There is a reason that older films are considered classics. They have a timeless feel despite being decades old that resonates with audiences for generations. They have distinct characteristics that make them immediately recognizable. Many of the stylistic choices made in filmmaking back then have become standard practices for modern filmmaking. Older films act as history books for filmmakers to look back on to inspire them and motivate them to create new stories for new audiences. There is just something about the feelings that older movies invoke that reminds us why we love movies.
Black and white movies in particular have a special quality about them that stands the test of time. Even with audiences today that have become accustomed to streaming movies on their phones, black and white movies still have an appeal. In the early decades of film history, shooting in black and white was a necessity either because color technology did not exist or because it was scarce and too expensive.
Now, shooting in black and white is seen as an artistic choice to enhance the film. It goes to show that black and white is a cherished way of telling a story through film. There are so many classic moments from old black-and-white movies, specifically lines of dialogue, that have made these movies last for so many years. Some of the greatest movie lines of all time come from black-and-white films. In honor of these films, here are ten timeless quotes from black-and-white movies:
Related:Why Younger Audiences Should Care About (and Watch) Old Movies
10"That’s the stuff dreams are made of" - The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Humphrey Bogart was one Hollywood’s biggest stars during the Golden Age, and he had a very distinctive presence in his movies. John Huston’sThe Maltese Falconisa film noirthat has Bogart play private detective Sam Spade, who gets caught up with a mysterious woman and two criminals after his partner is murdered. It’s a classic murder mystery that features many twists and turns, and one of the best moments of the film comes right at the end. Sam is talking with Brigid (Mary Astor) about the death of his partner before the authorities come to take her away, one of the men asks Sam what the statute of the Maltese falcon is, and Sam replies hesitantly with “the stuff that dreams are made of.” It completely encapsulates the movie and the line delivery was near perfect. It’s regarded as one of the best lines and best movie endings of all time, and it’s something we rarely see in cinema today.
9"It’s alive! It’s alive!" - Frankenstein (1931)
The movie that started the collection of Universal monster movies is none other than the originalFrankensteinfrom 1931. It adapts Mary Shelley’s novel by showing the origin of the monster and how he came to life at the hands of Doctor Harry Frankenstein. The movie has been highly influential in the horror genre for over 90 years and has inspired essentially every monster movie that has been made since. When Frankenstein’s creation finally comes to life in his dungeon-like laboratory, he exclaims “It’s alive! It’s alive!”
That line of dialogue has been repeated and parodied for decades in various other forms of media. It has almost become a joke by now, but the fact that it is still referenced this many years later is astounding.
8"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" - Casablanca (1942)
Michael Curtiz’sCasablancais one of the best movies of all time according to basically every film institute and movie list out there.The World War II set romantic dramahas created many iconic lines of dialogue that people still quote today. By the end of the movie, after Rick (Humphrey Bogart) helps Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and her fiancée escape Morocco, he is left without the love of his life. Still, he knows he did right by her. As he is walking away with Captain Renault (Claude Rains), Rick says to him “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
It is a triumphant line spoken by a man who knows he made the right decision by helping his former love. The line is one of the most quoted and referenced in cinema. It is a timeless line of dialogue that movies, TV shows, and even commercials today still love to reference.
On the Waterfrontstars Marlon Brando as an ex-prize fighter turned dockworker who struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother. As he struggles with this, he starts to form a connection with the sister of one of the syndicate’s victims. In a scene with his brother Charley (Rod Steiger), Terry Malloy (Brando) blames Charley for his current predicament. Terry explains to Charley that he doesn’t understand his situation. He tells him “I could have had class. I could have been a contender.” Terry blames his brother for the way his life turned out, but really, he knows that his failures are his own fault. From then on, his attitude changes throughout the rest of the film as he realizes he must accept and acknowledge his failures in order to turn his life around.
6"Nobody’s perfect" - Some Like It Hot (1959)
Billy Wilder’s rom-comSome Like It Hotcombines the star power of Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe to makea hilarious movie that was ahead of its time. After witnessing a mob hit, Jerry (Lemmon) and Joe (Curtis) flee Chicago to avoid the mob boss Spats Colombo (George Raft). The two musicians are desperate for a job out of town, but the only job they know of is an all-girl band heading to Florida. So, they disguise themselves as women to sneak onto the bus to join the group. Chaos ensues as Jerry and Joe try to keep up their new female personas and keep their true identities hidden from Colombo.
