Black Narcissus

[2Rebecca]

Is going too OTT on the woo and melodrama for my tastes.

I'm sure the original film was very good, but three out of the four main Indian roles were played by white actors in dark makeup. Not great.

True. Jean Simmons in black face as Kanchi.

Totally boring. Three hours and the only excitement was Sr Ruth falling off.

I'm glad I didn't watch the last one then!

@SchadenfreudePersonified

I enjoyed it.

It wasn't anywhere near as good as the film - the film was chilling regarding Sister Ruth's madness as I recall, but it was still excellent and I'm glad i watched it. It would have been better as a single 90 minute drama, though.

Exactly what I was going to say.

I enjoyed it and think it was well done but for those of us who love the film, ultimately this turned out second best. P&P managed the climax at the bell tower much better for one thing, along with Sister Ruth's madness.

There wasn't a bad performance to be fair, which couldn't be said of the film. I much preferred Kathleen Byron from the film version as Sister Ruth but I preferred this Mr Dean to David Farrar and his unfeasible shorts.

Oh god I hope they don't try and remake A Matter of Life and Death.

The exposed stair and bell tower would be foolish enough already without the effects of fasting and altitude. Not the brightest, these nuns?

Lovely as it was

Film 1 - Telly 0

I loved In this House of Bredebut thus sounded bizarre. Watching thread as I might watch this...

Kathleen Byron and Deborah Kerr were not the best of friends, compounded by the fact that the director was an ex of Kerr, and at the time in a relationship with Byron! Maybe added something to the frisson.
This version had a more plausible Mr Dean, and the scene when Ruth went to his bungalow was painful.
"Men are allowed to have desires. We are the vessels for their desires."

I haven't seen the film but I thought this was a bit dull and also a bit nuts. Someone should make a version where they tell it from the point of view of the villagers.

@RoyalCorgi - now that is a brilliant idea!

@RoyalCorgi

I haven't seen the film but I thought this was a bit dull and also a bit nuts. Someone should make a version where they tell it from the point of view of the villagers.

I think that would be pretty short.

Pretty much ‘Oh, look, the General has imported yet another bunch of white people in funny clothes to take over his old harem house — these ones are women. Weird. I give it till the rains. Now, what was I saying?’

I really enjoyed it but it was not as good as the film. Somehow the film being in black and white (hope I'm correct about that) added to the dark atmosphere. A pretty good cast too for the series (a bit shocked to see Gina McKee not in the main character role). Alessandro Nivola is very attractive (luckily Emily Mortimer) and played Mr Dean very well.

There is no way I would ever have been climbing those exposed steps to the bell tower!

I am inspired to read some of Rumer Godden's novels now. She also wrote Greengage Summer (made into a film too). She seems to be an author who has been forgotten in recent years.

Dh declared it 3 hours wasted.
I can't decide.
Very powerful at the end though when she told him her name.

Very powerful at the end though when she told him her name. Agree. You couldn't get more intimate than that without getting physical. I also like that the Hindu belief in reincarnation had seeped into their thinking (in another life...)

@NewModelArmyMayhem18, it was made in colour, unusually for a British picture in the late 40s. I've read Michael Powell's autobiography, but a long time ago, and I think he specifically wanted colour for the scene where Sister Ruth appears in ordinary clothes with red lipstick on her mouth.

I won’t be buying, watched it but not one to keep.

That makes sense given that it's such an important scene. Clearly, my memory (It's yonks ago that I last saw it) of it has faded to B&W!!!

[quote Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]@NewModelArmyMayhem18, it was made in colour, unusually for a British picture in the late 40s. I've read Michael Powell's autobiography, but a long time ago, and I think he specifically wanted colour for the scene where Sister Ruth appears in ordinary clothes with red lipstick on her mouth.[/quote]
It's odd - I've seen the film three times (years ago, mind) and although I KNOW it's in colour, in my mind's eye it's in black-and-white.

There is something about the sheer power of the film that it leaves you with great emotional impressions and that sort of dramatic punch seems to relate to B/W. (I know, I know - stupid reasoning, but there y'go)

I totally hear what you're saying @SchadenfreudePersonified. I would have been prepared to bet money on it being in B&W.

I liked the BBC version, although not a patch on the film.
Deborah Kerr was a fabulous actress.

Perhaps people are getting confused with another of Powell & Pressburger's great movies, A Matter of Life and Death. Earth is filmed in colour and 'heaven' is filmed in black and white.

Thoroughly recommended.

I have just realised why I thought it was in black and white - I most likely watched it on a B&W TV (remember those?)

A matter of life and Death excellent film,

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

I have just realised why I thought it was in black and white - I most likely watched it on a B&W TV (remember those?)

OOOooooh!

You could be right!

I loved a Matter of Life and Death (That was the David Niven airman one, wasn't it?)