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To colorize or not to colorize
It was the mid 80s when black and white films that had been computer colorized started flooding the market. "Topper"(1937) starring Cary Grant and "Way Out West"(1937) starring Laurel and Hardy were among the first. Proponents included Cary Grant who was reportedly "Gung-ho" with the results, while opponents of the process included John Huston and James Stewart.
I was a teenager when the colorized version of "Topper" first hit the shelves. I was intrigued by the possibility of adding color to black and white films while understanding the concern that colorization could actually change the film from its original vision. (In example: wiping out lighting and shading that was meticulously placed there by the original filmmakers.) The process at the time however was not very convincing. The color was often faded and blurry. The films looked like they had aged over time and had their colors fade. Instead of making the films more appealing it seemed to have the opposite affect.
Many years later I picked up a copy of the Three Stooges "Goofs on the Loose" on dvd that included both the original versions in black and white and colorized versions. I was not very excited about the colorized versions but decided to give them a chance anyway. I was completely blown away by the quality of these versions! Not only did they look like brand new films but they were obviously well researched. Unlike previously colorized versions that seemed to have the color just slapped on, these versions were meticulously researched to make sure that colors were all as authentic as possible. There was no fuzziness to the images and the colors were vibrant. Not only did they make the films more appealing to my children, but it made the these films that I had seen a hundred times before, seem like new films again.
It is now obvious that when done with care colorization can breath new life into old films while making them more accessible to a wider audience. This allows the newer generations a opportunity to enjoy films that they may have never given a chance before. As long as the original versions are included in the same package to give everyone a chance to see the filmmakers original vision, colorized films are a great tool for the classic film educator.
About the Author
Bret Ziarnik is a longtime classic movie fan and film historian. He is a filmmaker and founder of Early Days Productions, a production company dedicated to educating new fans of classic films and creating new entertainment in the spirit of old. Learn more about your favorite classic movies and the filmakers who made them. Watch classic movies, see original programming, and shop for your favorite classic films at: www.earlydaysproductions.com
Panzerlied (Color film)