black and white films

Hi there, I was wondering if people could give me some suggestions of some good black and white films. I have watched most of the well known ones, but I am interested in watching some that are not so well known. I have recently watched random harvest, blossoms in the dust, johnny belinda, 3 faces of eve and all mine to give, I know these may be well known to some people but as they are not released over here, these were films I had found after looking up actors names, ie greer garson after watching mrs miniver and goodbye mr chips. I had to buy them from south korea. I like anything except westerns. Would be very grateful for your suggestions, thanks.

Hi thankyou all for replying to me, my title and post may have come accross wrong. I love films from the black and white ERA, so all the oldies (Bette Davis and Clark Gable time). Not to say I dont like modern films as some of you have suggested good films from a later period, just I am not sure what films I am missing from the oldies due to them being way before my time, I know all the obvious ones but started watching ones that were not so well known and I really enjoyed them so wanted to see what else i was missing. I am a movie buff tho and will try everything except westerns lol (my dad put me off). 29/3/2012 - I watched the years between and I dream of olwen last night. Thanks again and more suggestions are welcomed, I have ordered a number that people have suggested already thanks.

It's a wonderful life, you probably have seen it but incase you haven't buy it now. An amazing classic film!

Pulp Fiction (just turn your TV's colour setting to 0).

Oh Ok...

Psycho
Raging Bull
Night of the Hunter
Schindler's List
Wages of Fear
La Haine
The Hustler
Sin City

F W Murnau's Sunrise (1927) starring Janet Gaynor. Besides being black and white it is also silent, but is so well told and acted that you hardly notice that it is silent. It is available in Blu ray besides DVD. through Amazon.

Murnau was one of the great German film directors of the 1920s. He was encouraged to come to Hollywood where the money was, and Sunrise was the result. In the Oscars, it was awarded Best Oscar for Unique and Artistic Picture. That was the only time that award was given, and Sunrise fully justifies that unique award.

Actually, having reviewed your original list, I can confidently predict you will like none of my suggestions, with the possible exception of Schindler's List. Sorry!

The classic "The Bad and the Beautiful" - a breathtaking film told from 3 angles of the 3 stars - Lana Turner, Barry Sullivan and Kirk Douglas in one of his many unforgettable roles - very much the downside of Hollywood, cynically and brilliantly told

A couple of film noir goodies - Laura (1944) - probably my favourite film of all and the overlooked but terrific "The Dark Corner" - Lucille Ball and Mark Stevens give wonderful performances

Hi, Not sure if you have seen all of these already, depending on your age and taste, but IMO many are worth watching more than once.. Most by Frank Capra, The Marx Bros, Road to films James Cagney, Bogey, Lot of the very old James Stewart, and Gary Cooper comedies. also Will Hay, some of the humour is just superb. I could go on.. trying to work my way through most B&W films myself. I know some are obvious, but well worth revisiting even after a year or so.

Well I guess you must have seen, and if you haven't then you must:
Casablanca
And I always had a soft spot for Harvey with James Stewart and the original Miracle on 34th Street. 1947, I think. Beware more modern imitations.

kind hearts and coronets - denis price/alec guinness
farewell my lovely (murder my sweet) - dick powell
the thin man - william powell/myrna loy
monsieur hulot's holiday - jacques tati
39 Steps - robert donat

Wages of Fear, starring Yves Montand?

Nail biting.

Oh I have just ordered that thanks

One of my favourites, love it thanks

Love schindlers list thanks

I have seen Laura, and have ordered the other 2 thanks

Not seen any of them, I have ordered kind hearts tho, thanks

I have not seen casablanca for some reason, love harvey but James Stewart is my favourite thanks

Not heard of that one before, will look it up, thanks

The Killers - Burt Lancaster
All about Eve
Double Indemnity
The Postman always rings twice
The Letter
Sweet smell of success
The third man
From here to eternity
All great films!!!

Not sure which are the well-known ones, or whether you mean recent b&w; otherwise I don't really think you can treat b&w as a genre. Anyhow, some of my favourites are:

Kind Hearts & Coronets
Great Expectations
The Apartment
Some Like it Hot
Psycho
The Cruel Sea
History of Mr Polly
Body Snatcher
Sons of the Desert
Paths of Glory

...plenty of variety there, if nowt else. I would add Red River, but you say you don't like Westerns.

James Cagney in "The Man of a Thousand Faces" - a biopic about Lon Chaney, Sr. Excellent!
"The Invisible Man" with Claude Rains.

I've been meaning to watch "Harvey" for some time now. I saw it years ago and loved it.

Le Quai des brumes (1938) (Marcel Carne)

(Plenty of French oldies with say Jean Gabin)

Il Grido 1957 (Antonioni)
La terra trema 1948 (Visconti)
Ladri di biciclette 1948 (De Sica)

(Almost anything of Italian neorealism)

There's always one who wants to show off... ;)

Sure you have probably seen the two following films
Strangers on a train One of hitchcocks classics Robert Walker as the villain with a plan for murder.

The Hound Of The Baskervilles 1939 starring the great basil rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as his rather half witted side kick

Of course.
I suggest you watch those films, they are worth watching. Just don't tell anybody :)