Black Narcissus - Finally watched this 1947 British film from directors Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. I remember for the longest time wondering what exactly the title had to do with the actual story. Well, now I know.
A group of Anglican nuns attempt to start a school and hospital in the Himalayas. Young Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) is put in charge of running the new convent, becoming the youngest Mother Superior in the Anglican order. The former palace is perched high up on a sheer cliff and was once used to house the previous ruler's concubines.
The invitation to open the school is issued by General Toda Rai, the local Rajput ruler. He's played by Esmond Knight in the first unfortunate instance of "brownface". The other two performances involve Jean Simmons as Panchi, a troubled teenage girl taken in by the nuns and May Hallat playing Angu Ayat, the palaces local caretaker. David Farrar plays Mr. Dean, the General's agent and he is quick to warn Sister Clodagh of the many difficulties she and the others will face. There are many local customs that must be learned. Weather, high altitude and constant high winds also serve to exacerbate each woman's predisposition.
It's a beautiful movie, filmed in Technicolor and winning two Oscars for Cinematography and Art Direction. There's also an element of sexual tension running throughout that got the movie in trouble when it came time to open in the States. Protests from the Catholic Legion of Decency led to somewhat heavy editing before it was allowed a wide release.
I'll admit there were moments that drew a chuckle out of me but they had nothing to do with disbelief or derision. This should be considered a psychological thriller and like any well made thriller an inelegant release of tension is sometimes called for.
90/100