Black Narcissus (1947) – Filming Locations
Drama · Directed by Emeric Pressburger · Starring Sabu, Deborah Kerr
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.
Where was Black Narcissus filmed?
- London, United Kingdom, London – Principal photography and interior sets of the convent, including the chapel and living quarters. The majority of Black Narcissus was filmed on soundstages at Pinewood, where Pressburger and Powell constructed elaborate sets to represent the Himalayan convent with meticulous painted backdrops and miniatures
- Wales, United Kingdom, Wales – Exterior landscape shots representing the Himalayan peaks and mountain vistas surrounding the convent. Welsh mountain scenery was used to create the dramatic high-altitude landscape, composited with studio interiors through the innovative use of projected backgrounds and matte paintings
- Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, Hertfordshire – Outdoor sequences and additional exterior filming for establishing shots. Supplementary exterior filming took place in the Hertfordshire region near major studio facilities to capture landscape elements and garden scenes