Tweet Color from Black-and-White: colorized photos

A very interesting still here. I was not even generally aware that these two made a film together before. I assume at Universal? Betty looks saddened, and Mary shocked and dismayed. I wonder what is going on here? The title is certainly familiar from the later sound remake. Today both ladies are recalled as Second-tier Silent Stars, but in their day they were certainly major movie names. Wonder if this picture still exists? I imagine it's Lost.




Betty Compson And Mary Philbin from "Love Me And The World Is Mine!" (1927)

Apparently a publicity still connected with THE YOUNG RAJAH (1922).




Rudy with Baby Leopard Cub

Gagman,
By Betty and Mary I assume you mean Mary Pickford and Betty Compson, right? Because that's who it looks like to me, or I need a stronger prescription.

Martie,

No, Mary Philbin. Although originally I thought it was Jacqueline Logan. That is why I gave her Deep Blue Eyes, Mary Philbin's eyes by contrast were Brown, so I changed them. Do they still appear to be Blue here? I mean in the still with Betty Compson? It could depend upon your monitor settings?




Mary Philbin- "Princess Winter"




Dolores Costello- "The Loveliest Bride"




Marion Davies- "Daintily Blonde!"

Gagman,

Your Valentino is terrific, Rudy looks almost 3-D. There's a little pink or flesh tone in his eyes but other than that, you've hit the bull's eye.

I am devoting a chapter in my upcoming book to Conrad Veidt. Here's one of the photos I've just completed:

Bob,

Wow! The Veidt is spectacular. I have a friend Johanna who is crazy about Conrad! She will love this.

Glad that you liked the Valentino. I was not happy with the shade of the Leopard. Looks to yellowish. I expected bigger Kudous for the Dolores Costello which I felt turned out exceptionally good. I just added a delightful shot of a very blonde Marion in a darling outfit that you will like




Jacquelin Logan- "Blue Eyed Baby"- From CHILDREN OF JAZZ (1923)

Gagman,

Not to slight your Dolores Costello - the intricacies of her headdress are stunning. The only let down is the expression on her face, not too happy for a bride.

Here's another Veidt - a familiar pose from THIEF OF BAGDAD but I've not seen it in color before:


BTW, I'm doing a chapter of Clara Bow too. Let me invite you to submit any of your work if you are so inclined. They would have to be 300 dpi for publication. Just a thought.

Also - what color are Clara's eyes?

Bob,
Clara's eyes were a dark-brown.

Bob,
Clara's eyes were a dark-brown.

Not any more! Ok, in most of the photos I'm using you can't tell but there's one where her eyes seem light - maybe not blue but hazel perhaps. Brown just seems too dark for the photo.


See what I mean?

Bob,
Clara's eyes were a dark-brown.

Not any more! Ok, in most of the photos I'm using you can't tell but there's one where her eyes seem light - maybe not blue but hazel perhaps. Brown just seems too dark for the photo.


See what I mean?

Okay, maybe they weren't a dark-brown, but they were still brown. A light caramel, perhaps?

Bob,

Took me an hour to find it. But here is my version of that photo. This was done in at least 2008.




"Sleepy Time Gal"

Gagman,

Excellent work. Here is my version - blue eyes and all:

Bob,

It looks nice, though very different. Mine has a little more flesh visible. Rather obvious you can see right through that cheesecloth thin mesh on her top as if it wasn't there. I had a number of photos at one time where I gave Clara blue eyes too. Quickly found that wasn't accurate. To many Blue eyes girls in Hollywood during the 20's.

Here is the BK photo with the Mystery Doll. I have given her a name that seems to fit quite well. This picture appears to have some minor double exposure traces bleeding into it?




Buster Keaton- "His First Date With Patty Poundcake"

I've been busy lately with various stuff so I've just taken a few minutes to acquaint myself with what's been happening. Good stuff posted from all of you I may say. I have a couple photos in various stages of completion, but here's a relatively simple one I'll post right now of one of my favorite actors.

LC,

Great minds think alike, here's one I just completed for my next book:

LC,

Great minds think alike, here's one I just completed for my next book:

Nice! I normally don't post images I haven't finished colorizing, but I just couldn't resist the urge to post this Thin Man photo I've been working on lately. I hope to finish it in the next few days.



This photo is almost a perfect example of what you were talking about in that other thread about photo collecting. I tried bidding on an original 1934 copy of this photo, but it went way over my budget (it went for more than 70 dollars as I recall). A few days later, a lot appreared with this photo and three other Thin Man photos from a 1962 reissue. I put a low bid in and got it for the starting bid of $3.99. As much as I would have liked having the 1934 original, $3.99 for four 1962 photos makes more sense to me than 1 1934 photo at $70.00.

