The Masters  
The Powell & Pressburger Pages

Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films.

A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it.

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Submitted by Roger Mellor

Black Narcissus (1946)
"Radio Times" film guide


Director - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Screenplay - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Producers - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Starring - Deborah Kerr & Sabu
Running Time - mins
Country of Origin - UK

Winner of Oscars for art design and cinematography, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's adaptation of Rumer Godden's simmering novel is one of the most striking examples of studio-controlled artifice in film history. Jack Cardiff's lush colour images not only enhance the beauty of the stylised Himalayan scenery, but also bring a certain grandeur to the melodramatic events at a remote mountain mission where the visit of English agent David Farrar is causing passions to run dangerously out of control. Kathleen Byron's eye-rolling jealousy awakens the occasionally sleepy plot and her scene with Deborah Kerr on the bell-tower is a true classic. Sabu as a wealthy local general and Jean Simmons as the nubile native girl he's trying to seduce provide a little eastern spice.


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