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There has been much debate about Ford’s choice to shoot Liberty Valance in black and white. Many, including Bill Cler, suggested that the film could have benefited from color, believing that it would enhance the visual narrative. However, Ford's instinct led him to stick with black and white. This decision, he argued, allowed for a mystical quality that colored films often miss.
Black and white filmmaking captures the shadows and gradients of light in a way that colors cannot. The stark contrasts can evoke emotions more powerfully than a colorful palette. Ford's understanding of this artistic choice characterized his work, allowing audiences to experience purity in storytelling as they were drawn into the mood rather than distracted by vibrant colors.