Girls, Would You Believe That This Is A Nun??????????????????????

                              On Saturday, the same day I had my accident, I was rewarded, in a way, by what turned out to be the highlight of the Labor Day Weekend--Channel 13 showing "Black  Narcissus," that evening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               I have written on this film before, and will most likely do so, again.  The possibilities for discussion, are endless.

                                Did you know that the Catholic Legion of Decency condemned this film, for showing Deborah Kerr's pre-nun life, when she had flowing hair, a gorgeous gown, jewelry, and was standing in the water????????  This, they condemn it for, and not Kathleen Byron's sexual psychosis, as Sister Ruth???????????????

                               Girls, I am telling you, from the first time Byron appears on screen, Sister Ruth steals the show!  She is bat shit crazy from the get-go, in a role that was done when Glenn Close was still in diapers!  Kid ones, that is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Not since Bertha in "Jane Eyre" has a madwoman been so mesmerizing.  The speed at which Sister Ruth runs maniacally throughout the convent almost defies gravity; she seems to fly, and with the production being handled by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the visuals are as colorful and lush as the best of the Metropolitan Opera.  If only someone would make an opera out of "Black Narcissus!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  I would love to sing the role of Sister Ruth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Of course there is that sad, campy moment, where she falls over the cliff, after which the picture loses its liveliness.  Though, thank God, for Flora Robson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   But the best, the absolute, best, darlings, is when Sister Ruth comes out from the shuttered doors, looking like a "VOGUE" model, to confront Deborah Kerr at the bell, over sex and men, before taking that plunge!  This is just after telling Deborah, as she uses lipstick and a compact--!!!!!!!!!!!--dressed, in her finery, that she is leaving the order!  She says it so maniacally!!!!!!!!!!!   I am telling you, no nun, not even Audrey Hepburn, or Julie Andrews, has left the convent this way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    It is a shame Byron's career (she earned an Oscar nomination, for Sister Ruth) did not take off.  But how does one top such a role?????????????????

                                     Next time it is on, you have GOT to see it, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!