I was looking forward to the 'Black Narcissus' as I consider Deborah Kerr to be a fine actress and Powell and Pressburger important directors, whose 'A Canterbury Tale' is a significant film. I was very disappointed by BN: I found it phony in terms of story line and totally unconvincing in terms of characters. It has a terribly condescending attitude towards the "native" population which is shown in a mumbo-jumbo kind of way, made worse by English actresses playing the roles of Angu Ayah and Kanchi. Farrar's character, wearing shorts, half open shirt and sandals in a convent at 8000 feet, is ridiculous. Kerr's sister Clodagh, whose background and managerial skills are an obvious recipe for disaster, is unconvincing. The sets are obviously studio constructions and the colours now look terribly washed out. The only redeeming aspect of this film is Kathleen Byron's demonic appearance. The ending is powerful and will remind you of a far better film made some years after this one.
Review of Black Narcissus
