History Trivia / BlackNarcissus

* OldShame: Mild example. Eddie Whaley Jr joked about his "limited acting abilities" as a seven-year-old years later.

* DawsonCasting:
** {{Averted}}. Creator/JeanSimmons was the same age as Kanchi, who was described as "about seventeen".
** Joseph Anthony makes a joke that he thinks he's six but could be as old as ten. Eddie Whaley Jr was seven.

** Averted. Creator/JeanSimmons was the same age as Kanchi, who was described as "about seventeen".

* BillingDisplacement: Creator/{{Sabu}} is given second billing in the trailer, even though the Young General is more of a supporting character. The Oscar nominated character actress Flora Robson is given third billing, despite playing the small supporting role of Sister Phillipa. Sister Ruth is probably the second most prominent character after Clodagh, but Kathleen Byron is only billed fifth.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The film had to be heavily censored when it was exported to America. Sister Clodagh's memories of Ireland, the close-up of Sister Ruth applying lipstick and Mr Dean's innuendos were all cut. There was also a disclaimer stressing that the nuns were Anglican and not Roman Catholic.
* FakeIrish: Sister Clodagh is Irish played by the Scottish born Creator/DeborahKerr, who uses her own IAmVeryBritish accent. It's unknown if Clodagh's accent faded from her years in the convent or not - though her voice remains the same in flashbacks.

** Creator/DeborahKerr, David Ferrar, Kathleen Byron and Esmond Knight (the Old General) appear in several other Powell/Pressburger films.

* UsefulNotes/BFITop100BritishFilms: #44

* BigNameFan: Creator/MartinScorsese loves the film and has said he's used it for inspiration on many of his projects.

* BillingDisplacement: Sabu is given second billing in the trailer, even though the Young General is more of a supporting character. The Oscar nominated character actress Flora Robson is given third billing, despite playing the small supporting role of Sister Phillipa. Sister Ruth is probably the second most prominent character after Clodagh, but Kathleen Byron is only billed fifth.

* BeautyInversion: Kathleen Byron is one of the {{Trope Maker}}s here. Sister Ruth undergoes SanitySlippage and her make-up gets steadily creepier, to the point where she looks like she's wearing a corpselike mask in the finale.

* PlayingAgainstType: Jean Simmons, usually demure and mildly rebellious types, as an exotic seductress.

* ThoseTwoActors: Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons and Kathleen Byron all starred together in the film ''Film/YoungBess'' as well.

* UnbuiltCastingType: Deborah Kerr's first role as a ProperLady - or at least Hollywood's first experience of her that way - is of a young woman trying to hold onto her purity and chastity as she is tempted by her exotic environment.

!!1947 Film

** Averted. Jean Simmons was the same age as Kanchi, who was described as "about seventeen".

** Esmond Knight and Jean Simmons perform in {{Brownface}} to play Indians. The extras playing the locals were a bunch of Asian refugees from different countries who were "floating around the docks" in post-war London.

** Sabu was directed by Michael Powell in ''Film/TheThiefOfBagdad1940'' and ''The End of the River'' too (which Esmond Knight appeared in).
* RomanceOnTheSet: Deborah Kerr was briefly involved with Michael Powell, as was Kathleen Byron. This leads RealitySubtext to the fact that the former was the director's ex, while the latter was his current lover.

** Creator/GretaGarbo at one point was considered for the part of Sister Clodagh. Deborah Kerr in fact almost wasn't cast because Michael Powell felt she was too young - but Emeric Pressburger lobbied for her.
* WordOfSaintPaul: Kathleen Byron felt that Sister Ruth thought herself to be sane and could have been helped, had the other nuns been "more understanding".

* BillingDisplacement: The Oscar nominated character actress Flora Robson is given third billing, despite playing the small supporting role of Sister Phillipa.
* CaliforniaDoubling: The entire film was shot at Pinewood Studios in England, with lots of visual tricks to disguise the sets to make them look Indian.
* DawsonCasting: Averted. Jean Simmons was the same age as Kanchi, who was described as "about seventeen".

