Customer Reviews

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is a magnificent film in every aspect; the acting is brilliant, the landscapes beautiful, the drama intense. Based on the true story of Gladys Aylward, a house maid in England who was "not qualified" to be sent to China as a missionary, so went there on her own, saving every shilling earned for a ticket on the Trans-Siberian railroad. Taking place in the pre-WWII era, it's an adventure story of great spiritual courage, the chaos of war, and a romance between two independent people who never thought they would find love.

Ingrid Bergman is luminous as Gladys. It is one of her very best performances, and my personal favorite. Robert Donat, who passed away before the film was released, is also marvelous as the Mandarin of Yang Cheng, and Curt Jurgens as Captain Lin Nan is handsome and believable as the man who falls in love with Gladys. In a small but pivotal part, Athene Seyler is terrific as Jennie Lawson, the elderly missionary who helps Gladys in her early years, and Peter Chong is a delight as Yang the cook.
It is odd that the only Oscar nomination went to director Mark Robson; perhaps Bergman was overlooked because she had received a "Best Actress" for "Anastasia" two years earlier, but Bergman fans will give this film their own five-star award.

The fabulous location filming by Freddie Young was done in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, a remarkable substitute for Shaanxi Province, in the heart of China. The village reproductions are very well done, and look incredibly similar to films I have seen shot in China. The lovely score by Malcolm Arnold adds much to the film, and Alan Burgess, whose book "The Small Woman" is the basis of the story, wrote the script, which is witty, wise and wonderful, with Isobel Lennart.
Many times I've laughed out loud , and many times I've cried watching this film; it's good for several viewings, as it is epic in scope, and the script has an intelligence that makes it a rare gem. total running time is 158 minutes.

In the film, Chinese tradition has five "Happiness" wishes: Wealth, longevity, good health, virtue, and a peaceful old age and death. "Each person must decide in their heart what the sixth happiness is".

One rainy afternoon I was channel surfing and came across this movie and fortunately for me it was very close to the beginning. I was so drawn into the story and captivated by Ingrid Bergman's performance that I forgot I was even watching television!! This is one of the most touching and moving stories I have ever seen and (I won't give this part of the movie away) when the Chinese gave "Gladys" a new name and what that translated to in English I thought I was going to go through a whole box of tissues right then and there. The storyline, scenery and acting are superb and the fact that it is based on a true story only makes it more inspiring. My cousin is 18 years old and wants to pursue a career in the mission field and I told her many times that she has to see this film. So I'm not only going to purchase one for MY video library but one for HER'S as well.

Overlong but fairly engrossing bio of Gladys Aylward, an English-woman who, despite her lack of qualifications, becomes a missionary in China. The film is episodic and covers Aylward's brief career as a parlor maid (saving money for her trip to China), her journey to China, her work at the Inn of the Sixth Happiness and the Chinese-Japanese war which results in her guiding 100+ children in an arduous journey through the mountains to a safer village. I didn't find the film as moving as other reviewers but it is well mounted and nice to look at. Bergman is outstanding as are other supporting players, most notably Curt Jergens and Robert Donat. This was Donat's last film (he died before it was released) and his last screen words are prophetic - "We shall not see each other again, I think. Farewell."

What is most notable about this dvd release is the excellent commentary by Nick Redman, Aubrey Solomon and Donald Spoto. Redman talks about the real Gladys Aylward, Solomon talks about the film production and Spoto discusses Ingrid Bergman. There were many things changed for the film version and many of them are small and inexplicable. For example, Aylward's given Chinese name was Ai-weh-deh (not Jenai), an adopted child was actually named Ninepence (Sixpense in the movie), etc. Other changes were more larger in scope - Aylward's journey to China was quite harsh and she almost died several times. The inn-keeper, Jeanne Lawson (memorably played by Athene Seyler) was no as agreeable a woman as portrayed in the film - she was actually a cantankerous person prone to fits and thought to be quite mad by the villagers. Aylward herself was thought by many to be fanatical and to put it bluntly, off her rocker. Many other fascinating aspects about the film and the women (both Aylward and Bergman) are included.

