The Legacy of Black Narcissus
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- Опубликовано: 3 дек 2019
- #PowellAndPressberger
The legendary filmmaking duo of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger released a masterpiece in 1947 - following the doomed mission of a convent of nuns trying to westernize an Indian village. With its striking use of Technicolor and top drawer performances from Deborah Kerr, Sabu and Kathleen Byron - it's understandably gone down as a classic.
But it also could be argued as a deconstruction of imperialism right before India got its independence from Britain.
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Brilliant movie. Very thought provoking. And brillant analysis of the movie. Most Indian people I have met deeply resent the British coming to India. But I met a few who were happy they came to India and learned English ,because now they are successful worldwide in computers. But nevertheless, I wonder how English people would feel if Indians came and completely took over England. Trevor Noah does a great spoof on the English coming to India.
Thank you for the incredibly informative review and insightful analysis. Wikipedia says the sisters are Anglican nuns, but I believe that's a mistake. The Servants of Mary are a Catholic order.
For the American release, I believe they added a disclaimer saying that the nuns were Anglican because the Catholic Legion of Decency weren't happy. They had to cut out Sister Clodagh's flashbacks as well.
@@BetterWithBob That's so dumb :/ and I feel bad for audiences who were fed an inferior version
Fascinating analysis of this masterpiece. Deborah Kerr won the first of her three New York Critics' Best Actress awards for her Sister Clodagh (and her delicious Bridie Quilty in I See a Dark Stranger). I would have loved to hear more of your thoughts about the evolution of Clodagh (those flashbacks were often cut in the original US screenings) and Deborah's sublime performance. Nonetheless, this is a terrific discussion.
So sorry for the late reply. I see Sister Clodagh most obviously as a foil for Sister Ruth in that both get tempted by Mr Dean but Ruth's is to go into a wild obsession that's more based around lust, while Clodagh's is to search for love and companionship (and fittingly enough, neither Conn nor Mr Dean reciprocated the feelings). What's interesting to me about Clodagh is the choice to make her Irish - as the Irish had been oppressed by the British Empire for years as well and were just starting to get their independence at the beginning of the 20th century (the 26 counties not part of the UK declared themselves a republic just two years after this film came out). So it's interesting to think that Clodagh comes from a nation that was historically oppressed and now was gaining independene, and she tries to oppress members of a nation herself. If she's the same age as Deborah at the time (25), she would have been born during the Irish War of Independence as well. I've often suspected that Clodagh became a nun to escape the Magdalene Laundries after she had "showed" that she loved Conn (either they slept together before marriage or she got a loose reputation) or to avoid bringing shame on her family - so she might not have had much choice in her vocation. More superficially, I think Deborah gives a fantastic performance that makes her more than a stuffy uptight woman in charge - she gives her all these little details that make her appealing as a person (especially in scenes with Joseph).
Black Narcissus was fascinating, especially with Sr. Ruth’s story. I first came across it on a random flip through TCM. It also brought me over to another Deborah Kerr film where she also played a nun called Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison. I kinda think of it as a prequel to Black Narcissus even though I think that one was made a little later (I’ll need to look it up).
I’m curious about your take on Zulu and the mini series Shaka Zulu. I really enjoyed your analysis of Imitation of Life and I think you’d have a blast exploring them.
Also that discussion about leading ladies could be another one, especially the fear of ruining public image for wanting to do more risky parts that have nothing to do with the actress’s personality outside of her role. Rebecca Schaffer immediately came to mind when you said that. (It was also the lack of privacy and safety but that good vs bad girl polarization had a lot to do with it as well)
Also Bette Davis is a boss.
Alas I haven't seen Zulu yet, but its material does sound promising. Have seen Mr Allison though. It's funny that this time Deborah puts on the Irish accent, doesn't do a half bad job for the 1950s either.
