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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:

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.
Mother Dorothea: -
[With Sister Clodagh: looking at photos of the palace at Mopu]
Mother Dorothea: The house is nine thousand feet up - very cold, but good air. General Toda Rai, who has invited us to Mopu, has promised us every help. He was a little afraid when he learned that we are bound to our order only by yearly vows. I explained this rule to him.
Sister Clodagh: Yes, Reverend Mother.
Mother Dorothea: For more than a century, to serve voluntarily has been one of the glories of our Order.
Sister Clodagh: And our greatest strength.
Mother Dorothea: Exactly. He understands now. Is there anything you would like to ask?
Sister Clodagh: Who am I to take with me?
Sister Clodagh: We all need discipline. You said yourself they're like children. Without discipline we should all behave like children.
Mr. Dean: Oh. Don't you like children, Sister?
Angu Ayah: [Ayah and Mr. Dean both admire an old wall painting which depicts the palace in its former glory days, when it served as the so-called "House of Women" - a place where Toda Rai's father housed his concubines] A convent in this house! What do you think of that?
Mr. Dean: The brothers only stayed five months. Perhaps the sisters won't stay long, either.
[Ayah and Mr. Dean grin mischievously at each other]
The Old General: Do you see that crate? Sausages! They will eat sausages. Europeans eat sausages wherever they go.
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Black Narcissus Facts
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".
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.
The embroidery being done by Sister Clodagh is of St Francis of Assisi.
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