Black Narcissus (1947): cast, story & where to watch
1947 · Film · ★ 7.5
Released in 1947, Black Narcissus is a drama film directed by Emeric Pressburger, running about 100 minutes. “A story of exquisite yearning in a strange and beautiful land. Towering over the screen ... as the mountains that saw it happen.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Black Narcissus stars Deborah Kerr as Sister Clodagh, David Farrar as Mr. Dean, Flora Robson as Sister Philippa and Kathleen Byron as Sister Ruth, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Black Narcissus has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Black Narcissus page.
If you liked it. Fans of Black Narcissus tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Black Narcissus (1947)?
- In US, Black Narcissus is available to stream on fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Black Narcissus worth watching?
- Black Narcissus holds an audience score of 7.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Black Narcissus?
- Black Narcissus stars Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Flora Robson, Kathleen Byron and Sabu.
- When was Black Narcissus released?
- Black Narcissus was released in 1947, with a runtime of about 100 minutes.