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IMDbPro

Black Narcissus

  • 19471947
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons, Kathleen Byron, David Farrar, Judith Furse, Jenny Laird, Flora Robson, and Sabu in Black Narcissus (1947)
Trailer for this classic drama
Play trailer2:35
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
A group of nuns struggle to establish a convent in the Himalayas, while isolation, extreme weather, altitude, and culture clashes all conspire to drive the well-intentioned missionaries mad.A group of nuns struggle to establish a convent in the Himalayas, while isolation, extreme weather, altitude, and culture clashes all conspire to drive the well-intentioned missionaries mad.A group of nuns struggle to establish a convent in the Himalayas, while isolation, extreme weather, altitude, and culture clashes all conspire to drive the well-intentioned missionaries mad.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Writers
    • Rumer Godden(adapted from the novel by)
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Stars
    • Deborah Kerr
    • David Farrar
    • Flora Robson
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Writers
    • Rumer Godden(adapted from the novel by)
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Stars
    • Deborah Kerr
    • David Farrar
    • Flora Robson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 181User reviews
    • 113Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Black Narcissus
    Trailer 2:35
    Black Narcissus

    Photos360

    Deborah Kerr and Jean Simmons in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Kathleen Byron in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons, and David Farrar in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Jean Simmons in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Deborah Kerr, Kathleen Byron, and David Farrar in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Jean Simmons in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Deborah Kerr, Judith Furse, Jenny Laird, and Flora Robson in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Deborah Kerr and Kathleen Byron in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Deborah Kerr and Jean Simmons in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Sabu in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Esmond Knight in Black Narcissus (1947)
    Deborah Kerr in Black Narcissus (1947)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Deborah Kerr
    Deborah Kerr
    • Sister Clodaghas Sister Clodagh
    David Farrar
    David Farrar
    • Mr. Deanas Mr. Dean
    Flora Robson
    Flora Robson
    • Sister Philippaas Sister Philippa
    Jenny Laird
    Jenny Laird
    • Sister Honeyas Sister Honey
    Judith Furse
    Judith Furse
    • Sister Brionyas Sister Briony
    Kathleen Byron
    Kathleen Byron
    • Sister Ruthas Sister Ruth
    Esmond Knight
    Esmond Knight
    • The Old Generalas The Old General
    Sabu
    Sabu
    • The Young Generalas The Young General
    Jean Simmons
    Jean Simmons
    • Kanchias Kanchi
    May Hallatt
    May Hallatt
    • Angu Ayahas Angu Ayah
    Eddie Whaley Jr.
    Eddie Whaley Jr.
    • Joseph Anthonyas Joseph Anthony
    Shaun Noble
    • Conas Con
    Nancy Roberts
    Nancy Roberts
    • Mother Dorotheaas Mother Dorothea
    Ley On
    • Phubaas Phuba
    Joan Cozier
    • Girl in Classroomas Girl in Classroom
    • (uncredited)
    Maxwell Foster
    • Clodagh's Father in Flashbackas Clodagh's Father in Flashback
    • (uncredited)
    Margaret Scudamore
    Margaret Scudamore
    • Clodagh's Grandmother in Flashbackas Clodagh's Grandmother in Flashback
    • (uncredited)
    Helen Debroy Summers
    • Clodagh's Mother in Flashbackas Clodagh's Mother in Flashback
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Michael Powell
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • Writers
      • Rumer Godden(adapted from the novel by)
      • Michael Powell
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      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.
    • Goofs
      An Australian kookaburra is heard laughing in a bamboo forest in the Himalayan foothills.
    • Quotes

      Sister Clodagh: [to Mr. Dean] You are objectionable when sober, and abominable when drunk!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits:- Convent Of The Order of The Servants Of Mary - Calcutta
    • Alternate versions
      The flashbacks of Sister Clodagh's life prior to her becoming a nun were deleted from the original U.S prints of the film.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Road to Hong Kong (1962)
    • Soundtracks
      Lullay My Liking
      (uncredited)

      Old Edwardian Carol

      Music by Sir Richard Terry

      New music by Brian Easdale

    User reviews181

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    One of the 3 most gorgeous films ever made
    Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) is promoted to Sister Superior, and sent to establish an Anglican mission/convent/school in a remote village high in the Himalayas. With her she brings several other nuns (a level-headed Judith Furse, an older nun Flora Robson, and a neophyte Kathleen Byron). The strange atmosphere of this remote region affects all those involved. Ruth (Kathleen Byron) falls hopelessly in love with a British jack-of-all trades and local agent (David Farrar). The surrounding events and Farrar's presence also rekindle Kerr's memories of a failed love affair she once had with a young man (Shaun Noble). When Noble left her life, Jesus Christ entered, and Kerr became a nun. Jean Simmons plays a beautiful beggar girl, who is placed in the care of Kerr by Farrar. Simmons later becomes Prince Dilip Raj's (Sabu's) wife, of sorts. The most stunning scenes occur toward the end of the movie. Ruth's mental disintegration and her pathetic pass at Farrar are very sad. Ruth's change in appearance is visually riveting, as much perhaps as Isabelle Adjani's transformation in The Story of Adele H. The performances by Kerr and Byron are superlative, their facial expressions revealing deep heartfelt emotion and pain. If you think Holly Hunter did a great (non-speaking) acting job in The Piano, see Black Narcissus for a real revelation!

    This Powell-Pressburger film is one of the most beautifully photographed color movies ever made. Black Narcissus won two Academy awards, for art direction and cinematography. It would take over 3 decades for a comparable film (Days of Heaven) to come along. If you are fortunate enough to have viewed the laserdisc version of the movie, you will be able to listen to Powell and Scorsese do a running commentary of the movie. Toward the end, you will learn how the final scene was shot to a film score, and not the other way around.
    helpful•66
    10
    • Mr. Moviegame
    • May 25, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1947 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Crni narcis
    • Filming locations
      • County Galway, Ireland
    • Production companies
      • The Archers
      • Independent Producers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £280,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $58,436
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons, Kathleen Byron, David Farrar, Judith Furse, Jenny Laird, Flora Robson, and Sabu in Black Narcissus (1947)
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