If you have set your DVD player to AUTO (see switch in the back of the machine) then it will play region 1 discs as NTSC and region 2 discs as PAL.
You are getting Black/white pictures as your TV set does not appear to support NTSC (its probably an old TV).
Easy cure - set this switch to PAL. Then it will convert NTSC signals into PAL for viewing on your PAL only TV.