I think the public image for leading ladies is still happening to an extent. Meg Ryan's career got damaged when she went against type for 'In The Cut' - beforehand she was in all the fluffy romcoms and critics turned on her for doing something so dark and sexual. Winona Ryder was also warned not to do Heathers out of fear it could damage her reputation.
It can sometimes go the other way round, where they take roles to restore their public images. For some reason they declared Katharine Hepburn 'Box Office Poison' in the late 30s and attributed it to the public finding her hard to sympathise with. So she did The Philadelphia Story, where she played an uptight shrew who gets humbled and wins over the audience's sympathy. Or when Drew Barrymore had the bad girl reputation, she did Poison Ivy and played herself as a tragic villain.
Thank you, interesting talk on Black Narcissus
Thank you for watching :)
good analysis...thank you
thanks for watching :)
As an Indian and a Hindu, the portrayal of Hindu attitudes towards Christianity is spot on. So is the subservience of the upper classes. The general believes that becoming Christian will give him class whereas the locals aren’t uncomfortable with their identity. Kanchi’s sexuality is judged and policed by the nuns as was Hindu sexuality. The “problematic” stuff may be uncomfortable to watch but it was honest and the whitewashing of it would only take away from the integrity of the film.
Thank you so much for your perspective 🙂
I'm very aware of white racism, but I'm also not vigilant about it. So thank you!!!
It's a complex movie. I always describe it: "it's like independent film, long before independent film."
Great great video! It's a shame you have few subscribers and views.
Ah doesn't bother me. I'm only at this a year or so, and I'm happy to build my audience through consistent videos. They'll come in time, and I'll keep working hard in the meantime :)
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A woeful, self-righteous, smarmy and puritanical look at the past, he must have got a university education to see everything through his prisms.
Very interesting and by the end of all this you have T Lobsang Rampa...did it take years to expose the hoax?
Madly beautiful film (eg the young sister Clodagh fishing in the shimmering water) ☺️☺️☺️- and a sex crazed killer nun on the loose
black narcissus 1947 is a fantastic 👌 movie with quality acting ..my only issue is I wish kanchi aka Jean simmons had more scenes 😮
The 1947 film "Black Narcissus" highlighted the dichotomy of this middle path of ascetism (especially of convent) is not sustainable & subtly hints Hindu philosophy of realistic view of life & dividing it in stages(or 4 ashrams ) is more sound
Ashrama in Hinduism is one of four age-based life stages discussed in Indian texts of the ancient and medieval eras. The four ashramas are: Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest walker/forest dweller), and Sannyasa (renunciate).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashrama_(stage)
I'm from France. Kathleen byron is exceptional. Her character is despiscable but in fact not, she suffers. She's racist that's why thé sisters destinés her
Hello from Ireland :)
Too much revisionist thinking here as usual.
Yes the aim was clearly to highlight the clash of culture and inherent racism but in 1947 but I doubt they would be taking such post millennial British bashing views or such "progressive" views at that period.
Christian missions were active long before & independent of British Imperialism.
Progressives hiding in plain sight would not have been putting Jean Simmons in black Face
belittling and stereotyping an obvious gay character.
Mansplaining the ridiculous hero in short shorts all over the shop.
That would work today as a sharp jar to make a point but it was most likely just run of the mill film production in 1947.
This movie is more about realism and its revealed in the expression of the scenes in the moment rather than trying to make sense of a total plot or message.
That is revealed in the flowers v vegetables, The old man v. Mr Dean. The nuns backstory v their mission. The reality of the natives v. what anyone else wants them to try to be.
They are neither portrayed as good or bad, just simple (in the sense of living in the moment).
The convent v. the brothel.
The glorious technical beauty of film rather than a story or plot, which is largely irrelevant here.
The film is remarkable because of cinematography, artwork, expressionism, use of colour.
Acting, political messages etc are largely irrelevant and forgettable.
Sorry Bob, wearing a baseball cap reversed has lost you a great deal of credibility.
You and Sister Ruth are the only ones who noticed.
Sad but true
Boring, unoriginal analysis.