Britflix: Black Narcissus (1947)

Based on a novel by Rumer Godden, Black Narcissus was considered one of the greatest films by the directing duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It was a film that earned the cinematographer, Jack Cardiff, an Academy Award, and was recently remade into a miniseries led by Gemma Arterton.

Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) becomes the youngest sister superior of her order when an Indian prince requests a school and hospital to be established at an abandoned palace. Sister Clodagh along with four other nuns go to the Himalayas but get tested by the dilapidated state of the palace, the environment, and the local culture.

Black Narcissus was considered one of the great post-war British films. It stands alongside films like The Red Shoes, David Lean’s adaptations of Great Expectations and Oliver Twist, and The Third Man. It was a film that was met with controversy because of its religious themes. Flashback scenes were cut from the US release due to the National Legion of Decency’s lobbying.

Powell described Black Narcissus as an erotic thriller, and it was a film that pushed the boundaries for 1940s standards. This was evident due to the sexual paintings on the walls and the sexual tension between Sister Clodagh, Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron), and Mr. Dean (David Farrar). Sister Clodagh was hostile to Mr. Dean, but she was clearly attracted to him and she had a backstory where she was in a relationship with a man before she became a nun. Sister Ruth’s attraction to Mr. Dean was more overt and it led to her descent into madness which drove the third act of the film.

The sexual theme was also presented through the characters of the Young General (Sabu) and Kanchi (Jean Simmons). The Young General was the heir to the local prince and attended the school for lessons before going on a journey to the West. Kanchi was a 17-year-old free-spirited orphan who was taken in by the nuns. Simmons was sensual when she danced which drew in the Young General. Simmons was striking as Kanchi, especially her eyes, but her casting as an Indian character wouldn’t be allowed today.

Whilst Black Narcissus was sexually charged (at least for its time), it came around a lot like a horror film. The palace had a supernatural quality to it. It was originally a harem for a prince and a group of monks tried to turn it into a monastery. Both were defeated by the palace. The nuns were tested to their limit because of the constant wind, the desperate people sending their children to be educated, people wanting medical treatment and the isolation they face. There were strange events like one of the nuns only growing flowers instead of vegetables and another nun thinking she did a heinous action. The cinematography had a disorientating quality because of the use of Dutch angles and extreme close-ups.

Black Narcissus had a great cast. The highlights were Kerr, Farrar, and Bryon. Bryon had the funniest fun as Sister Ruth who lost her grip on reality. Farrar played a cynical man and at times came across as a bit of an arse, especially when he came into Christmas Service drunk and made a spectacle of himself. Whilst Kerr was given an incredible opportunity but struggles to maintain her group as the film progresses.

Although Black Narcissus was set in India, the film was shot in England. It was shot at Pinewood Studios with some location shooting at Leonardslee Gardens in Sussex. The film did look impressive and didn’t seem to have that artificial look that blight other films from that era. There was a sense of the scale of the location due to the matte paintings and there were impressive sets. The scenes of the bell being rang were iconic.

However, the film’s story felt loose. It felt like a collection of events loosely strung together. This was due to the novel’s which could explore different storylines like the affair between the Young General and Kanchi, the sick child, and the rivalry between Clodagh and Ruth. These storylines didn’t work as well together in a 97-minute-long film. The plot and urgency only really picked up for the final act.

Black Narcissus was one of those films that will be popular with cinephiles and film studies students because they can dissect the themes and marvel at the technical aspects. But some modern audience members may find Black Narcissus hard to engage with.