{"id":19694,"date":"2011-10-01T23:38:21","date_gmt":"2011-10-02T06:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19694"},"modified":"2022-06-22T09:58:10","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T16:58:10","slug":"black-narcissus-1947","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19694","title":{"rendered":"Black Narcissus (1947)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There&#8217;s something in the atmosphere that makes everything seem exaggerated.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Poster-150x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-19695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Poster-150x300.jpg 150w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Poster-64x128.jpg 64w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Poster.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA nun (Deborah Kerr) is sent to establish a convent high in the Himalayas, where she and her fellow nuns &#8212; Sister Philippa (Flora Robson), Sister Honey (Jenny Laird), Sister Briony (Judith Furse), and Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron) &#8212; each confront their personal demons.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deborah Kerr Films<\/li>\n<li>Flora Robson Films<\/li>\n<li>India<\/li>\n<li>Jean Simmons Films<\/li>\n<li>Mental Breakdown<\/li>\n<li>Michael Powell Films<\/li>\n<li>Nuns<\/li>\n<li>Sabu Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThe opening line of Peary&#8217;s review of <em>Black Narcissus<\/em> simply exclaims, &#8220;An erotic masterpiece about nuns!&#8221; Indeed. The creative team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger managed to produce a remarkably &#8220;intense adaptation of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rumer_Godden\">Rumer Godden<\/a>&#8216;s novel&#8221;, in which a youthful head sister (Kerr) and her four charges &#8220;find their commitment to the order greatly tested&#8221; as they&#8217;re placed in &#8220;an exotic setting&#8221; &#8212; a former &#8220;residence of a potentate&#8217;s harem&#8230; situated on an isolated mountain ledge&#8221; which is &#8220;dark and haunted by its sinful past&#8221;, and where &#8220;an eerie wind blows constantly through the empty corridors&#8221;. Peary accurately argues that the picture &#8220;is splendidly acted, uncompromisingly written&#8230;, and ranks as one of the most stunningly beautiful color films of all time, thanks to cinematographer Jack Cardiff&#8221; (about whom a recent must-see documentary &#8212; <em>Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff<\/em> [2010] &#8212; was just released) &#8220;and art director <a href=\"http:\/\/www.screenonline.org.uk\/people\/id\/458352\/\">Alfred Junge<\/a>&#8220;. Yet as Peary notes, &#8220;viewers&#8221; (myself included) &#8220;are usually shocked to discover that for the most part the picture was made inside a studio so that Cardiff could better establish the nuns&#8217; terrible sense of claustrophobia&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p>In his <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, Peary awards Kerr Best Actress of the Year &#8212; after venting about how that year&#8217;s Oscar was &#8220;wasted&#8221; on Loretta Young, who &#8220;made only a half-dozen noteworthy movies, and wasn&#8217;t all that impressive in any of them&#8221;, though he jokingly concedes perhaps she &#8220;deserved an Emmy for years of twirling through a door without once ripping her dress as the hostess of&#8230; <em>The Loretta Young Show<\/em>&#8221; &#8212; ouch!  At any rate, in this text, Peary lauds Kerr&#8217;s ability to &#8220;not&#8230; let Kathleen Byron overwhelm her in a much showier part&#8221;; yet while Kerr holds her own admirably &#8212; she does phenomenal, subtle work representing her character&#8217;s emotional arc throughout the narrative &#8212; it&#8217;s hard to deny that Byron is the protagonist who first comes to mind when thinking back on this film. Her mental derangement &#8212; so brilliantly filmed and conceived by all involved (including the make-up artists; see stills below) &#8212; provides an unforgettable climax to a truly unique film, one which (surprisingly enough) may ultimately best &#8220;belong&#8221; to the horror genre (as suggested so persuasively <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3249narc.html\">by DVD Savant<\/a>). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deborah Kerr as Sister Clodagh (voted Best Actress of the Year in Peary&#8217;s <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Kerr.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Kerr-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-19705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Kerr-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Kerr-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Kerr-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Kerr.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Kathleen Byron as Sister Ruth<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Byron3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Byron3-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-19698\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Byron3-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Byron3-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Byron3-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Byron3.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Flora Robson as Sister Philippa<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Robson.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Robson-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-19701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Robson-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Robson-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Robson-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Robson.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>David Farrar as Mr. Dean<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Farrar.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Farrar-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-19702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Farrar-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Farrar-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Farrar-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Farrar.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Stunning cinematography by Jack Cardiff<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Cinematography4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Cinematography4-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-19703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Cinematography4-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Cinematography4-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Cinematography4-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Cinematography4.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Alfred Junge&#8217;s production design<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Sets3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Sets3-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-19699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Sets3-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Sets3-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Sets3-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Sets3.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The surreal climax<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Horror.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Horror-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-19700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Horror-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Horror-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Horror-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Black-Narcissus-Horror.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nMost definitely. Nominated as one of the Best Pictures of the Year in Peary&#8217;s Alternate Oscars. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0039192\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jigsawlounge.co.uk\/film\/blacknarcissus.html\">Jigsaw Lounge Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qnetwork.com\/index.php?page=review&#038;id=2412\">Q Network Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s179narciss.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3249narc.html\">DVD Savant Blu-Ray Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/movies.tvguide.com\/black-narcissus\/review\/108630\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/68909\/black-narcissus#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9ZHaAuM_Uwk\">Tired Old Queen at the Movies Video Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s something in the atmosphere that makes everything seem exaggerated.&#8221; Synopsis: A nun (Deborah Kerr) is sent to establish a convent high in the Himalayas, where she and her fellow nuns &#8212; Sister Philippa (Flora Robson), Sister Honey (Jenny Laird), Sister Briony (Judith Furse), and Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron) &#8212; each confront their personal demons. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Deborah Kerr Films Flora Robson Films India Jean Simmons Films Mental Breakdown Michael Powell Films Nuns Sabu Films Response to&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19694\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19694"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84980,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19694\/revisions\/84980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}