MovieChat Forums > Raging Bull (1980) Discussion > Why is it black and white?

Why is it black and white?

posted 13 years ago by belthazzar
23 replies | jump to latest

Since invention of color film, black and white had this "artistic" value, similar to black and white photography. In these times, amateur filmmaker community (my sis is independent director, not very good one though :P, but all her filmmaker friends "wear scarfs and barrets" so you can get idea of what I have to live with) uses black and white to make their work more "artsy", which I grew to really dislike over the years and whenever someone goes for black and white elements, I always demand better explanation, why its necessary for film to be this way (and I rarely get it).

I am sure someone with greatness of Scorsese wouldnt use it just to be interesting, there has to be deeper explanation why the story requies black and white. But I still fail to see it.

Anyone can help?

[–] dan-1315 12 years ago

The primary reason the movie is in black and white is that a group of directors wanted to send a message to Kodak to do something about color shifting in its film stock so they chose to shoot in b&w and this is Scorcese's contribution. George Lucas has pointed out that when he got back from England to edit Star Wars some of the first scenes he shot 6 months earlier had already started color shifting, that's how poor and unstable motion picture film was back then. Lucas changed over to Deluxe Color that he judged more stable, but almost every major director took on a b&w project in protest. Of course, once the decision was made, the directors tailored the picture for b&w, mostly doing period pieces, but there was certainly a mini-revival of b&w films from major directors in the late 1970s to early 1980s to protest Kodak's film product.

[–] DracTarashV 11 years ago

Well, for one thing, black & white is beautiful on screen. Period.

Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

[–] kairingler 11 years ago

I wondered that myself after watching it,, and i'm realy not sure,, but I know that I kinda liked it that way.

are you going to bark all day little doggie,, or are you going to bite

[–] GMonhey 11 years ago

I just finished watching it for the first time and I thought it was to add to the atmosphere of being set in the 40s and 50s.

[–] bradford-1 11 years ago

GMoney seems to come closest to the main reason: Scorsese wanted the look of boxing newsreels and newspaper photos from the 1940s and 50s, all of which would have been in b&w.

"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"

[–] fede_4488 8 years ago

Good reasons.
I thought it looked *beep* gorgeous. The cinematographer deserved an Oscar.

[–] DeputyDippity 11 years ago

The surrealist bastion of black and white has a certain je ne sais quoi that transcends bourgeoisie.

I`m sorry for my lack of manners, but I`m not used to escorting men.

[–] marbury50 (56) 7 years ago

whatever the reason, it was a great filmmaking decision

[–] AngularTurnip (3337) 7 years ago

It's too bad this was Scorsese's only foray into black and white (correct if I'm wrong). Considering when it takes place, plus all its cinematic influences from the forties and fifties, I think it would have been most appropriate if "Shutter Island" had been shot in black and white.

[–] marbury50 (56) 7 years ago

It's too bad this was Scorsese's only foray into black and white (correct if I'm wrong).

Who's That Knocking at My Door was shot in black and white