Last night I watched one of my favorite Christmas movies, “Miracle on 34th Street”…again. I say again because I have probably watched it every year since I could sit in front of a TV. This time I watched it colorized. I hope you all refrain from the preaching, I know you purists are gritting your collective teeth. It’s a 1947 black and white classic, oh no, not color!
Let me say that the color was amazing. I know that it takes a lot of work to colorize a film. Artists have to add the color frame by frame. It’s time intensive and probably very expensive. To me (and I know many won’t be with me on this) it is just way more satisfying to see Santa in a red and white suit instead of shades of gray.
In 1947, adding color to a movie was way too expensive to stay within the budget. So they filmed in black and white. After all, most people back then only had black and white TV sets, if they had any at all.
Jump forward to the world of today. There are 3-D TV’s, high definition, and screens so big that they almost belong in a theater. No modern kid will ever sit down and watch a black and white movie no matter how awesome it is because they wouldn’t give it a chance. So would we rather be stubborn about it and keep the movies in their original black and white condition or use modern technology to enhance them for future generations?
Times have changed. Walkman’s were better than transistor radios. (Remember them) CD’s were better than record players. IPods are better than CD’S. And color is better (in some cases) than black and white. When it comes to the old Christmas movies, colorization is like a gift from Kris Kringle--wink wink.
Hmmm, “I believe, I will go watch “It’s a wonderful life.” Colorized of course.
5 comments:
I really love it that my old Christmas favorites have been colorized. Life isn't black, white and gray and shouldn't be viewed that way when we can have color. The only movies that I still like watching in black and white are the scary ones that were first shown on Shock Theater back in the 50s and 60s. Since I haven't seen "Miracle on 34th Street in color I'm going to see if I can find a copy because like you it is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Merry Christmas Crystal.
I don't know? I have only see It's a Wonderful Life" in black and white and I love it. It brings tears to my eyes every time. I don't know if I would want to see it in color? But, then if I did see it in color, I might love it? Who knows? As long as these beautiful movies are being cherished, that's all I care ;o)
I agree with Stacy...that these wonderful movies are being preserved for future generations is the important thing.
Oh I must be in the dark ages, as I didn't know they were colorizing old classic. I think I would love that.
Yes, time marches on and progress with it! And my little television doesn't have a wide enough screen to show the whole of the picture! (It can sometimes be quite funny when words are cut off.) But then I'm usually doodling or planning a pattern while I'm 'watching' so it doesn't really matter - that is, until the family come home, grandchildren and all and think I'm living in the Dark Ages :)
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