To have a movie featuring two men dressed as women for the majority of the runtime was not common in the ’50s, but it ended up being one of his best films. The film features many physical gags and witty jokes, but one of the best jokes comes at the very end. When Jerry, who was disguised as Daphne, finally comes clean to Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown) that he is in fact not a woman, Osgood responds with a surprisingly funny retort. He simply says “Nobody’s perfect,” which was both hilarious and a bit daring for the time period given the implications of his nonchalant answer.
Related:The Best Black and White Musicals of Hollywood’s Golden Age
5"Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?" - She Done Him Wrong (1933)
New York City nightclub owner Lady Lou (Mae West) unapologetically has many male friends. One of those friends is an aggressive criminal who believes Lou to be his girlfriend, but Lou has not exactly been faithful to him. Luckily, the handsome Captain Cummings (Cary Grant) is in town to help her.She Done Him Wrongis another example of an older film that was simply way ahead of its time.
The movie was released before the production codes were put in place by Hollywood studios, which meant the filmmakers didn’t have to follow the same restrictions that later Golden Age movies had to adhere to. The character of Lady Lou was unabashedly herself and embraced her desires or attractions. She enjoyed the company of more than one male companion, and not only was she secure in that, but the movie doesn’t paint her in a bad light for embracing her personality. Lou was attracted to Captain Cummings from the moment she saw him, and eventually, she invites him to her room by saying “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?” Suggestive lines like that would not pass the censors in the production codes era, but in 1933 they were able to get away with it.
Lines of this nature are obviously commonplace in modern movies, but this scene showed that it was perfectly fine to let a character ask for what they want.
4"We’re not in Kansas anymore" - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
While not fully in black and white,The Wizard of Ozdoes spend the beginning and the end of the film in a sepia-toned black and white. When Dorothy (Judy Garland) istransported to the land of Ozafter the tornado that swept through her farmhouse, the film is shown in glorious Technicolor. Right after landing near the yellow brick road, Dorothy says to her adorable dog Toto, “We’re not in Kansas anymore” in complete amazement at the magical world they found themselves in. This quote has been referenced in countless forms of media over the decades to explain that a character is amazed by their new surroundings or has no idea where they are. Even if a person hasn’t seen the movie, they more than likely know where this quote comes from.
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic horror filmPsychohas been hugely influential in more ways than one. It changed the horror genre for the better and has influenced horror films in nearly every subgenre with its storytelling, setting, and characters. There are also many iconic quotes that are derivative of the film. One of the most famous lines comes from Anthony Perkins' Norman Bates. When discussing his mother, he says that she needs him and that she’s not a maniac, that she just goes a little mad sometimes. He concludes this discussion by saying “We all go a little mad sometimes”, which again has been parodied time and time again. Most notably in the first Scream movie when Ghostface killer Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) quotes Norman Bates to Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell).
2"Fasten your seatbelt, it’s going to be a bumpy night" - All About Eve (1950)
All About Evefollows seemingly innocent Broadway fan Eve (Anne Baxter) after she waits backstage to meether favorite aging star Margo Channing(Bette Davis). Margo and her friends take Eve under their wings when Eve explains that she has seen every performance of hers. Only theatre critic Addison DeWitt (George Sanders) sees through Eve’s plan, which is to steal all of Margo’s roles and her fiancée Bill (Gary Merill).
The famous line “Fasten your seatbelt, it’s going to be a bumpy night” is spoken mischievously by Margo at a dinner party she is hosting after downing a martini. It is one of the most famous movie lines ever written, although too many people get the word “night” confused with the word “ride”. She does, in fact, say “night”, as she is referencing the night of the dinner party she is hosting.
1"Here’s looking at you, kid" - Casablanca (1942)
Quite possibly one of the most romantic quotes in all cinema, Humphrey Bogart’s suave delivery of Rick’s “Here’s looking at you, kid” to Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa is perhaps the most famous line ever. Rick and Ilsa’s love story is both beautiful and heartbreaking, as their love for each other was incredibly strong, yet they still did not end up together. The demise of their relationship is partially due to the war-torn world they were living in and the passage of time that passed after they were separated. Even when they had the chance to be together for good, both Rick and Ilsa decided that it just wasn’t meant to be despite their feelings. The “here’s looking at you, kid” line is unique to just them, and fully encapsulates the feelings they have for one another. The way he speaks the words to her are full of affection and admiration.
