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Black Narcissus Overview:

Black Narcissus (1947) was a Drama - Film Adaptation Film directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and produced by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger and George R. Busby.

Academy Awards 1947 --- Ceremony Number 20 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Alfred Junge; Set Decoration: Alfred JungeWon
Best CinematographyJack CardiffWon
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Black Narcissus BlogHub Articles:

Black Narcissus (1947): Another Archers Masterpiece

By 4 Star Film Fan on Dec 21, 2021 From 4 Star Films

Under their collaborative umbrella, The Archers, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger formed one of the most mystifying and extraordinary partnerships within the annals of British cinema history. Black Narcissus is just one of the many enchanting jewels in their collective crown. Part of the acclai... Read full article

Deborah Kerr leads an order of nuns in the dazzling “Black Narcissus”

By Stephen Reginald on Aug 18, 2021 From Classic Movie Man

Deborah Kerr leads an order of nuns in the dazzling “Black Narcissus” Black Narcissus (1947) is a psychological drama directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and starring Deborah Kerr, Sabu, David Farrar, and Flora Robson. The film was written and produced by Powell and P... Read full article

From the Archives - Black Narcissus ( 1947 )

By The Metzinger Sisters on Aug 21, 2018 From Silver Scenes - A Blog for Classic Film Lovers

In this scene from Powell & Pressburger's Black Narcissus ( 1947 ), Sister Clodagh ( Deborah Kerr ) works on a lovely needlepoint while in the convent of St. Faith high up in the Himalayan mountains. This is one of her few moments of relaxation before havoc breaks loose at the convent. From the ... Read full article

The Nitrate Experience, BLACK NARCISSUS at TCMFF 2017

By The Lady Eve on Apr 11, 2017 From Lady Eve's Reel Life

Kathleen Byron and Deborah Kerr in Black Narcissus, a production of The Archers One of the truly sublime experiences (and there were many) of this year's TCM Classic Film Festival was the joy of viewing a nitrate print of The Archers' (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger) great masterpiece Bla... Read full article

The Nitrate Experience, BLACK NARCISSUS at TCMFF 2017

By The Lady Eve on Apr 11, 2017 From Lady Eve's Reel Life

Kathleen Byron and Deborah Kerr in Black Narcissus, a production of The Archers One of the truly sublime experiences (and there were many) of this year's TCM Classic Film Festival was the joy of viewing a nitrate print of The Archers' (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger) great masterpiece Bla... Read full article

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Black Narcissus Quotes:

The Old General: [Speaking to the old Ayah, who dates back to when the palace, now intended for nuns, was used to house Toda Rai's father's concubines] Now listen, Ayah. I have invited some ladies to stay here, at the "house of women."
Angu Ayah: [Ecstatic, not realizing that the "ladies" Toda Rai is referring to are nuns] Ladies! Oh, that will be like old times!
The Old General: It will not be in the least like old times. They are not that kind of "lady" at all!
Angu Ayah: Then they won't be any fun.
The Old General: They are not coming for fun. These are nuns. Do you know what a nun is?
Angu Ayah: [Disdainfully] They kneel and pray all day like the monks you invited last year.
The Old General: I'm going to give them this house to make a school and a hospital for the people.
Angu Ayah: [Agitated, her voice rising] You know nobody here wants a school, and I'm sure they don't want a hospital!
The Old General: How do they know what they want until they try?
[Mr. Dean enters the room]
The Old General: The people have all kinds of diseases. They have ringworms.
Mr. Dean: They don't mind having ringworm.
The Old General: Then they ought to mind. And it will all be free!
Angu Ayah: It was free last time, and nobody came!
The Old General: They will this time.
Mr. Dean: [Meeting Sister Clodagh for the first time] I'm the general's agent. He welcomes you to Mopu. Understood you wanted to see me.
Sister Clodagh: We want to talk to you on business.
Mr. Dean: I didn't suppose you wanted to talk to me about anything else.
Mr. Dean: [Realizing his comment was a bit snarky] Sorry. Perhaps that wasn't fair.
Sister Clodagh: Mr. Dean, you know that General Toda Rai has given us this house for a new foundation of our Order. We very much appreciate it. It's very generous of him.
Mr. Dean: Yes. You'd like the General, Sister. He also has a superior being.
Sister Briony: [Taken aback] Really!
Sister Clodagh: I don't know why you are being so rude to me, Mr. Dean. I have to talk business with you whether I like it or not.
Mr. Dean: Well, talk it, then, and don't teach at me.
Mother Dorothea: [the Reverend Mother and Sister Clodagh survey the sisters of the Order, determining who will go to Mopu] Remember, a community is not a class of girls. The sisters won't be easy to manage or to impress. Now, let me see. I'll give you Sister Briony. You'll need her strength.
Sister Clodagh: Thank you, Reverend Mother.
Mother Dorothea: Sister Philippa for the garden... Sister Blanche.
Sister Clodagh: Sister Blanche?
Mother Dorothea: You know what the other girls call her?
Sister Clodagh: Sister Honey.
Mother Dorothea: Yes, Honey. I think you'll need Sister Honey. She's popular. And you'll need to be popular... And Sister Ruth.
Sister Clodagh: [Surprised] But Sister Ruth is ill.
Mother Dorothea: That is why I want her to go.
Sister Clodagh: Forgive me for saying so, Reverend Mother, but do you think our vocation is her vocation?
Mother Dorothea: [Nodding knowingly] Yes, she's a problem. I'm afraid she'll be a problem for you, too. With a smaller community, she may be better. Give her responsibility, Sister. She badly wants importance.
Sister Clodagh: Do you think it's a good thing to let her feel important?
Mother Dorothea: Spare her some of your own importance... if you can.
Sister Clodagh: Mother, are you sorry that I have been appointed to take charge of St. Faith?
Mother Dorothea: Yes. I don't think you're ready for it, and I think you'll be lonely. Never forget: we're an order of workers. Work them hard. And remember... the superior of all is the servant of all.
Sister Clodagh: I understand.
Sister Clodagh: [to Mr. Dean] You are objectionable when sober, and abominable when drunk!
Sister Ruth: Sister, the schoolroom is overflowing with children. We've nothing unpacked yet. No one understands the language. There are too many of them anyway, and they all smell!
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Black Narcissus Facts
The backdrops were blown-up black and white photographs. The art department then gave them their breathtaking colors by using pastel chalks on top of them.
Because of the Technicolor camera and film stock, the sets needed an astounding 800 foot-candles (8,600 lux) of illuminance just to operate at T2.8, which was the widest lens aperture setting.
Jack Cardiff said that the lighting and color palette of this film was inspired by the works of 17th-century Dutch painter Vermeer.
Jack Cardiff came up with the idea of starting the rainfall end scene by first having a few drops hit the rhubarb leaves before cueing a full-force rainstorm. He personally created the first drops with water from a cup when the scene was shot. Michael Powell was so pleased with the effect that he decided to make the scene, originally the penultimate one, the closing shot. Cardiff, however, was a great fan of the original scene (which had already been shot) that was supposed to follow this one and close the film. To this day Cardiff amusingly calls the opening drops of the rainfall "the worst idea I ever had".
A Technicolor corporation executive claimed that this film was the best example of the Technicolor process.
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