Black Narcissus: Turner Classic Movies British Film Guide (Turner Classic Movies British Film Guides)

“‘Black Narcissus”, now heralded as a masterpiece, is a landmark film in the influential canon of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. With the centenary of Powell’s birth in 2005 this timely book - the first dedicated exclusively to the film - draws on archival documents, original set drawings and stills to demonstrate its remarkable achievements, both as a production and as a vehicle for ideas. Looking at the film’s enduring images of both place and gender, Sarah Street also examines “Black Narcissus” as a masterly technical accomplishment - with cinematographer Jack Cardiff’s experiments in Technicolor just one of its many advances - as well as a meditation on the end of empire. Looking too at the film’s controversial reception by international critics and censors, and its subsequent impact on experimental filmmakers, Street explores issues of technique, style, performance and interpretation to reveal the continued relevance of “Black Narcissus” today.
black Narcissus, Now Heralded As A Masterpiece, Is A Landmark Film In The Influential Canon Of Michael Powell And Emeric Pressburger. With The Centenary Of Powell's Birth In 2005 This Timely Book--the First Dedicated Exclusively To The Film--draws On Archival Documents, Original Set Drawings And Stills To Demonstrate Its Remarkable Achievements, Both As A Production And As A Vehicle For Ideas. Looking At The Film's Enduring Images Of Both Place And Gender, Sarah Street Also Examines black Narcissus As A Masterly Technical Accomplishment, As Well As A Meditation On The End Of Empire. Looking Too At The Film's Controversial Reception By International Critics And Censors, And Its Subsequent Impact On Experimental Filmmakers, Street Explores Issues Of Technique, Style, Performance And Interpretation To Reveal The Continued Relevance Of The Film Today. Black Narcissus is a masterly technical achievement, with its numerous innovations including cinematographer Jack Cardiff's experiments in Technicolor and the ambitious recreation of the Himalayan landscape in Sussex and at Pinewood studios, and Street here discusses the creative input of all the production team. She assesses Black Narcissus' nuanced representations of East-West relations and of the volatile political situation in India at the time, and reviews its controversial reception by international critics and censors. Looking finally at its subsequent impact on experimental filmmakers, Street explores issues of style, performance and interpretation to reveal the continued relevance of Black Narcissus today."--Jacket "Now heralded as a masterpiece, Black Narcissus is a landmark film in Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's influential canon, and remains a highlight of British and indeed of world cinema. Enigmatic and deeply memorable, the film, starring Deborah Kerr and based on Rumer Godden's best-selling novel about the emotional dissolution of nuns in the Himalayas, has left behind enduring images of both place and gender. This book - the first dedicated exclusively to Powell and Pressburger's 1947 film - draws on archival documents as well as original set drawings and stills to demonstrate its remarkable achievements, both as a production and as a complex meditation on the end of empire