Blind Spot: Black Narcissus

[This post is apart of Ryan McNeil's Blind Spot Series at The Matinee. On the last Tuesday of ever month you watch and write about a movie that is considered important in the cinema lexicon, but that you've somehow missed along the way.]

I was raised Catholic and spent both my grade school and high school years at Catholic institutions. By the time I started attending school, the days of nuns being the only teachers had long since past. The few we did have didn't even wear habits, which kind of takes away the mystery of them. It's hard to be intimidated by an older woman in a cat cardigan. I longed for the days my father and aunts described in the 50s and 60s when the nuns, dressed head to toe in their black robes, meant business and weren't afraid to use a ruler on you when you stepped out of line. 

My favorite story was my aunt's encounter with a envious nun. All women used to have to cover their heads when they were in church and my aunt was so proud of a gorgeous new hat she had received. But while piously praying, her pride was knocked down a notch when her teacher kicked the hat right off her head! My aunt claims the nun was so consumed with jealousy of how cute she looked in her new headwear, that the only solution was to knock it right off her head. That's my aunts side of the story anyway. But we never think of nuns being petty or jealous in that way. It showed a different side of them that made them not as perfect as you would think. Wearing the same thing day in and day out, why wouldn't this nun have felt jealous of this little girl's fashionable accessory? Which is why the group of flawed nuns (especially the deranged Sister Ruth) in Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's Black Narcissus (1947) remain so fascinating and perhaps aren't so different from that nun that knocked off my aunt's hat. 

The film follows a group of British nuns in the Himalayas, lead by the stoic Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr). She is tasked with creating a school in the Palace of Mopu situated at the top of a cliff. It once housed the mistresses of of its former owner and that sexual energy still dominates the walls. The sisters, covered in their virginal white garments seem out of place in the exotic location. The wind blows through the halls of the palace creating a wildness that would never do back in Europe. Like Mariah Carey in a music video, the wind is constantly swirling about them, their wimples floating about unable to rest. At each turn the woman are confronted with the otherworldliness of the place. The film, shot in glorious technicolor, won Oscars for its Cinematography and Art Direction. And the exotic locations were composed almost entirely on the sound stages at Pinewood Studios. It's so beautiful and strange that the women forget themselves. Sister Philippa (Flora Robson) even becomes so distracted by the place that she ends up planting various flowers in what was to have been their vegetable garden. But the buds are really just a metaphor for what really is consuming the sisters: sex!

My GOD the film is erotically charged. Starting with the presence of their caretaker, Mr. Dean (David Farrar). Dean in his short shorts, sandals, and feathered sunhat is just a fanny pack away from being a dad on vacation in Disney World. But apparently his masculine energy is palpable. He makes Sister Clodagh confused with her feelings for him and the whole love/hate dynamic they have going on. Their scenes are filled with sexual tension  and longing looks. It doesn't help that he soon brings the local slut to live with the nuns–Jean Simmons with a bad self tanner and a series of bejeweled nose rings that look like a lady bug has landed on her nose. She later seduces the young General (Sabu), who saves her from being whipped. She rises to her knees and the way she looks at his crotch, biting her lower lip, leaves nothing to the imagination.

But Dean's masculinity is apparently just too much for Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron) to handle. Her lust for him literally drives her mad. Early in the film, the Mother Superior states that Sister Ruth is a problem and foreshadowing the film's ending tells Clodagh, "I'm afraid she'll be a problem for you, too." Girl, you don't know the half of it. 

Kathleen Byron as Sister Ruth is all kinds of amazing. Watching her decent into madness is the highlight of the film and Byron is game for it all. I mean, just look at her sliding into frame, eyeing Dean up and down–taking all of him in like she would unhinge her jaw and swallow him whole. Or at least touch his manly chest hair.

That dirty old bird.

And it all builds up to the reveal of Ruth, stripped of her white garments and brandished like a brazen woman, clothed in a scarlet dress. She has renounced her vows and decided that she must be with Dean. If you couldn't tell by the way she is manically cackling, something has definitely snapped. As she applies her lipstick in the most disturbing and unsettling way possible, we see that any trace of humanity has left Ruth. She has become a zombie consumed with sexual passion and unwarranted hatred for Clodagh. Once she is rejected by Dean, her transformation becomes complete. There is a black murderous, jealous rage in her eyes and Clodagh is in her sites.

I don't want to say that the nun that kicked off my aunt's hat spiraled out of control in quite the same way that Ruth does. But it could have been worse. At least she didn't try to push my aunt off a cliff... 

Bruce Vilanch Dishes Dirt on Fire Island

Summer isn't the easiest time to blog. Everyone is always asking you to come have frozen margaritas or white wine or attend a beer blast (okay, so summer is just an excuse to booze it up). But, one of the reasons it's harder for me to write more on this blog during the summer is because in addition to my job during the week, I have a weekend job out on Fire Island.

Bruce onstage at Fire Island

It's great spending every weekend on the beach and at the pool (maybe a cocktail here or there, right?). But, I'm also working. Every Saturday night I work at the Icon Series in which a little bit of Hollywood and Broadway comes to the shores of this beach community. Last year Liza and Alan Cumming performed 2 shows (and did a repeat performance at Town Hall this past March). This past week Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award show writer (and former Hollywood Square) Bruce Vilanch came out to share some stories about his work over the years. He's been around for so long, he even worked with George Burns (although, he was quick to note, at the start of his career and much later in George's) and written for everyone from ABBA to (Pia) Zadora.

There were antidotes about Bea Arthur in the Star Wars Christmas Special (and a man in an alien costume affectionately known as "cuntface"). A misunderstanding on a talk show that led to the headline: "Vilanch Has Largest Penis in Hollywood...Says Lady Gaga". But I think everyone wants to hear about the backstage Oscar stories.

Me, Bruce, and my friend Nick. Just a regular weekend...

In 1994, Dolly Parton performed an Oscar nominated song from the film Beethoven 2nd. (Guys, I would just like to take this moment to point out that Beethoven 2nd has more Oscar nominations than Marilyn Monroe, Edward G. Robinson, and Donald Sutherland combined.) The producer thought it would be a fun idea for the 2 dogs from the film to come out on stage. The dogs thought otherwise. During the broadcast, one of them proceeded to take a dump on stage during the number. They tried to cut away to just a head and shoulders shot of Dolly, but her dress was so tight that you could see...well, both Partons very well. They quickly cut to just a headshot, but the smell was so bad that it brought tears to Dolly's eyes.

After all that, the next award to be presented was the Honorary Oscar to 6-time nominee (and never winner) Deborah Kerr. (Remember when those were actually shown during the ceremony!) Bruce said she had flown all the way from Switzerland and she wanted that damn Oscar. He and another man were to walk her backstage behind the curtain that would rise to reveal her center stage. As they walked across the stage, Kerr began to smell something and looked at Bruce ("like Miss Anna scolding a naughty child of Siam") and asked, "what exactly was on this stage the night before? A petting zoo?!" (For those of you interested, here's the clip of Dolly and the upstaging dog shit)

Bruce also said that the Honorary Oscar is referred to among the show's participants as The Kiss of Death. Once you accept it–you die! He says that they ask Doris Day every year and she always turns it down. He says, "The day you hear that Doris Day will be presented with the Honorary Oscar, just know she knows something we don't".

It's such a coincidence that he brought up Doris Day and the Honorary Oscar as just last Tuesday, my fellow contributors and I just did a poll of 10 Women That Deserve the Honorary Oscar over at Nathaniel R's The Film Experience and Doris Day made our Top 10! Maybe we're eager to give more than stars are willing to receive. I never got around to posting it last week, but here is my own personal ballot:

1. Catherine Denevue

2. Doris Day

3. Angela Landsbury

4. Marni Nixon

5. Maureen O'Hara

6. Liv Ullmann

7. Gena Rowlands

8. Patricia Norris 

9. Kim Novak

10.Mia Farrow

8 out of my chosen 10 made the final cut–not bad. Although, someone mentioned Debbie Reynolds and that would have been such a good addition. Let's just hope that when one of these ladies is finally honored, the stage doesn't smell like dog shit!

St. Patty's Day Showdown: Battle of Hollywood's Redheads

Happy St. Patrick's day to you all! Hope everyone is drinking their weight in green beer and shamrock shakes. Last year we celebrated with a list of Cinema's 10 Best Green Looks. This year, I've decided to give the ladies of Ireland a turn. Well, honorary ladies of Ireland. Hollywood has given us many memorable redheads over the years and now it's your turn to vote for your favorites!

Battle of the English Rose

Greer Garson vs. Deborah Kerr

Greer Garson was one of the biggest box office draws in the 1940's. She received 7 Best Actress Oscar nominations and won for 1942's Mrs. Miniver. From 1941 to 1945, she received 5 nominations back-to-back, a feat matched only by Bette Davis. She is also credited for having the longest Oscar acceptance speech at over 5 minutes long.

Deborah Kerr is probably best known for her make-out session on the beach with Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity. She was nominated 6 times for the Best Actress Oscar but never won. She is tied with Thelma Ritter and Glenn Close for the dubious title of Most-Nominated Actress Without a Win. However, in 1994 she was awarded an Honorary Oscar.

poll by twiigs.com

Battle of the Classic Screen Beauty

Maureen O'Hara vs. Rita Hayworth

Maureen O'Hara is the only one on this list that is actually from Ireland. She came to Hollywood in the 30's, but is probably best known for her collaborations with director John Ford. The two filmed 5 films together including the Oscar winner for Best Picture, How Green Was My Valley and The Quite Man co-starring John Wayne. Her work in such family classics as 1961's The Parent Trap and 1947's Miracle on 34th Street has made her known to generations of children.

