Can You Name the Black-and-White Movie From Just One Image?

By: Jane Andrews
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name the Black-and-White Movie From Just One Image?
Image: Paramount Pictures

About This Quiz

Have you ever wondered where the term "silver screen" comes from? It originated during the early days of film when motion pictures were made entirely in black and white, and they were projected onto reflective screens containing silver or aluminum. And while the phrase is still used today to describe the movie industry as a whole, it harkens back to a time when going to the cinema was an experience that only came in grey.

Things changed with the advent of the Technicolor film process in 1916. While most movies continued to be made in black and white — filming in Technicolor was very expensive — color gradually began to seep onto the big screen. During the 1920s through the '40s, color film was considered a special medium, reserved for epic, big-budget movies like "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone With the Wind." It wasn't until the 1950s, when a less expensive color technology was introduced, that black-and-white film began to go the way of the dinosaur. By the mid-1960s, color had officially taken over, and black and white quickly became the method used to evoke the feeling of something unique and of the past.

How good is your black-and-white movie recall? This quiz is packed with screenshots of classic silver-screen gems, as well as several notable modern black-and-white films. We're looking at you, kid — can you identify them all?

Casablanca What about this oft-quoted romantic movie — can you identify it?
"The Apartment"
"Casablanca"
Starring screen legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, "Casablanca" features the famous lines "Here's looking at you, kid" and "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"It Happened One Night"
"Camille"

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To Kill a Mockingbird Take a look at this black-and-white movie — can you name it?
"Sabotage"
"To Kill a Mockingbird"
Starring Gregory Peck in one of his most famous roles, this 1962 film features actor Robert Duvall's first movie appearance. "To Kill a Mockingbird" is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Harper Lee.
"Inherit the Wind"
"The Killers"

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Citizen Kane This classic film starred and was directed by Orson Welles. Do you know what it's called?
"Touch of Evil"
"Citizen Kane"
Released in 1941, "Citizen Kane" was Welles' first feature film. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including best picture, and won one for best writing (original screenplay).
"The Trial"
"Man in the Shadow"

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Schindler's List Steven Spielberg directed this acclaimed period drama. Can you name it?
"The Artist"
"Ed Wood"
"Schindler's List"
Released in 1993, "Schindler's List" was nominated for a whopping total of 12 Academy Awards. It ended up winning seven, including best picture, best director and best cinematography.
"Pleasantville"

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Raging Bull Robert De Niro starred in this notable Scorsese film. What's it called?
"New York, New York"
"Taxi Driver"
"Mean Streets"
"Raging Bull"
Released in 1980, "Raging Bull" was nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards and won two — best actor (for De Niro) and best film editing. De Niro also won a Golden Globe for his critically acclaimed performance.

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The Miracle Worker What's the name of this 1962 biopic?
"The Miracle Worker"
Starring Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, this film is about Anne Sullivan, the real-life tutor to the blind and deaf Helen Keller. The critically acclaimed film was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two — best actress (for Bancroft) and best supporting actress (for Duke).
"The Song of Bernadette"
"I Remember Mama"
"The Heiress"

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Young Frankenstein Do you know this Mel Brooks comedy-horror hybrid from 1974?
"Young Frankenstein"
Starring Gene Wilder as Dr. Victor Frankenstein and Peter Boyle as the monster, this horror parody was both a critical and box office success. In 2007, Brooks adapted the movie into a Broadway musical, which ran until 2009.
"Blazing Saddles"
"Silent Movie"
"High Anxiety"

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Some Like It Hot Which 1950s comedy is this screenshot from?
"Singin' in the Rain"
"The Seven Year Itch"
"Some Like It Hot"
Directed by Billy Wilder, this movie was a huge hit when it was released in 1959. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning one, and both Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon took home Golden Globes for their performances.
"How to Marry a Millionaire"

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The Manchurian Candidate Can you name this black-and-white movie from 1962?
"It's a Wonderful Life"
"Dr. Strangelove"
"Inherit the Wind"
"The Manchurian Candidate"
Based on a 1959 novel of the same name, "The Manchurian Candidate" starred Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury. A full-color remake of the film with Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep was released in 2004.

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On the Waterfront Here's a 1950s classic. Can you tell us the name of this movie?
"On the Waterfront"
Starring Marlon Brando and directed by Elia Kazan, this hit movie won a grand total of eight Academy Awards, including best picture, best director, best actor (for Brando) and best supporting actress (for Eva Marie Saint).
"A Place in the Sun"
"From Here to Eternity"
"Rebel Without a Cause"

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All About Eve What's the name of this classic that tells the story of actress Margo Channing and the up-and-coming actress who's trying to eclipse her?
"The Women"
"All About Eve"
Starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, this film was nominated for a total of 14 Oscars, which was a record-breaking number at the time. The film took home six statues, including best picture and best director. It also features Marilyn Monroe in one of her earliest roles.
"Laura"
"Jezebel"

