The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

Isobel Lennart (screenplay)
Alan Burgess (novel)

Release Date:

19 December 1958 (West Germany)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

Love had suddenly come to her under the China sky...love for this Eurasian soldier who now pressed his earthy, Oriental skin against her own...

Plot:

All her life Englishwoman Gladys Aylward knew that China was the place where she belonged. Not qualified to be sent there as a missionary...

Plot Keywords:

China | Missionary | Mandarin | Foot Binding | Mediation

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Ingrid Bergman	...	Gladys Aylward
Curd Jürgens	...	Capt. Lin Nan (as Curt Jurgens)
Robert Donat	...	The Mandarin of Yang Cheng
Michael David	...	Hok-A
Athene Seyler	...	Jeannie Lawson
Ronald Squire	...	Sir Francis Jamison
Moultrie Kelsall	...	Dr. Robinson
Richard Wattis	...	Mr. Murfin
Peter Chong	...	Yang
Tsai Chin	...	Sui-Lan
Edith Sharpe	...	Secretary at China Inland Mission
Joan Young	...	Sir Francis' cook
Lian-Shin Yang	...	Woman with baby
Noel Hood	...	Miss Thompson (as Noël Hood)
Burt Kwouk	...	Li

Runtime:

158 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese | Mandarin | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #19037) | West Germany:12 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Beddgelert, Gwynedd, Wales, UK

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

This was Robert Donat's last film, he died during its making. In the scene where he is saying goodbye to Gladys as the elders prepare to take their leave of the city, he says as though he was prophesying his death, "I fear we shall never see each other again."

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The captain is talking with Gladys and says that someone will listen to anything for an extra bowl of rice. The story takes place in northern China and rice is only eaten in southern China. Noodles made from wheat was the mainstay of the Chinese diet in the north. Later in the film it appears Gladys takes a serving of rice from a large pot, and lastly on the journey with the children they come across some uncooked rice which Gladys picks it up.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gladys Aylward: My name is Gladys Aylward. I've written to the head of the missionary society. His reply stated that he'd see me if I ever came to London. If he's busy, I can wait.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 1 (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

THE CHILDREN'S MARCHING SONG (THIS OLD MAN)

Excellent

This film is quite true to life, but as Ingrid Bergman said herself, movies are for entertainment, therefore some liberties have to be taken. Bergman's return to WangCheng to marry Colonel Linnan is implied in the final scene. As to Meryl Streep being more suitable as a previous commenter suggested - words fail me!!!! Ingrid Bergman was and IS far greater than Meryl Streep - there is no comparison. Miss Bergman made no attempt to conceal her accent at the beginning of the movie - as a previous commenter suggests. She is so well-known that no one bothers to take any notice of her accent and she can play anyone of any nationality. This is a brilliant film and I happen to know that Miss Bergman researched her role in detail; she spoke at length to a Chinese lady who had had her feet bound as a child - this was when on location in North Wales. The lady was helping to look after the Chinese children. In real life Gladys Aylward DID succeed in getting one hundred children across the mountains to safety in Sian. This is a lovely film, extraordinarily well-acted by all - especially by Miss Bergman, Curt Jurgens and Robert Donat [whose last film it was]. Watch it!!!!! It's great. I don't think cynical comments have any place where this film is concerned. Today's films are nothing compared with films made in the 1940s and 1950s - they are all blood and thunder and special effects [Titanic, for example]. Visit our Yahoo club Ingrid Bergman International for more details of great films! Mary Hutchings