Old black and white films?

[SunMootStars]

Anyone remember there used to be an old black and white film on bbc2 or channel 4 in the 80's/90's billed as the matinee and would be on at about 3pm on a weekday??
I used to love watching them with my mum who'd sit down with a cuppa. It's where I discovered Bette Davis, Clarke Gable, Spencer Tracey, Katherine Hepburn and all the greats.

I would love to find these on television again to watch with my own kids. I recently recorded the Ghost and Mrs. Muir which I vividly remembered from my own childhood. They loved it. Anyone know where to find these classic movies these days? We have TCM and Film 4 but they don't often show the type of film I'm interested in. I prefer a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers classic, not an old western from the 50's....

Oh gosh, Mandy was made in 1952, and possibly one of the first films my parents took me to see when I was just 5 ( I’m now 76!). Absolutely tear jerking, and the young child actress, Mandy Miller was exceptional.

Talking Pictures also has a catch-up site called Encore.

For those of us in London, there's a channel on Freeview called London Live which shows lots of old films. Many of them were unknown to me before I started watching LL, and in many cases I can see why they've sunk into obscurity, but there's the odd gem. Film 4 often has old black and white films (not just Westerns) in the daytime.

Good ones to look out for: The Maltese Falcon; Casablanca; Brief Encounter; It's a Wonderful LIfe; The Third Man; Kind Hearts and Coronets; The Ladykillers; Ice Cold in Alex; The Lady Vanishes; The 39 Steps; Great Expectations; Went the Day Well?; His Girl Friday; I Married a Male War Bride; High Noon; Twelve Angry Men; Double Indemnity; Green for Danger. Anything directed by Hitchock, anything starring Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Alec Guinness, Alistair Sim, Ingrid Bergman, Barbara Stanwyck, Lauren Bacall or Bette Davis, most of the Ealing comedies.

I too saw it as a child I'm 57,my Dw had never heard of it so I bought it for her she loved it even though so sad in parts. I didn't watch it with her cos am a big softie at heart.

Not black and white but.... the incredible 'Imitation of Life' - superb melodrama and a heartbreaking ending.

Im 65 now and I remember watching the Imitation of Life as a young child. It wouldn’t have been when the film was released but certainly in the 60’s when it was on TV. I can recall my mum sitting on her chair crying and I think, as young as I was, it subconsciously helped form my ideas about never letting a persons ethnicity matter to me.

I remember watching Carve Her Name with Pride, cried buckets.

Laura, The Women, Mr Blanding Build His Dream House.
(And for Christmas) The Bishops Wife (Cary Grant at his stunning best)

@IWanderedLonely I remember that film too.

I loved the old black and white films, especially the obscure ones. I saw one that had a very young Nancy Reagan in it ‘The next voice you hear’. I haven’t been able to find a version of it since.

The Story of Esther Costello was another great film. It starred Joan Crawford.

This is one of my earliest memories of TV - watching this as the matinee with my Grandma.

Also:

The Enchanted Cottage
I Remember Mama
Three Smart Girls

Oh the Enchanted Cottage was wonderful! Saw it years ago and have been looking out for it ever since.
Many of my favourites have been mentioned- Imitation of Life with Lana Turner, Laura with Gene Tierney( who is also in Leave Her To Heaven which is not B&W either but is fabulous)
A Patch of Blue, with Sidney Poitier and Shelley Winters, is a favourite also. I love her in anything, but especially The Night of the Hunter and Alfie.
All my favourite films are sooo old!
Oh I nearly forgot my all time favourite film, Billy Liar. Julie Christie swinging down the street is my style icon.

Thank you all for your replies! Lots of my favourites mentioned here- also remember being engrossed as a child by James Cagney in Angels with Dirty Faces. And the Philadelphia Story with KHepburn/Jimmy Stewart. I also have a strong memory of being really intrigued watching Gaslight as a ten year old. Only in recent years have I heard the phrase used as it is used now, and I think of that horrible husband every single time!!

Didn't mention it in my OP, but I'm in Ireland so unfortunately don't have iplayer here.. but will look at the other channel options. Thank you!

I’m another one here who has such happy memories of watching an old black and white film with my mom on a Saturday afternoon, next to the gas fire, sitting so close my legs went all corned beef! 😀

I also remember watching Twelve Angry Men with my dad. Still one of my favourite films now.

What a great thread. I vividly remember enjoying 'the ghost and Mrs Muir too'. Must look it up again!

Wish they would still show these b&w films regularly, find it so comforting to have them on even in the background while I potter.

If you have Amazon prime it may be worth looking? I swear dh has found some on there....

Channel 4 used to show Deanna Durban films a lot of a Sunday morning in my youth. Happy times

My personal favourites were a bit later - Doris Day and the 50s musicals. I'd watch anything with a bit of Howard Keel

Talking pictures tv channel would be perfect op.

Sabrina and Roman Holiday ❤️

I love the bishops wife, much better than its a wonderful life imo.

YouTube is your friend.

On The Waterfront is a wonderful film. Marlon Brando is amazing.

So many great memories of all these films.
I've a 9 and 11 year old... whenever I get them to sit down to watch one of these classic films with me, they invariably moan and groan... but then are absolutely absorbed by the storyline and end up loving the film too.

Thanks for mentioning YouTube will start looking there. We have Prime but have watched most of the old films on there already; not a huge selection anyway but will take another look.

Yes to the Doris Day musicals mentioned by a pp! Loved those as a child!

The Talking Pictures Chammel
Greatest Movies Channel

I love that film. Gene Tierney was one of the most beautiful women there's ever been. Such a tragic life though.

i used to love the mid day matinees. One I rewatched lately was An inspector calls. My DH was engrossed.