Do you have a show filmed in black and white that would have looked better in color? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LUNCH · 05-21-2021, 12:45 PM

I am referring to shows that were filmed in black and white for their entire run. Normally I think shows look best how they were originally filmed. However there is one show that to me would have been even better if it were originally filmed in color. That is The Dick Van Dyke Show. I have always liked The Dick Van Dyke Show but I think it would have looked even better in color. Do you have any shows originally made in black and white that you think would have been even better or looked better if they were filmed in color?

TSMIV · 05-21-2021, 04:11 PM

I have no problem watching black and white TV or movies, but every show would have looked better in color! Life is in color and there was no real reason to film anything in b&w, color film has been around almost since the beginning of film cameras. It's just that the networks and production companies were CHEAP!

More to your real question I'd say Route 66. It's really too bad that we didn't get to see all those real world locations in color.

LUNCH · 05-21-2021, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSMIV

I have no problem watching black and white TV or movies, but every show would have looked better in color! Life is in color and there was no real reason to film anything in b&w, color film has been around almost since the beginning of film cameras. It's just that the networks and production companies were CHEAP!

More to your real question I'd say Route 66. It's really too bad that we didn't get to see all those real world locations in color.

I actually think some shows looked better in black and white. For example The Andy Griffith Show. It looked great in black and white, much better in my opinion than the color episodes of the show. It had a much better atmosphere in the black and white episodes. I agree about a show like Route 66. It would have been nice if that were filmed in color. The same goes for a number of shows filmed on location. The original Hawaii 5-0 for example would have not been the same and lost so much had it been filmed in black and white. It is good that by 1968 when that show started, almost all shows were filmed in color.

treky · 05-22-2021, 01:47 AM

as much as I like THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW; and I'm glad they didn't do it in color (Sheldon Leonard and Carl Reiner wanted to do the last 2 seasons in color, but they found out it was too expensive) looking at it now I think it would have been better if they did.

1960'sTVfan · 05-22-2021, 10:17 AM

Gilligan's Island should have been in color from the beginning but at least seasons 2 and 3 are in color.

biffbronson · 05-23-2021, 10:22 AM

I wish CBS would colorize a couple of Make Room for Daddy episodes in memory of Danny Thomas. ABC could also take that on since the series originated there. Danny's daughter Marlo could do an introduction for a special. There are so many years of eps to choose from.

2022 will mark 110 years since his birth I might add.

merlinjones · 05-23-2021, 01:38 PM

Given the cartoon content The Mickey Mouse Club.

Also Zorro (if shot in color like Davy Crockett, the theatrical feature version would have been more widely seen throughout the years).

MikeLutton · 05-23-2021, 06:17 PM

the munsters would of looked better in color

Furienna · 05-24-2021, 02:22 PM

This is where I have to admit that watching anything in black and white strains my eyes.
I can maybe stand a short clip, but not a whole episode of anything.
Thus, I have to say that I would prefer everything in color.
But I know that anything that was made for TV before the late '60s tends to be in black and white...
However, I also remember that some music videos in the mid-'90s were in black and white for some reason.
What was that about?

And if you want to ridicule me for not being able to watch black and white, I think I can blame it in my grandma.
She had problems with color TV and said it strained her eyes.
That means that I inherited this peculiar quirk from her, except in reverse.

biffbronson · 05-24-2021, 02:48 PM

I think it's safe to say that most any video or film done entirely in black and white in the 1990s was an expression of creativity, sometimes to evoke old-fashioned looks or times, other times just to exercise artistic freedom. Oftentimes we'd have a new flashback made to look old, created in b/w while the main film was in color. There were also notable hybrids that were entirely new or "now" -- for example, George Michael's Faith video (1987) is an interesting mix of b/w and color, with no flashback scenes.

treky · 05-25-2021, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlinjones

Given the cartoon content The Mickey Mouse Club.

Also Zorro (if shot in color like Davy Crockett, the theatrical feature version would have been more widely seen throughout the years).

the Disney channel used to show colorized episodes of Zorro on weeknights in the 90s

05-21-2021, 12:45 PM	#1
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	Do you have a show filmed in black and white that would have looked better in color? I am referring to shows that were filmed in black and white for their entire run. Normally I think shows look best how they were originally filmed. However there is one show that to me would have been even better if it were originally filmed in color. That is The Dick Van Dyke Show. I have always liked The Dick Van Dyke Show but I think it would have looked even better in color. Do you have any shows originally made in black and white that you think would have been even better or looked better if they were filmed in color?
	Last edited by LUNCH; 05-21-2021 at 01:50 PM.

05-22-2021, 01:47 AM	#4
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	as much as I like THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW; and I'm glad they didn't do it in color (Sheldon Leonard and Carl Reiner wanted to do the last 2 seasons in color, but they found out it was too expensive) looking at it now I think it would have been better if they did.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

05-23-2021, 06:17 PM	#8
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,881	the munsters would of looked better in color
	__________________ Tv And DVD Addict got over a hundred dvds in my collection more than anyone in the neighborhood. also huge Animal lover family man

05-24-2021, 02:22 PM	#9
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,277	This is where I have to admit that watching anything in black and white strains my eyes. I can maybe stand a short clip, but not a whole episode of anything. Thus, I have to say that I would prefer everything in color. But I know that anything that was made for TV before the late '60s tends to be in black and white... However, I also remember that some music videos in the mid-'90s were in black and white for some reason. What was that about? And if you want to ridicule me for not being able to watch black and white, I think I can blame it in my grandma. She had problems with color TV and said it strained her eyes. That means that I inherited this peculiar quirk from her, except in reverse.
	__________________ Intelligence and purity. Last edited by Furienna; 05-24-2021 at 03:27 PM.

05-21-2021, 04:11 PM	#2
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 696	I have no problem watching black and white TV or movies, but every show would have looked better in color! Life is in color and there was no real reason to film anything in b&w, color film has been around almost since the beginning of film cameras. It's just that the networks and production companies were CHEAP! More to your real question I'd say Route 66. It's really too bad that we didn't get to see all those real world locations in color.

05-22-2021, 10:17 AM	#5
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,077	Gilligan's Island should have been in color from the beginning but at least seasons 2 and 3 are in color.

05-23-2021, 10:22 AM	#6
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,415	I wish CBS would colorize a couple of Make Room for Daddy episodes in memory of Danny Thomas. ABC could also take that on since the series originated there. Danny's daughter Marlo could do an introduction for a special. There are so many years of eps to choose from. 2022 will mark 110 years since his birth I might add.

05-23-2021, 01:38 PM	#7
merlinjones Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2019 Location: los ángeles Posts: 931	Given the cartoon content The Mickey Mouse Club. Also Zorro (if shot in color like Davy Crockett, the theatrical feature version would have been more widely seen throughout the years).

05-24-2021, 02:48 PM	#10
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,415	I think it's safe to say that most any video or film done entirely in black and white in the 1990s was an expression of creativity, sometimes to evoke old-fashioned looks or times, other times just to exercise artistic freedom. Oftentimes we'd have a new flashback made to look old, created in b/w while the main film was in color. There were also notable hybrids that were entirely new or "now" -- for example, George Michael's Faith video (1987) is an interesting mix of b/w and color, with no flashback scenes.