Black Narcissus Reviews

1946

70
from 2380 members

Anglo-Catholic nuns on an isolated missionary assignment in the Himalayas face an assortment of worldly challenges including sexual temptations and other intriguing ups and downs. Based on the novel by Rumer Godden. Read more

Starring	Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Flora Robson, Jean Simmons
Director	Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Black Narcissus
View all critics' reviews (2)
- An unlikely theme produces one of the cinema's most beautiful films, a visual and emotional stunner despite some narrative uncertainty.
- 35168
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:44
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Most helpful member's review of Black Narcissus
View all members' reviews (21)
- - 24
  - 0
  a neglected masterpiece
  
  This must be one of the most unusual films ever made. A storyline about nuns in India attempting to set up a mission to educate and convert the natives wouldn&#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 85164
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Market Harborough
  - 25 Mar 2005 at 12:22
Most recent members' reviews of Black Narcissus
View all members' reviews (21)
- - 0
  - 0
  Well worth a watch!
  
  Powell and Pressburger's powerful psychological drama following a small group of nuns slowly losing control in their new unlikely convent high up on the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1086609
- - lbenni01
  - 1 review
  - 29 Jan 2012 at 11:34
- - 0
  - 5
  Unintended Black Comedy
  
  Powell and Pressburger have a high reputation but their work, as here, is often very dated. There is clever photography but the story of a doomed attempt of an ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 891736
- - FrArguile
  - 21 reviews
  - Wells next the Sea,
  - 16 May 2010 at 13:32
- - 3
  - 0
  A true classic of British film
  
  Stunning in every way, this is a true classic of the film-maker's art. Shot almost completely in a studio (saving a couple of outdoor scenes which were ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 791405
- - rtb
  - 116 reviews
  - London
  - 30 Jul 2009 at 12:33
- - 1
  - 0
  The Blu Ray is....
  
  .... a must rent if you are a fan of this film, intrigued by it, or simply love classic cinema. The print is astonishing in hi def; the details of the art ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 747487
- - ChrisTiffer
  - 1 review
  - London
  - 24 Apr 2009 at 15:00
- - 1
  - 2
  Black Narcissus
  
  This was supposed to be a classic, a must watch. So I watched it, and for the first hour and nine minutes I could not work out where the story was going. Then ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 496098
- - Paul Shepherd
  - London
  - 18 Nov 2007 at 17:05
- - 1
  - 0
  a film classic
  
  Definitely one to watch if you're interested in film. This is especially so because there's such a rich collection of additional features to help with ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 492797
- - a customer
  - Littlehampton
  - 09 Nov 2007 at 11:45
- - 0
  - 0
  Good but is it a classic?
  
  This film came highly recomended but I struggled to enjoy the first half of it. However, it does get more enjoyable as the Himalayan nuns become seduced at ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 486013
- - FilmyC
  - 27 reviews
  - Runcorn
  - 18 Oct 2007 at 21:23
- - 0
  - 0
  Beautiful and interesting but not too exciting
  
  This film looks absolutely fantastic, the colours are amazing and the backdrops are still very convincing with the mountain retreat perfectly suggested. I had... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 479227
- - a customer
  - Hackney
  - 25 Sep 2007 at 14:08
- - 0
  - 0
  Best of British
  
  This is not intended to be a literary review - so I'll keep this short. If you've heard anything about Black Narcissus you may know already how great ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 468326
- - a customer
  - Nottingham, UK
  - 22 Aug 2007 at 16:30
- - 0
  - 0
  Fantastic
  
  Why dont they make films like this anymore, its fantastic, the whole film is great.
  
  Report this review
- 443129
- - tevenb
  - 40 reviews
  - London
  - 24 May 2007 at 12:18
View all members' reviews (21)

- - 24
  - 0
  a neglected masterpiece
  
  This must be one of the most unusual films ever made. A storyline about nuns in India attempting to set up a mission to educate and convert the natives wouldn&#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 85164
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Market Harborough
  - 25 Mar 2005 at 12:22
- - 5
  - 0
  Colour And Photography Take Centre Stage
  
  Deborah Kerr as a num trying to set up a convent in the Himalayas. Star of the show really is the photography of Jack Cardiff which brings to life the entire ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 122782
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - McClennan
  - 424 reviews
  - St Helens
  - 12 Jul 2005 at 09:37
- - 3
  - 0
  A true classic of British film
  
  Stunning in every way, this is a true classic of the film-maker's art. Shot almost completely in a studio (saving a couple of outdoor scenes which were ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 791405
- - rtb
  - 116 reviews
  - London
  - 30 Jul 2009 at 12:33
- - 2
  - 0
  One of the glories of international cinema
  
  Perhaps the greatest directors ever to come out of Britain, Powell and Pressburger here decided to recreate the Himalayas in Shepperton Studios, with terrific ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 411181
- - Savage
  - 632 reviews
  - London, England
  - 12 Feb 2007 at 10:46
- - 1
  - 0
  Scintillating British cinema!
  
  A strange, beautiful, erotic and hypnotic film,it has to rank as one of the few genuine original masterpieces of British film. That this was made in the 1940&#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 172564
- - Mark Fryers
  - Rye, East Sussex
  - 10 Nov 2005 at 22:00
- - 1
  - 0
  a film classic
  
  Definitely one to watch if you're interested in film. This is especially so because there's such a rich collection of additional features to help with ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 492797
- - a customer
  - Littlehampton
  - 09 Nov 2007 at 11:45
- - 1
  - 0
  The Blu Ray is....
  
  .... a must rent if you are a fan of this film, intrigued by it, or simply love classic cinema. The print is astonishing in hi def; the details of the art ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 747487
- - ChrisTiffer
  - 1 review
  - London
  - 24 Apr 2009 at 15:00
- - 0
  - 0
  visually stunning
  
  visually stunning if a lot over-wrought.
  
  Jean Simmons in blackface
  
  Report this review
- 125859
- - Jeff
  - Staffordshire
  - 21 Jul 2005 at 10:42
- - 1
  - 1
  Powell and Pressburger Masterpiece
  
  Watching Black Narcissus is like bathing in colour. It is technicolour at its very finest, like watching a moving painting. Jack Cardiff (cinematrography) and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 185621
- - SamFromMaidenhead
  - 254 reviews
  - Maidenhead
  - 17 Dec 2005 at 21:37
- - 0
  - 0
  My Little Pony
  
  Somewhat against the odds, I found this a moderately enjoyable film. The acting is OTT but that was very much the norm until Marlon Brando came along and showed... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 204674
- - BobfromJersey
  - 8 reviews
  - Jersey
  - 09 Feb 2006 at 12:00

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Black Narcissus - Blu-ray
  
  Anglo-Catholic nuns on an isolated missionary assignment in the Himalayas face an assortment of worldly challenges including sexual temptations and other intriguing ups and downs. Based on the novel by Rumer Godden....

- - Buy
- Black Narcissus
  
  Anglo-Catholic nuns on an isolated missionary assignment in the Himalayas face an assortment of worldly challenges including sexual temptations and other intriguing ups and downs. Based on the novel by Rumer Godden....