Black Narcissus ***** (1947, Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons, David Farrar, Flora Robson, Kathleen Byron, Sabu) – Classic Movie Review 602

Writer-producer-director Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s extraordinary 1947 film Black Narcissus, about five Anglo-Catholic nuns who have set up a school and infirmary in a ramshackle old building on the edge of a cliff in the far-off Himalayas, is visually and emotionally stunning. ‘The most erotic film I have ever made, all done by suggestion,’ said Powell.

David Farrar stars Mr Dean, the local General’s British agent, who arrives at the convent and sends obsessed novice nun Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron) crazy with sexual frenzy. Meanwhile Sabu plays the charming Young General, who runs off with the over-sexed young temptress Kanchi (Jean Simmons). And head nun Sister Clodagh begins to recall a romance she had before entering the sisterhood. The place, the heady mountain atmosphere, the foreign culture, or something seems to have a really weird effect on the sisters.

Deborah Kerr, the star of Powell and Pressburger’s previous film The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1946), stars again as Sister Superior Clodagh, Flora Robson plays Sister Philippa, Jenny Laird is Sister Honey and Judith Furse is Sister Briony. Esmond Knight plays The Old General.

Everything is astonishing about this film: (1) the performances, particularly of Kerr, Robson and Byron, (2) Powell and Pressburger’s triumph in creating a fantasy India all in the Pinewood studios, (3) their daring, erotically charged screenplay, (4) Jack Cardiff’s eye-catching, gloriously unreal Technicolor cinematography and (5) Alfred Junge’s amazing, mind-boggling art direction/set decoration.

Black Narcissus won two Oscars – for Best Cinematography by legendary British cinematographer Jack Cardiff (his only Academy Award, with three other nominations) and Best Art Direction/ Set Decoration for Alfred Junge. Cardiff was promoted to director of photography after his fine work as second-unit cameraman on The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.

Powell and Pressburger’s screenplay is based on Rumer Godden’s novel.

The main cast are Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Sabu, Jean Simmons, Kathleen Byron, Flora Robson, Esmond Knight, Kathleen Ryan, Jenny Laird, May Hallatt, Judith Furse, Shaun Noble, Eddie Whaley Jr and Nancy Roberts.

Black Narcissus is directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, runs 99 minutes, is made by The Archers and Independent Producers, is released by General Film Distributors (UK) and Universal (US), is written by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, based on Rumer Godden’s novel, is shot in Technicolor by Jack Cardiff, is produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, is scored by Brian Easdale and is designed by Alfred Junge.

Powell recalled: ‘It is all done by suggestion, but eroticism is in every frame and image from beginning to end. It is a film full of wonderful performances and passion just below the surface, which finally, at the end of the film, erupts.’

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