* FakeNationality: Esmond Knight and Jean Simmons perform in {{Brownface}} to play Indians. The extras playing the locals were a bunch of Asian refugees from different countries who were "floating around the docks" in post-war London.

* ProductionPosse: Creator/DeborahKerr, David Ferrar, Kathleen Byron and Esmond Knight (the Old General) appear in several other Powell/Pressburger films.

* StarMakingRole: For Creator/DeborahKerr as far as Hollywood goes. The film was a hit over in America, and she was brought to the attention of major producers. It also had the effect of TypeCasting her as various ProperLady characters for a while.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The film was supposed to end with a scene between Sister Clodagh and the Reverend Mother, where Clodagh apologises and expects a reprimand, but Reverend Mother comforts her. It was filmed but not used, as Creator/MichaelPowell loved the shot of the rainstorm as Clodagh leaves the village - which was only going to be the penultimate scene.

* WordOfDante: Kathleen Byron felt that Sister Ruth thought herself to be sane and could have been helped, had the other nuns been "more understanding".

* PlayingAgainstType: Jean Simmons, usually as demure mildly rebellious types, as an exotic seductress.

* RomanceOnTheSet: Deborah Kerr was briefly involved with Michael Powell, as was Kathleen Byron.

* ThoseTwoActors: Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons and Kathleen Byron all starred together in the film ''Young Bess'' as well.
* ThrowItIn: Sister Ruth briefly kisses Mr Dean's hand as he puts a coat around her shoulders. That was unscripted and Kathleen Byron did it on the spur of the moment.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The film was supposed to end with a scene between Sister Clodagh and the Reverend Mother, where Clodagh apologises and expects a reprimand, but Reverend Mother comforts her. It was filmed but not used, as Creator/MichaelPowell loved the shot of the rainstorm as Clodagh leaves the village - which was only going to be the penultimate scene.

* RomanceOnTheSet: Deborah Kerr was briefly involved with Michael Powell.

* FakeIrish: Sister Clodagh is Irish played by the Scottish born Creator/DeborahKerr, who uses her own IAmVeryBritish accent. It's unknown if Clodagh's accent faded from her years in the convent or not (though she still speaks in Kerr's normal voice in flashbacks).

* ActorInspiredElement: Michael Powell wanted Sister Ruth to act crazier when she enters Mr Dean's house. Kathleen Byron however insisted that she should be happy at finally being in the house of the man she loves.
* BigNameFan: Martin Scorsese loves the film and has said he's used it for inspiration on many of his projects.
* CaliforniaDoubling: The film is set in India and shot entirely in England, with some glass shots and hanging miniatures to simulate the Himalayan scenery.

* FakeIrish: Sister Clodagh is Irish played by the Scottish born Deborah Kerr, who uses her own IAmVeryBritish accent. It's unknown if Clodagh's accent faded from her years in the convent or not (though she still speaks in Kerr's normal voice in flashbacks).

* StarMakingRole: For Deborah Kerr as far as Hollywood goes. The film was a hit over in America, and she was brought to the attention of major producers. It also had the effect of TypeCasting her as various ProperLady characters for a while.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The film was supposed to end with a scene between Sister Clodagh and the Reverend Mother, where Clodagh apologises and expects a reprimand, but Reverend Mother comforts her. It was filmed but not used, as Michael Powell loved the shot of the rainstorm as Clodagh leaves the village - which was only going to be the penultimate scene.

* FakeNationality: Esmond Knight and Jean Simmons perform in {{Brownface}} to play Indians. Deborah Kerr meanwhile plays an Irish woman, though she doesn't put the accent on. Additionally the extras playing the locals were from a bunch of Asian refugees from different countries who were "floating around the docks" in post-war London.

ProductionPosse: Creator/DeborahKerr, David Ferrar, Kathleen Byron and Esmond Knight (the Old General) appear in several other Powell/Pressburger films.

ProductionPosse: DeborahKerr, David Ferrar, Kathleen Byron and Esmond Knight (the Old General) appear in several other Powell/Pressburger films.

ProductionPosse: [[Creator/DeborahKerr Deborah Kerr]], David Ferrar, Kathleen Byron and Esmond Knight (the Old General) appear in several other Powell/Pressburger films.

Trivia: