Black Narcissus

Coincidentally, I had just downloaded this to read. I'd better get on to it before the TV adaptation!

I love Rumer Godden and always enjoy her writing. Her autobiography is really interesting too. I'm looking forward to it, as the Deborah Kerr version was too hysterical in tone for me.

I have my doubts TBH Calendargirl but will reserve judgement until I've seen the first episode. The original is brilliant and this will have to be very good to even come close.

I've always loved the film. I do hope they haven't done their usual "re imagining"!

So what did you think to the first episode?

Well I haven’t read the book or seen any other films and I got into it, ..such stunning scenery
I’m glad it’s three nights in a row I won’t forget it that way ?

Well it started well. I do like it when they run them over a few days rather than weekly.

Looks pretty well done to me. I just read the book so it's fresh in my mind. The sisters don't look the way I imagined them. Sister Ruth was clearly described as 'snakelike' in the book and the TV version doesn't. Sister Philippa wasn't black in the book but that's modern life these days!

I’m reading the book at the moment, the original film seems truer to the book, but I agree about the scenery. In the film, some of it looked a bit false.

In the film, the actress who played Sister Ruth was mesmerising.

Saw the original film and have read the book. I suppose this latest series is adapted for TV, but okay so far---so long as the scenery doesn't start moving

It's all moving a bit fast but I suppose there's a lot to cram in to only 3 hours. The building is certainly atmospheric.

I haven’t read the book but was looking forward to this tv adaptation. I’m not sure what’s going on with my brain but I was struggling to keep up. I seem to struggle with flashbacks. I’m just getting on top of what’s going on and a flash back scrambles my brain again.

Does anyone else have this problem??

I need to watch it again as I fell asleep so it couldn't have been that riveting.

I haven't properly watched the original film. I thought this TV version seemed quite promising.

I'm enjoying it so far. Very atmospheric and lovely scenery. It's a long time since I saw the film and a VERY long time since I read the book. Nothing has jarred so far.

I think it’s started well and enjoyed seeing the late Dame Diana Rigg in the opening scene. As others say, glad it’s over days and not weeks?

I have never read the book or seen the film so last night was the first time for me. I had to have subtitles on but I enjoyed it although I think I can see what is going to happen.

I also think it better to be shown 3 or 4 days on the trot because my pea brain cannot remember what happens from week to week.

Gemma Arterton seems a bit too petulant to be a Superior Sister to me. Non of the nuns look old enough or experienced enough to have been sent there to start a school.
I remember the film as being quite atmospheric.

Must have cost a fortune to film. Its nice to have a story set somewhere so different. And it's a different sort of story too.

I enjoyed the first episode very much; well acted and quite restrained, but building the tension up nicely.

Lona

Gemma Arterton seems a bit too petulant to be a Superior Sister to me. Non of the nuns look old enough or experienced enough to have been sent there to start a school.
I remember the film as being quite atmospheric.

I think Sister Clodagh being petulant and rather superior is part of her character, something the Mother Superior hoped she would learn from with her new role and responsibilities.

I agree they all look young, but I wonder how old Deborah Kerr was in the film? Probably not much older than Gemma Arterton.

Just googled the ages.

Deborah Kerr was 26 when the film was made, Gemma Arterton is 34.

Have never read the book ( though remember it) or seen the film, but enjoyed the first episode, good acting and such beautiful bleak scenery.I imagine that the remoteness of living there, the thin air and the nuns own back stories, coupled with the sinister building will all play their part.

I enjoyed it though funnily it felt a bit slow. I am comparing it to the original movie. It seems much kinder to the characters. Sister Ruth is such a young girl in the TV version and not the wild raving tramp portrayed before.

The scenery is for real. But the filming in 1947 in Pinewood Studios was nothing short of genius.