Editing Black Narcissus (section)

===Casting===
Kathleen Byron was among the first to be cast in the film, in the role of the unstable Sister Ruth.{{sfn|Street|2015|p=22}} Pressburger described Byron as having a "dreamy voice and great eyes like a lynx", which he felt appropriate for the mentally disturbed character.{{sfn|Street|2015|p=22}} Deborah Kerr was cast in the role of the leading Sister Superior, Sister Clodagh.{{sfn|Street|2015|p=22}} Pressburger chose Kerr for the role despite the reservations of Powell, who felt she was too young for the part.{{sfn|Street|2015|p=22}} At one point, Powell considered [[Greta Garbo]] for the part.{{sfn|Street|2015|p=22}}  Kerr was paid £16,000 for fifty-five days of work.{{sfn|Street|2015|p=23}}

David Farrar was cast as Mr Dean, the virile British agent who becomes the object of Sister Ruth's obsession.{{sfn|Street|2015|pages=22–23}} Farrar was paid £4,500 for forty-five days of shooting.{{sfn|Street|2015|p=23}} Flora Robson appears as Sister Philippa, a gardener in the convent.{{sfn|Street|2015|p=23}}

Of the three principal Indian roles, only the Young General was played by an ethnic Indian, Sabu; the roles of Kanchi, played by Jean Simmons,{{sfn|Street|2015|p=24}} and the Old General, played by Esmond Knight, were performed by [[Racial brownface|white actors in make-up]].{{sfn|Street|2015|pages=22–25}} Kanchi, 17, is described by Godden as "a basket of fruit, piled high and luscious and ready to eat. Though she looks shyly down, there is something steady and unabashed about her; the fruit is there to be eaten, she does not mean it to rot." Godden approved of Simmons's casting, remarking that she "perfectly fulfilled my description".{{sfn|Street|2015|p=25}} The Indian extras were cast from workers at [[Surrey Commercial Docks|the docks]] in [[Rotherhithe]].<ref>Michael Powell, commentary on the Criterion Collection DVD, ch.6</ref>

[[File:Black_Narcissus_-_painting_comparison.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|right|Before-and-after stills: the top shows the scene as shot, the bottom incorporates W. Percy Day's [[Matte (filmmaking)|matte painting]], creating the illusion of a deep cliff]]