Black-and-white movies were in vogue for a long time, and they have a certain charm. It was once a matter of necessity, but even beyond the Golden Age of Hollywood, it was cheaper and easier than filming in color, so many filmmakers still used black and white until the late 1970s. Black-and-white movies may seem outdated in today’s world, but some of them paved the way for cinema for years to come and are well worth watching. Read on to see which ones made our list.
#1: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Inspired by a true story, The Best Years of Our Lives is a harrowing tale of WWII veterans coming back to civilian life. Released on Christmas Day in 1946, the film directed by William Wyler came out just over a year after the war had ended, making it a particularly impactful production. It even became the highest-grossing film in the U.S. and the U.K. in seven years.
As Fred, Al, and Homer, actors Dana Andrews, Fredric March, and Harold Russell, respectively, gave heartwrenching performances. March and Russell both won Oscars for their roles, and Best Years swept the Academy Awards that year, also winning Best Motion Picture and Best Director.