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Paper Moon How about this 1973 movie featuring real-life father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O'Neal?
"Alice in the Cities"
"Hester Street"
"Paper Moon"
Director Peter Bogdanovich made this film in black and white to evoke the mood of the Great Depression, which is when the film takes place. At age 10, Tatum O'Neal won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role, making her the youngest winner in history.
"Kings of the Road"

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Psycho Do you recognize this Hitchcock thriller?
"Psycho"
This spooky 1960 film starred Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin and Janet Leigh. Color had become a widely used medium by the time this movie was made; however, Hitchcock chose black and white for artistic and budgetary reasons.
"Rebecca"
"Notorious"
"The Man Who Knew Too Much"

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12 Angry Men Do you know the name of this courtroom drama?
"12 Angry Men"
Directed by Sidney Lumet, "12 Angry Men" was nominated for three Academy Awards, including best picture and best director. It lost to the film "The Bridge on the River Kwai" in both categories.
"The Trial"
"Inherit the Wind"
"Witness for the Prosecution"

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A Streetcar Named Desire This movie is an adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tennessee Williams. Do you know what it's called?
"A Streetcar Named Desire"
Released in 1951, four years after the play's debut on Broadway, "A Streetcar Named Desire" starred Marlon Brando in one of his most acclaimed roles. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"
"The Night of the Iguana"
"Fugitive Kind"

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The Maltese Falcon Do you recognize this film noir classic starring Humphrey Bogart?
"Laura"
"The Big Sleep"
"Double Indemnity"
"The Maltese Falcon"
Based on a 1930 novel of the same name, "The Maltese Falcon" is considered by many critics to be the first movie of the film noir genre. It was included in the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1989.

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The Apartment What's the name of this romantic comedy from 1960?
"Sabrina"
"The Lost Weekend"
"The Apartment"
Starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, "The Apartment" was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won five, including best picture, best director (for Billy Wilder) and best screenplay.
"Sunset Boulevard"

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It's a Wonderful Life Can you tell us the name of this Christmas-season classic?
"Casablanca"
"A Christmas Carol"
"It Happened One Night"
"It's a Wonderful Life"
While this film by legendary director Frank Capra performed poorly when it was first released in 1946, the movie has since become a beloved classic. In 1986, the first of three colorized versions was released.

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Dr. Strangelove Can you tell us the name of this film, starring Peter Sellers?
"Dr. Strangelove"
Officially titled "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," this offbeat Stanley Kubrick film from 1964 satirizes the Cold War and the possibility of a nuclear conflict.
"Foreign Correspondent"
"Barry Lyndon"
"Lolita"

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The Last Picture Show A young Cybill Shepherd starred in this 1971 film. Do you know it?
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
"The Last Picture Show"
Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, this critically acclaimed drama was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including best picture. It ended up winning two Oscars — best supporting actor for Ben Johnson and best supporting actress for Cloris Leachman.
"What's Up, Doc?"
"Paper Moon"

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The Elephant Man This black-and-white movie was directed by David Lynch. Do you know it?
"Blue Velvet"
"The Elephant Man"
A commercial and critical success when it was released in 1980, this movie is based on the real-life story of Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man living in late 19th-century London. John Hurt portrayed the so-called elephant man.
"Eraserhead"
"Wild at Heart"

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame Can you identify this black-and-white movie from 1939?
"Frankenstein"
"The 39 Steps"
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
Victor Hugo's 1831 novel has spawned a number of adaptations in addition to this one, including a 1982 film starring Anthony Hopkins and a 1996 version animated by Walt Disney Pictures.
"The Story of Louis Pasteur"

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The Best Years of Our Lives Can you identify this 1946 film about servicemen home from World War II?
"The Best Years of Our Lives"
"The Best Years of Our Lives" was praised by critics and won nine Academy Awards, including best picture, best director, best actor (for Fredric March) and best supporting actor (Harold Russell).
"The Philadelphia Story"
"His Girl Friday"
"White Heat"

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Double Indemnity What's the name of this 1944 film noir?
"The Big Sleep"
"Double Indemnity"
Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck starred in this thriller, which was based on a mystery novel of the same name. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including best picture.
"The Last Seduction"
"Out of the Past"

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The Grapes of Wrath Do you recognize this movie, which is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by John Steinbeck?
"Of Mice and Men"
"East of Eden"
"Lifeboat"
"The Grapes of Wrath"
Released in 1940, "The Grapes of Wrath" starred Henry Fonda as migrant worker Tom Joad. The film is considered by many critics to be one of the best American movies of all time. Reportedly, Steinbeck also loved the movie.

