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From: leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: re: B&W vs. Tinted Films
Message-ID: <738@mtgzz.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 12-May-85 13:42:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: mtgzz.738
Posted: Sun May 12 13:42:46 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 13-May-85 03:30:56 EDT
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 >On a similar note, I'd like to ask the newsgroup's opinion
 >on a discussion I had with my film class professor.  On just
 >this point, color vs.  B&W, he stated that "film noir" could
 >ONLY be done in black-and-white.  I disagreed saying that
 >"Blade Runner" was a successful "film noir" in color.  He
 >disagreed saying that he felt that BR just "didn't make it"
 >as film noir.  Comments?

Whether or not BLADERUNNER is really good as a film noir film, I think
he is wrong.  It would be pretty tough sustaining a film noir
atmosphere with the exaggerated Technicolor of the 40's, but there is
color and color.  Somebody who knows what he is doing can make a color
scene more downbeat than a black and white one.  Consider the new
version of 1984.  It was probably more downbeat than had it been done
monochrome because he muted all the colors.  I cannot point to a film
that really works as film noir in color (unless maybe BODY HEAT?) but
there is no reason I have ever heard that film noir need be black and
white, just that it not sabotage itself with the use of color.  It
strikes me that your professor has little faith in the filmmaker's
ability to use color wisely.

				Mark Leeper
				...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper