The 1970s was a revolutionary decade in the history of cinema, marked by the rise of New Hollywood, a period when directors had more creative control than ever before. Although color films were the norm during this era, black-and-white films still held their own, offering an aesthetic that color could not replicate. Here is a list of the 10 best black-and-white movies from the 1970s:

1.The Last Picture Show (1971) –Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, this film is a nostalgic look at the decline of a small Texas town and the coming-of-age of its youth.

2.Young Frankenstein (1974) –Mel Brooks’ hilarious homage to the classic monster films of the 1930s, with Gene Wilder playing the iconic Dr. Frankenstein.

3.Manhattan (1979) –Woody Allen’s romantic comedy presents an introspective look at relationships set against the backdrop of New York City, beautifully captured in black-and-white.

4.Eraserhead (1977) –David Lynch’s surrealistic debut feature film is a dark and haunting tale that features stark, dreamlike imagery.

5.Lenny (1974) –Bob Fosse’s biographical film about comedian Lenny Bruce portrayed by Dustin Hoffman, known for its raw portrayal of Bruce’s life and career.

6.Stardust Memories (1980) –Another Woody Allen entry, although released in 1980 it’s often discussed alongside ’70s films for its production timing and themes reflective of his ’70s work; it’s shot in expressive black-and-white contrasting its semi-autobiographical content.

7.Paper Moon (1973) –A Great Depression-era comedy/drama directed by Peter Bogdanovich starring Ryan O’Neal with his daughter Tatum O’Neal who won an Academy Award for her role.

8.Edvard Munch (1974) –Directed by Peter Watkins, this Norwegian film explores the life of expressionist artist Edvard Munch with a documentary-like authenticity.

9.A Clockwork Orange (1971) –Though primarily in color, this Stanley Kubrick masterpiece utilises black-and-white sequences to affect disturbing flashbacks and quasi-futuristic elements fit for this dystopian tale.

10.The Garden of Finzi-Continis (1970) –Winner of an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Vittorio De Sica’s drama is about an aristocratic Jewish family in Italy during World War II.

Each one of these films showcases why black-and-white cinematography continued to thrive even during an age dominated by color and will remain classics that cinephiles return to time and time again for their enduring stories and visual appeal.