Black Narcissus
“A story of exquisite yearning in a strange and beautiful land. Towering over the screen ... as the mountains that saw it happen.”
Synopsis
A group of Anglican nuns, led by Sister Clodagh, are sent to a mountain in the Himalayas. The climate in the region is hostile and the nuns are housed in an odd old palace. They work to establish a school and a hospital, but slowly their focus shifts. Sister Ruth falls for a government worker, Mr. Dean, and begins to question her vow of celibacy. As Sister Ruth obsesses over Mr. Dean, Sister Clodagh becomes immersed in her own memories of love.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Black Narcissus | Original Trailer [HD] | Coolidge Corner TheatreOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2021-04-27
Top Cast
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Deborah Kerr
Sister Clodagh
Sabu
The Young General
David Farrar
Mr. Dean
Flora Robson
Sister Philippa
Esmond Knight
The Old General
Jean Simmons
Kanchi
Kathleen Byron
Sister Ruth
Jenny Laird
Sister Honey
Judith Furse
Sister Briony
May Hallatt
Angu Ayah
Eddie Whaley Jr.
Joseph Anthony
Shaun Noble
Con
Nancy Roberts
Mother Dorothea
Ley On
Phuba
Joan Cozier
Girl in Classroom (uncredited)
Maxwell Foster
Clodagh's Father in Flashback (uncredited)
Margaret Scudamore
Clodagh's Grandmother in Flashback (uncredited)
Helen Debroy Summers
Clodagh's Mother in Flashback (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
London
Festival / Special Debut
August 13, 1947
Wide Cinema Exhibition
December 8, 2009
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.2M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
- Screenplay & Story
- Rumer Godden, Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
- Original Score
- Brian Easdale
- Original Title
- Black Narcissus
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Production Budget
- $1.2M
- Production Studios
- The Archers, J. Arthur Rank Organisation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Rumer Godden, Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Brian Easdale
Jack Cardiff
Reginald Mills
Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, George R. Busby
Department Leadership Roster
Michael Powell
Director
Emeric Pressburger
Director
Michael Powell
Writer
Emeric Pressburger
Writer
Michael Powell
Producer
Emeric Pressburger
Producer
George R. Busby
Producer
Brian Easdale
Original Music Composer
Jack Cardiff
Director of Photography
Reginald Mills
Editor
Alfred Junge
Production Design
Hein Heckroth
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Black Narcissus.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Black Narcissus.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Black Narcissus
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Black Narcissus about?
A group of Anglican nuns, led by Sister Clodagh, are sent to a mountain in the Himalayas. The climate in the region is hostile and the nuns are housed in an odd old palace. They work to establish a school and a hospital, but slowly their focus shifts. Sister Ruth falls for a government worker, Mr. Dean, and begins to question her vow of celibacy. As Sister Ruth obsesses over Mr. Dean, Sister Clodagh becomes immersed in her own memories of love.
Who directed Black Narcissus?
Black Narcissus was directed by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger.
Who stars in Black Narcissus?
The principal cast of Black Narcissus includes Deborah Kerr, Sabu, David Farrar, Flora Robson, Esmond Knight.
When was Black Narcissus released and how long is it?
Black Narcissus was released in 1947 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
Who composed the musical score for Black Narcissus?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Black Narcissus was composed by Brian Easdale.
Is Black Narcissus based on a book or true story?
Black Narcissus is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Rumer Godden".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Black Narcissus?
Black Narcissus holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).