B+W or Color ?

I was a bit suprised when this 1955 movie started and it was in B&W. After a couple of minutes I realized that it had to be shot in B&W, color film would have warmed up this rather dreary 1930's-ish depression era story*.

*I got the feeling that it was set in the early 30's depression during prohibition (hauling 'you know what' under those bananas).