strangelove, The Manchurian Candidate, and many other great films of the 60s were shot in B&W. See more films!

[–] srklondie 9 years ago

You forgot one of the very, very best of the 60s; ' In Cold Blood '. It would've been a fairly good film in color, but ' black and white ' qualified it as a masterpiece. I just watched it again the other day. Every time I watch it, I'm absolutely in awe of its greatness. Especially when I think of the dreck that's released nowadays.

[–] bsharporflat 9 years ago

It would've been a fairly good film in color, but ' black and white ' qualified it as a masterpiece.

Finally someone who gets it!

Being in black and white is a big part of what makes Marty so great, just as the early use of color is a big part of what makes Wizard of Oz so great.

This is a dark movie in a drab NYC setting with non-progressive characters just trying to make their way in this bleak setting. Black and white filming accentuates that. The use of dark and shadow in this film gives the proper atmosphere. This isn't Oz we are watching here. Technicolor would have ruined it (as the jaunty theme song almost does).

Look at these poignant, expressive faces. Color (from the 50's) simply would not do them justice.http://i.usatoday.net/life/_photos/2012/07/25/TV-tonight-Borgnine-salu te-Wipeout-3-711U6QUI-x-large.jpg

[–] mmitsos-1 8 years ago

Oh, God. This film would only work in black and white.

Quiet, poignant film about an ordinary man ---with a great story about "the little man", great dialog and great acting....you don't need color.

[–] goldenagefilmstv (178) a year ago

Exactly. This movie would not have gained anything by being shot in color.

[–] BeaSouth (2946) 9 months ago

Images of life in the Bronx with all the old cars and businesses really had to be in black and white.

[–] Lolyeah (56) 7 days ago

Colour had been around from the beginnings of cinema.