Black & white film, the cinema of shadows and light, is a filmgoer's pleasure and a film student's surprised delight. The greatest of films are black & white, from Chaplin and Keaton, through the masterpieces of Film Noir, up to the black & white rarities of modern cinema, from Raging Bull to The Artist. Featuring 40 well-chosen illustrations, this is the first full account, critique and history of the black & white film, which dominated the movies internationally over seven decades. It reveals the art and craft of filming in black & white, going behind the scenes to the directors and cinematographers, tracing the fortunes of this unique medium through the history of the silver screen.