In a world where streaming platforms dominate and films are available with the click of a button, a question arises: are black-and-white films still relevant?
While many students today gravitate toward fast-paced color productions, film professors and students agree that classic cinema continues to hold an essential place in education and the arts.
Michael Eaton, professor of film studies and production, shared studying black-and-white films is essential to understanding the evolution of cinema.
“In terms of academia, it’s important for students to look at all different kinds of film and media,” Eaton said. “Even though it was very different technology, we study that too. You want to look at what came before, just like you would with literature.”
Eaton, who teaches Introduction to Film, said he has noticed a recent shift. Students are showing more curiosity toward older films. His class screens silent comedies such as “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” (1928), Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” (1941) and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Notorious” (1946).
“I have noticed a little bit of a shift recently that students are kind of more interested in seeing older films,” Eaton said. “I think young people are fascinated with what came before, in general. There’s even a fascination with older technologies, like how people were doing things earlier in these industries.”
He added that the accessibility of streaming services has made classic cinema easier to explore.
“We have a lot more access now,” Eaton said. “Back then, you had to go to the theater or the library to see a film. Now you can find almost anything online.”
For some students, black-and-white films are more than a class assignment. They are a bridge to understanding the roots of modern storytelling.
“I watch quite a few black-and-white films, both for class and on my own,” said Zipporah Marse, senior creative writing major and film minor. “Classic films were produced during important political and historical times. I like to be aware of those films, even if I don’t always watch them for pure entertainment.”
Marse said older films offer valuable lessons about genre and history.
“You can watch an old Universal monster movie from the 1930s and see sources of inspiration that would turn into what we see in movies like ‘Scream’ from the 1990s,” she said. “Even if people don’t sit down to watch the originals, those influences still show up in modern adaptations.”
In film classes, students learn that the roots of today’s most popular genres can be traced back to early works. Marse pointed to “Double Indemnity” (1944) as the film that defined noir and “It Happened One Night” (1934) as the foundation for the romantic comedy genre.
“The point of studying film is to be able to look at these classics, even if they aren’t as entertaining as modern films, and see how they impacted not just the film industry, but society in general,” Marse said.
Senior film production major Tania Brooks agreed. While she does not often watch black-and-white films outside of class, she said she recognizes their value.
“I don’t think films are less engaging just because they’re in black and white,” Brooks said. “Without the distraction of color, you can focus more on the actors and their performances.”
Brooks said studying classics like “Double Indemnity” deepened her appreciation for cinematography.
“Those films had a deep understanding of blocking and perspective, where every angle carried meaning,” Brooks said. “The techniques pioneered in those films laid the groundwork for modern filmmaking.”
Although today’s audiences may not rush to theaters for black-and-white films, Brooks said they remain “in” among dedicated film lovers.
“They’re not as mainstream now, but they hold a special place in many people’s hearts,” Brooks said. “There’s something timeless and artistic about them that continues to draw both filmmakers and audiences back.”
As California Baptist University students continue to explore the art of cinema, black-and-white films remain more than relics of the past. They serve as stepping stones that connect modern audiences to the origins of storytelling, technique and emotion. Whether viewed in a classroom or streamed online, these films remind viewers that good storytelling transcends color, era and trend.
