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Deborah Kerr as Sister Clodagh in 'Black Narcissus'

3 of 5 portraits of Deborah Kerr

© Estate of Fred Daniels / National Portrait Gallery, London

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Deborah Kerr as Sister Clodagh in 'Black Narcissus'

by Fred Daniels
cream-toned vintage bromide print on red card mount, 1946
13 7/8 in. x 11 3/8 in. (354 mm x 290 mm)
Given by Terence Pepper, 2011
Photographs Collection
NPG x135600

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Fred Daniels (1892-1959), Film stills photographer. Artist or producer of 88 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Based upon the novel by Rumer Godden, Powell and Pressburger's film Black Narcissus (1947) tells the story of Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) and a group of Anglo-Catholic nuns, and the tensions that develop while living in a remote Himalayan community. This was Deborah Kerr's third film for Powell and Pressburger, having previously starred in Contraband (1940) and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943).

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Events of 1946back to top

Current affairs

The new Labour government begins to act upon the recommendations of the Beveridge Report (1942) by nationalising The Bank of England and Imperial Communications, bringing in a National Insurance Bill, and setting plans for the National Health Service. Nationalisation of industry and the provision of free healthcare and welfare were the main aims of post-war domestic politics.

Art and science

Mervyn Peake publishes Titus Groan; the first of his Gormenghast Trilogy. The three novels are regarded as classics of the fantasy genre, although they contain no magic or intelligent non-human characters, so might more appropriately be described as belonging to the 'gothic' or 'fantastic' genre.

International

Nazi officials are tried for their part in the War and the Holocaust at Nuremberg. The trials were to prosecute war criminals and the location was chosen because it was the site of the annual Nazi rallies, and therefore seen as a fitting place for the demise of the party. The Nuremberg Trials paved the way for post-war developments in international criminal law.

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