The Latina Rita Hayworth started off her career as a dancer with her original name of Rita (Margarita) Cansino. Tired of being cast in only "exotic" parts, she went through a Hollywood transformation that included getting rid of her widow's peak and coloring her hair red. She was suddenly a glamorous star and became the most popular pin-up during WWII. She was married to Orson Welles and later, briefly, was a real-life princess. The role that will be forever associated with her is the title role in Gilda. 

poll by twiigs.com

Battle of the Comediennes

Lucille Ball vs. Shirley MacLaine

Lucille Ball began her career in the 30's as a model and chorus girl on Broadway. When she moved to Hollywood she was given bit parts and became known for roles in B-films. It wasn't until the 50's with the new medium of television that she found her place (and success) as an actress. She displayed her natural gifts for comedy on her sitcom I Love Lucy and has since become a comedic legend. She was nominated 13 times for the Emmy in acting (tied only by Julia Louis-Dreyfuss) and won 4 times.

Shirley MacLaine (sister to movie star Warren Beatty) began her career as a singer and dancer on Broadway. She caught her big break when she was the understudy to the lead in The Pajama Game. When the lead broke her ankle, Shirley continued in the run of the show. A producer saw her on stage and signed her to a contract to Paramount Studios. She was nominated 5 times for the Best Actress Oscar and won for 1983's Terms of Endearment. In a career that has spanned 7 decades (and countless previous lives), she has most recently appeared on the popular show Downton Abbey.

poll by twiigs.com

Battle of the Modern Movie Star

Susan Sarandon vs. Julia Roberts

Susan Sarandon has come a long way since her early work in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture  Show. Who could have guessed that the girl in her underwear would be known for her fierce intelligence and activism in addition to her work as a dramatic actress. On her 5th Best Actress nomination, she finally won the Oscar for 1995's Dead Man Walking.

With her trademark smile and infectious laugh, Julia Roberts became one of the biggest (and highest paid) movie stars in Hollywood. Despite having already received an Oscar nomination for Steel Magnolias, it was her breakout role in the hit film Pretty Woman that launched her to fame–and a second Oscar nom. She won the Best Actress Oscar for her work as the titular Erin Brockovich in 2000. She and Sarandon appeared together in the film Stepmom.

poll by twiigs.com

Battle of the Auteur Screen Goddesses

Julianne Moore vs. Nicole Kidman

Julianne Moore may have started off her career in soap operas (winning a Daytime Emmy in the process), but when her career really took off was her work in independent films with directors Todd Haynes and Paul Thomas Anderson. Both have directed her to Oscar nominated performances in Anderson's Boogie Nights and Haynes's Far From Heaven. She has received 2 additional nominations and is one of 11 actors to receive 2 nominations in one year, but has yet to win. Her recent work as Sarah Palin brought another Emmy. And her experience growing up as a redhead has inspired a series of children's books she wrote called Freckleface Strawberry. 

Australian Nicole Kidman first came to the attention of America in the film Dead Calm and than as Tom Cruise's wife. Despite a breakout performance in Gus Van Sant's To Die For, she didn't come into her own as actress until her divorce from Cruise and the banner year of 2001's Moulin Rouge! and The Others. Since then she has been known for her bold choices and her wish to work with such artistic directors as Lars von Trier, Noah Baumbach, and John Cameron Mitchell. Nominated 3 times for the Best Actress Oscar, she won for her transformative portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours. A film that co-starred Julianne Moore.

poll by twiigs.com

Battle of the New Oscar Darlings

Amy Adams vs. Jessica Chastain

Despite being a natural blonde, Amy Adams has said that her career really didn't take off until she colored her hair red. And with the combination of her Oscar-nominated turn in Junebug and her role as a Disney princess brought to life in the hit film, Enchanted, Adams was suddenly an A-List actress. With those roles it seemed she specialized in naive, innocent characters. But has since been able to show her range with her gritty work in The Fighter and The Master. Although nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar 4 times now, she has not won. 

Even after training at the prestige Juilliard school, Jessica Chastain didn't break-out onto the scene until 2011 with her roles in 5 very different films, including her Oscar-nominated role in The Help. This past year she was nominated for her second consecutive Oscar for work in the film Zero Dark Thirty. And this past fall she made her Broadway debut in The Heiress. In just a few short years she has already become the go-to actress for strong, dramatic roles.

poll by twiigs.com