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Night of the Living Dead What's the name of this famous horror flick from 1968?
"The Walking Dead"
"The Last Man on Earth"
"Night of the Living Dead"
Directed by George A. Romero, this independent movie was made on a shoestring budget and ended up earning a box office gross of more than 250 times what it cost to make. It's become a cult classic and has spawned numerous sequels and remakes.
"Rabid"

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"Frances Ha"
"Roma"
"A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night"
"The Artist"
In addition to its five Academy Award wins, including a statue for best picture, "The Artist" received three Golden Globe awards and seven BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts). The movie has earned more awards than any other French film to date.

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Inherit the Wind This movie is based on a famous stage play. Can you name it?
"Arsenic and Old Lace"
"Barefoot in the Park"
"The Front Page"
"Inherit the Wind"
Released in 1960 and directed by Stanley Kramer, this fictionalized account of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial features Spencer Tracy as lawyer Henry Drummond, a character based on the real-life Clarence Darrow. In the actual case, Scopes was found guilty, but the conviction was later overturned.

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What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? Can you identify this creepy movie from 1962?
"The Haunting"
"The Innocents"
"Hush ... Hush, Sweet Charlotte"
"What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?"
This psychological thriller starred Bette Davis and Joan Crawford as two seriously twisted sisters. Reportedly, Bette Davis created her own makeup look for her role as the disturbed "Baby Jane" Hudson.

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Bringing Up Baby How about this screwball comedy from 1938 — do you recognize it?
"My Man Godfrey"
"You Can't Take It With You"
"Bringing Up Baby"
This film stars Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. The script was written specifically for Hepburn, tailored to her comedic abilities. While the movie was considered a flop when it was released, it has since become a comedy classic.
"The Awful Truth"

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Roman Holiday Do you know the name of this classic Audrey Hepburn film?
"Sabrina"
"Breakfast at Tiffany's"
"Roman Holiday"
Released in 1953, this romantic comedy also stars Gregory Peck. The movie won three Academy Awards, including best actress for Audrey Hepburn and best costume design for a black-and-white film.
"Funny Face"

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Ed Wood Do you know the name of this biographical drama, starring Johnny Depp?
"Edward Scissorhands"
"Cry-Baby"
"Ed Wood"
Directed by frequent Depp collaborator Tim Burton, this 1994 film is about the cult filmmaker known for making some of Hollywood's best bad movies. The movie also features performances by Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette and Bill Murray.
"Don Juan DeMarco"

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Strangers on a Train Do you know the name of this Hitchcock film?
"The Wrong Man"
"Strangers on a Train"
This 1951 psychological thriller follows the story of two train passengers — a young tennis player and a charming psychopath. They come up with a scheme to perform murders for each other so they will not be suspected of the crimes.
"Mr. & Mrs. Smith"
"The Lady Vanishes"

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"Roma"
"Roma" was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and became the first Mexican movie to win for best foreign language film. It also scored statues for best cinematography and best director (Alfonso Cuarón).
"The Other Side of the Wind"
"I Love You, Daddy"
"The Party"

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Manhattan What's the name of this 1979 Woody Allen comedy?
"Bananas"
"Radio Days"
"Manhattan"
This film features a notable cast, including Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway and Meryl Streep. While it's among the most commercially successful films of Allen's career, it's reportedly his least favorite.
"Annie Hall"

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Rashomon How about this 1950 Japanese film — can you identify it?
"Rashomon"
This film is well known for its breakthrough narrative style, which features conflicting accounts of the same event as perceived by multiple characters. The movie was directed by the prolific Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa.
"Seven Samurai"
"Ikiru"
"Tokyo Story"

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Sunset Boulevard Can you name this 1950 film noir?
"Sunset Boulevard"
Written and directed by Billy Wilder, this classic tells the story of an aging silver screen star and a screenwriter who thinks he can manipulate her. It features many iconic lines, including "I am big. It's the pictures that got small."
"Gaslight"
"Gilda"
"I Married a Witch"

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Repulsion Which of the following Roman Polanski films is this screenshot from?
"Repulsion"
Released in 1965 and starring Catherine Deneuve, this movie was Polanski's first English-language film. It follows the story of a depressed, withdrawn woman who slowly goes mad while isolated in her apartment.
"Knife on the Water"
"Rosemary's Baby"
"The Tenant"

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Out of the Past Do you recognize this 1947 film noir?
"The Big Sleep"
"Out of the Past"
Starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas, this movie is considered by many film historians to be one of the greatest of the film noir genre. The movie was remade in 1984 as "Against All Odds" with Jeff Bridges, Rachel Ward and James Woods.
"Murder My Sweet"
"Scarlet Street"

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The Philadelphia Story What's the name of this romantic comedy that stars Katharine Hepburn as a socialite who's about to get remarried?
"Bringing Up Baby"
"Laura"
"The Philadelphia Story"
On the eve of her second wedding, Katharine Hepburn's Tracy Lord must decide which man she loves. Her options are the man she's supposed to marry (played by John Howard), her ex-husband (played by Cary Grant) or a reporter (played by Jimmy Stewart).
"High Society"

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