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By Steve Crook July 11, 2011 07:48 PM
> John DeCarli
>
> So, for that last photo, they must have had a matte painting below to get the
> famous vertiginous shot, right?
Yes John, a matte painted by Peter Ellenshaw.
They used all the tricks available, mattes, hanging miniatures, B&W photos of the Himalayas touched up with pastels and tilted to catch the English sun acting as backdrops - and lots of other tricks that they made up on the spot.
They were an amazing team of artists and technicians at the top of their game
Steve
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By LJ July 13, 2011 02:25 PM
Wonderful production photographs of Black Narcissus. This is one of my favorite films in the collection and it's fun to see the actors behind the scenes so to speak. The photo of Jean Simmons and May Hallatt is a treasure.
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By Steve July 19, 2011 03:24 PM
What a beauty Deborah Kerr was; she was wonderful in the Archer's Colonel Blimp film as well. The Red Shoes is always fighting it out with Winter Light for my pick as best film ever, but, certainly, Black Narcissus is up there somewhere - and I Know Where I Am Going.
Steve
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By Daisy July 19, 2011 05:14 PM
OMG! I have never seen these photos before. They are so wonderful! I read in Michael Powell's autobiography that the film was shot on the back lot and when you watch the film you can hardly believe it to be true; these photos show the process and the magic! I have three copies od Black Narcissus from Criterion ; the original DVD, the latest one with special features, and the Blu Ray ( for when I update my TV and player) I also have it on VHS and a home made copy taped off Bravo when it was a commercial free station (believe it or not). When I first discovered BN I went out to Book City (now gone) on Hollywood Blvd. and actually found a hard back copy of the book. I read that the author did not like the film as she felt Sabu was miscast. I love the film so much! Deborah Kerr was so underrated as an actress and Kathleen Byron is so great, too! All of the characters are so memorable and the sets, music, cinematography and direction are first rate! It's a real shame that this film did not get the recognition it diserved at the time, but we can enjoy it now. It was ahead of time, and it is now timeless! I was lucky enough to see a screening at AMPAS with Jack Clayton in attendance about a year before his death. I was too shy to ask him to autograph his book of and thinking back I could kick myself for not being so bold. I would recommend the DVD to anyone who loves great cinema! Thank you to Criterion for making this film a true treasure for us film buffs!
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By Dipa July 24, 2011 01:58 AM
Must see the film again now that I've had a glimpse of what went on behind the scenes. Thanks for sharing. Btw, your new profile pic looks great.
What are your plans for India?
“Speaking as a fellow Adam, you, sir, make me ashamed to share the same name. Obviously another pretentious contrarian. What's the matter, more than 500 people know who PTA is, so you don't like him . . .”
“Thanks, Vincent.
I saw this film for the first time, actually, and I thought it was very eerie, haunting, and chilling. It's like a slasher film without the slashing, a horror movie without the . . .”
10 comments
By John DeCarli
July 11, 2011
02:46 PM
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By David Hollingsworth
July 11, 2011
03:16 PM
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By Kurt James Cassidy
July 11, 2011
04:40 PM
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By josiah may
July 11, 2011
04:48 PM
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By Steve Crook
July 11, 2011
07:48 PM
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By LJ
July 13, 2011
02:25 PM
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By francesca Di Amico
July 19, 2011
02:41 PM
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By Steve
July 19, 2011
03:24 PM
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By Daisy
July 19, 2011
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By Dipa
July 24, 2011
01:58 AM
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