Principal cast
Deborah Kerr, Sabu, David Farrar, Flora Robson and Esmond Knight
Film 246 of 307 on the Screen Path
Black Narcissus
A story of exquisite yearning in a strange and beautiful land. Towering over the screen ... as the mountains that saw it happen.
About the film
Black Narcissus at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1947 film at stop 246 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
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.
Key craft credits
Jack Cardiff (director of photography), Reginald Mills (editor), Brian Easdale (original music composer) and Alfred Junge (production design)
- Director
- Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell
- Release
- 1947-05-26
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
- Genres
- Drama
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Quiz
- 50 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
50 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.