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I’m dreaming of a black and white Christmas
So I got a new DVD edition of the yuletide classic Holiday Inn in the mail from Universal, and I groaned immediately.
No, it has nothing to do with the movie itself, which is one of my Christmas favorites, and it doesn’t even have anything to do with the fact that I’m already seeing Christmas stuff when fall is only just starting.
No, it has to do with what I saw on the set, due in stores October 14.
Disc Two: New Color Version.
Talk about a lump of coal. I thought it was generally agreed that colorization of black and white movies was grotesque after Ted Turner and his vandals slapped color onto Casablanca to a chorus of boos.
As much as I hate colorization, I can understand from a marketing perspective why studios would want to provide a colorized version of something with heavy kid appeal, like the original Miracle on 34th St. It is sadly true that to get some kids to watch a black and white movie is to pull teeth. But I will tell you right now, no kid of mine is ever going to be raised believing that a movie is broken or not worth watching because it’s in black and white.
But Holiday Inn appeals to adults more than kids, and I would have hoped that adults wouldn’t feel a need for a colorized Holiday Inn. My hopes were dashed when I looked on Amazon and saw testimonials, apparently from grown people, asking for a color version.
“When are they going to come out with a colorized version of Holiday Inn? I have never seen a film call out for it more than this one,” one customer wrote. Another said: “I am in wholehearted agreement with the gentleman who asked for a colorized version of Holiday Inn!! I was sure that this movie would be offered in color on DVD by this time!!”
I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.
Now, to Universal’s great credit, the black and white version is still on the set. And for the colorized version, there is a documentary on the process, which was performed with the help of Jan Mucklestone, the personal sketch artist of the legendary costume designer Edith Head. If colorization has to be done, I’m glad to see it being done with a sense of historical perspective. (The CD soundtrack in the new set is a welcome bonus too.)
Still. I took a look at the colorized Holiday Inn and watched the scene that gave the song “White Christmas” to the world, and I remain staunchly opposed to colorization. It does look a little better than earlier colorization jobs, but the colors still look pasty, and well - fake. No artificial process I have seen has a prayer of matching the real Technicolor of films from the 40s like Meet Me In St. Louis. The only way I’ll be using the colorized disc is as a tree ornament.
I sorely wish people would stop believing that black and white films would be better if only they were in color. Artificially adding color obliterates all the artistic decisions so carefully made on costumes, set design, cinematography, and even, I will argue, the performances - decisions that came about specifically because the movie was to be in black and white.
There is nothing “wrong” with a film that’s in black and white. And I’ll have a blue Christmas knowing that some people out there don’t appreciate that.
What do you think of colorization? I will never understand why it is necessary, but if anyone wants to try to enlighten me, they can.
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Comments
By SRCputt
September 26, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
I am not as familiar with the making of Holiday Inn, but since It’s A Wonderful Life has entered the discussion… Both Frank Capra and James Stewart were on record as stating they did not want their film colorized. Colorizing It’s A Wonderful Life is vandalism, pure and simple. It was done against the wishes of the original artists. And I will respect the original artists’ wishes and refuse to watch any colorized version, no matter how well it was done.By Barry B. Sandrew, Ph.D.
September 26, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Eric, I appreciate the review though rather bias. I suggest we let the consumers decide. They can view the color trailer on the Legend Films web site. Our designers purposely did not go for a Technicolor look. There are many people who think that the goal of colorization is to duplicate a specific film style. Actually colorization is a creative process intent on producing a separate color interpretation of the film while being sensitive to the original element. We assess the underlying black and white element and, after extensive research, create a color interpretation of the film that is appropriate for the available luminance. If we went for a highly saturated Technicolor look we’d find many people who would decry the effort as bad colorization with unrealistic colors. Of course those same people would never criticize an actual Technicolor film with the same glasses. Our intent was to create a color storyboard that makes the film look as if it was shot in color back then with what would be considered contemporary film stock. To recreate a brilliant saturated 3 strip look would truly be intrusive, making the color the primary focus of the film. Indeed the most successful colorization is when the viewer forgets the film was colorized. I believe we succeeded in both It’s A Wonderful Life and Holiday Inn. The actual DVDs are not at all muted but appropriate for the available gray scale. In fact most people who have watched Holiday Inn and It’s A Wonderful Life religiously every year for decades are amazed at the detail they see in the color release that they never noticed before. It’s a different experience than watching the orginal black and white version and should stand on its own without comparison. Best regards, Barry Barry B. Sandrew, Ph.D. Founder Legend Films, Inc.By Kim
September 25, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Ugh - I hate colorized films! They look so flat and …well… just stupid. I don’t understand how anyone can see that as an improvement! It is good that they are trying to respect the original colors and do their homework - but it is impossible to add depth to it - I feel like it makes it look like a cartoon instead of a classic film. At least they did leave the BW version and didn’t ruin it forever. You will be glad to know that my kids appreciate b/w films - ha! In fact - I design clothing for high end collectible fashion dolls and I always go for vintage flair, so I was always sketching costumes. One time a b/w film came on and we were just sitting watching it. My youngest kept looking at me and finally said, “do you want me to get your paper so you can draw your pictures, Mommy?” Tee hee! Ah memories…she is a senior in high school this year…By Allie D.
September 24, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
This depresses me that this fad of colorizing is still going strong. :( I’m tired of catering to the willfully ignorant.By SRCputt
September 24, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
Doing this is as appropriate is taking a black and white photo book and drawing on it in crayon. It is the same as hiring a graffiti artist to improve on the paintings in an art museum. Lump of coal, indeed.