Anthony Perkins

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My Top 10 All Time Black And White American Films Before 1962

Please note that the list is in chronological order.

Citizen Kane (1941). This film is considered one of the greatest films ever made. It was directed by Orson Welles, who also starred in it. I'm sure you've heard "Rosebud" spoken somewhere. The basic plot—a publishing tycoon dies and news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance. The cinematography is beautiful. Every shot is perfectly balanced, in perspective and something you could frame and hang on your wall as a work of art.

Adam's Rib (1949). Of the many films that Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy teamed up for, this is the best. The story follows the domestic and professional tensions of a husband and wife who work as opposing lawyers in a case involving a woman who shot her husband. Rightfully, it was nominated for an oscar for best screenplay. The wit, humor and chemistry make this movie pure delight.

Sunset Boulevard (1950). Who could ever forget the famous scene in this movie where former Hollywood Silent Film Star Norma Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson) makes a slow and drawn out dramatic entrance down her grand staircase to the waiting reporters believing that she is actually making a film for Cecil B. De Mille! If you watched the Carol Burnett show, she used the scene in a hysterical skit that ended with her falling down the stairs. This movie has mystery, romance, drama and unforgettable characters. It won 3 Oscars for art direction, music and story. And it was successfully made into a musical too.

A Streetcar Named Desire(1951). "Stella!" Who could ever forget Marlon Brando, virile, animalistic, in a wet torn t-shirt standing in the street in the rain and shouting for his wife. Add to that the delicate and repressed Southern gentility of Blanche DuBois played by Vivien Leigh and this film sizzles with heat and sexual tension as we witness the Blanche's slow decent into madness after moving in with her sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski. Director Elia Kazan challenged production codes at the time with Tenneessee William's bold adult drama and the film won 4 Oscars, Best Actor in a Supporting Role Karl Malden, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Vivien Leigh, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Kim Hunter and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White. Marlon Brando was nominated, but didn't win.

Witness For The Prosecution (1957). This Agatha Christie is amazing suspense. It is a courtroom trial for murder filled with surprise after surprise. Loaded with wonderful actors, Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. It was nominated for Best Director and Best Picture, but lost to The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Some Like It Hot(1959). This comedy with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe has wonderful dialogue, humor and heart. Two musicians witness a mob hit, disguise themselves as women, join an all-girl band and flee the state with them. You can imagine the comedic situations that ensue as one falls for a fellow band member (played by Marilyn Monroe).

Psycho (1960). Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thriller has forever changed showering with your eyes closed. The camera work and stark black and white images make the shower scene unforgettable. Basic premise, a working girl (played by Janet Leigh) steals $40,000.00 from her boss and checks into a small hotel with an eerie proprietor played by Anthony Perkins. Would you believe that it initially received mixed reviews, but the great box office returns prompted a re-review which led to 4 Oscar nominations—kind of like This Year's candidate for best film, The Blind Side.

The Apartment (1960). Directed by Billy Wilder (who also directed Sunset Boulevard and Some Like It Hot), this drama starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine won 5 Oscars! Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Screenplay and Best Art Direction. As you can see by the awards, it is a great story—drama and romance about an executive who allows his boss to use his apartment for extramarital affairs. But one night he finds one of the women left behind and this leads to a romance of his own.

The Manchurian Candidate(1962). This is a political thriller that was poorly remade in 2004. Raymond Shaw (played by Lawrence Harvey) returns home from the Korean War a hero. But a fellow soldier (played by Frank Sinatra) has re-occurring nightmares that their platoon was brainwashed and that Raymond is a killer. The film has a very talented cast and Angela Lansbury is amazing and calculating as Raymond's mother although she is barely older than the actor playing Raymond.

The Elephant Man(1980). Based on a true story, this moving film is shot in black and white to evoke the time period of Victorian England. It follows the story of Joseph Merrick (played by John Hurt) who has a congenital disease and is extremely deformed. Dr. Frederick Treves (played by Anthony Hopkins) takes him from the freakish sideshow and helps to restore his dignity. This David Lynch film is beautiful and will leave you deeply moved.

About the Author

I have informally studied TV and film my entire life.  But formally I studied Comparative Literature, Humanities and Musical Theater.  This led to an MFA in Acting and work as a professional actor.  I am now home with three little people and I blog about entertainment for my passion and my sanity at www.msscreensiren.com.  Check out the original article on my blog for wonderful links and trailers to all of the movies.

Did you like the (1968) thriller film Pretty Poison, starring Anthony Perkins, Rory Emerald and Tuesday Weld?

Tuesday Weld as the manipulative teenager using Anthony Perkins as her foil was outstanding. It was redone with Drew Barrymore in the 1980's. But that version was an ugly sexploitive mess.

VIDEO: Shoremen ward off short-handed Pirates
SANDUSKY — After back-to-back tough one-run losses to Westlake and Amherst, Avon Lake got back on the winning track as they swept the Perkins Pirates on Saturday, 12-2, 8-0.

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