LC, maybe I'm missing something but I believe MGM struck your 1962 still from the same negative as the 1934 still. Unless the lab work is noticeably inferior I always opt for the reissue and save $$$. On the other hand, reissues on lobby cards and posters can look chinsey even from MGM. That said, I picked up really nice reissue LCs from A WOMAN'S FACE and THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER that looked as good as the original issues. MGM theatrically re-released many of its 30s films in 1962 perhaps just before selling them to TV. All came with new sets of stills, LC and posters so watch out for those on ebay. I got a one-sheet poster (27x41 inches) of a '62 reissue of DAVID COPPERFIELD for about $35. I shudder to think of trying to snag a '35 original one sheet!!


Myrna Loy of course but I can't identify the film. My guess is a Warners circa 1929, maybe SHOW OF SHOWS?

The photo is indeed very sharp. So, I'm inclined to think that it's from the original negative too. I don't believe that your Myrna Loy photo is from Show of Shows. If I'm remembering correctly, she appeared in the Floradora Girl and Li-Po-Li sequences. Maybe the pirate scene too with Ted Lewis. Anyway, this might be a good excuse to screen my Show of Shows dvd! Since you mentioned Show of Shows, here's a still that will be subject to a future color transfer.

LC, Bob,

Wow, the William Powell is tremendous! Bob some interesting new additions. I saw your Lon Chaney- Flick The Clown pic, and the He one with Norma Shearer. Those are fantastic. And you have not posted them here. However the tortured Hunchback I fiddled with some. See what you think?




Here is some new stuff. Marion Davies from a 1921 Alfred Cheney Johnson Photo shoot.



"Fatally Flapper!"



"Queen Beauty"


A Couple shots of the tragic Mary Nolan. Was she gorgeous or what?




"Blonde Confidence"



"Breathless Passion"




Olive Borden- "Frilly Philly"




"Norma Talmadge Brags Up Her Favorite Cold Cream!"

Gagman,

Your Hunchback is a big improvement over mine. I'd like to see you do more scenes like that to vary your output from the "Screen Queen" portraits. On portraits I find I find I'm repeating myself - even the neat Powell-Loy still is basically the same old stuff only distinguished by the unusual lighting effect. I'm working on a VAGABOND KING still with lots of people and costumes. I'll post it here to let you or others take a whack at it.


Dennis King, Lillian Roth and Warner Oland

Do you mind if I call you "Fujichrome Fells"? You do make some very bold color choices, reminds me of the Fujichrome look. This isn't a knock, mind you. I can't colorize well at all.

Do you mind if I call you "Fujichrome Fells"? You do make some very bold color choices, reminds me of the Fujichrome look. This isn't a knock, mind you. I can't colorize well at all.

Hm, I wonder who I would be?

Bob,

Good Lord. That still has more colors than the Rainbow! A little more vivid than I am used to. It's great work though. I will try to tone it down a little without ruining your original concept.

Here is something similarly atmospheric, and very demanding. Also a shot of Pola Negri with a very differnt hairstyle then we generally see her sporting.




Claire Windsor with Her Dolly's-Circle 1923-'24



"Countess From Moscow"

Bob,

OK try this. I made a few more changes though than expected.

Do you mind if I call you "Fujichrome Fells"? You do make some very bold color choices, reminds me of the Fujichrome look. This isn't a knock, mind you. I can't colorize well at all.

Hm, I wonder who I would be?

How about Chromacolor Clara? Personally, I'd prefer the moniker of Kodachrome Bob but I'll take whatever I can get as long as it isn't obscene.

Here's VAGABOND KING Revised - I meant to dial down the color saturation before posting the first one. Changed Mr. Oland's attire and took pity on the extras in the back. Remember this film was photographed in the two-strip Technicolor process, hence my use of pastels a bit more than usual:

Bob,

OK try this. I made a few more changes though than expected.

Gagman, I like yours a lot, especially the way you two-toned some costumes and Warner's turbin.

Bob,

Glad you like the changes. I am still revising the Claire Windsor pic as well.

Another new still from WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS.



"Leggy Decoy!"

...Show of Shows, here's a still that will be subject to a future color transfer.

Thanks for posting the original black & white still first.
I wish all the colorizers here would do that before working their "magic" on the stills.

Quote: Thanks for posting the original black & white still first.
I wish all the colorizers here would do that before working their "magic" on the stills.

That's a good idea and easy to do. You understand that we "colorists" have received little feedback except the occasional brickbat. Constructive suggestions are welcome and novel.