This is Ingrid Bergman's greatest film - Oscar material, definitely. She excelled herself with her truly dedicated acting and I was swept along by her enthusiasm, her happiness, her sadness, her courage, her love - all the emotions she had to portray. I feel sorry that one reviewer had to mention Gladys Aylward's dislike of the film. She didn't see it. Miss Bergman wrote to her to explain that certain liberties would be taken, because a movie is entertainment - she did not receive a reply. Colonel Linnan did exist and Gladys was in love with him and intended to marry him - see the biography "The Small Woman" by Alan Burgess. The film made him half Dutch, half Chinese, because the part was played by German actor Curt Jurgens. He was the only suitable actor. Perhaps had the film been made now, Chow Yun Fat could have played the role. In my opinion, the film was close enough to the original story to be totally credible.
I have since bought the DVD from Amazon.com and have reviewed that - I'm known as Mary, by the way, my second name, and have a website about the making of this remarkable film.

I have fond memories of watching this movie with my Grandparents at their cabin when I was young. It was a little hard to follow because I was a kid then. As I've gotten older, this movie has come to mean a lot to me. With hard work, anyone can accomplish anything. This is a wonderful example of someone who is willing to do anything that needs doing, including helping so many children to safety during the war. This movie continues to move me when I watch it as it has throughout my life. I was a little disappointed by the ending because you don't know what happens to the gentleman who was the Mayor of the town; he bids Jenai good-bye and you hope he continues to go on with his life, he was such a nice guy! I will always hold this movie with high regard and Hollywood definately needs to make more movies like this one in light of what happened on 9/11 this year.
I recommend this movie for family viewing although it may be terrifying for young children; war scenes, carnage, etc.

Ingrid Bergman took on this task thinking that it would be a great tribute to a true missionary from China, Gladys Alywood. But Gladys hated the film that everybody else loves.

It is a broad interpretation but so senitive to detail and to the reality of missionary life that it rings true at every turn. Ingrid Bergaman rarely goes wrong, and here she goes completely right. Her humility, her devotion to the children she cares for, and especially her interaction with the old mandarin, Robert Donat, who would actually die very soon after that last scene she had with him was completed, is a marvel..Ingrid Bergman knew that Donat would die soon, and her tears at his imminent death are there in the film, but integrated into the scene with him and his farewell to the village. The control here and the acting through all of it, show how Ingrid Bergman makes art out of real pathos, submits to the calling of her profession as an actress, and yet lets us see the real, only a glimpse, that touches on a real tragedy off screen, which she brings on screen.

The score is first rate, and it underlines events well, especially when the story line threatens to become superficial. But Ingfrid Bergman and Curt Jergens as well, manage this all with great style. See this film and buy it; it has greatness.

I was looking over the past reviews, and noticed a trend. "Inspiring, etc." And frankly I am getting the impression it is only Christian mothers writing these reviews (don't be offended by that... I can't think of any other way to summarize what I am getting at) I have three points to make about myself. #1: I am 17, male #2: I am borderline agnostic - atheist #3: I dislike romances And you know what? This is my favourite movie of all time. This movie is NOT for only a certain group of Church - Goers, so don't be discouraged by the other reviews. I don't know if I would go as far as to say I was "inspired" by the movie, but I do love it and strongly recommend it.

THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS tells the story of one "Small Woman" who helped to change the course of a whole country. Based on true events, the movie stars Ingrid Bergman as Gladys Aylward, a parlour-maid in England who wants to become a Chinese missionary. Leaving her job in Liverpool, Gladys travels to London and the mission society, only to be told she's simply not qualified for life overseas. While the society finds her a new position in London, Gladys still clings to her dream of going to China, and saves her money to buy a passage on the Trans-Siberian railway.

Finally in China's province of Wang-Cheng, Gladys joins up with missionary Mrs Lawson (Athene Seyler) and together they open an inn for traveling muleteers, called The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, where people can get a hot meal, a place to sleep, and hear stories from the Bible. When Gladys queries her on the sixth happiness, Mrs Lawson replies "Each person decides in his own heart what the sixth happiness is". While Gladys is initially unwelcomed by the villagers, she's soon taken in and loved by everybody, including the Mandarin (Robert Donat in his final role); as well as the handsome Eurasian, Captain Lin Nan (Curd Jurgens).

Life in Wang-Cheng continues it's natural path for Gladys and the other villagers, until Japanese forces threaten to invade, and the lives of innocent people are endangered. The Mandarin orders the entire village to flee for the hills, and in a tearful sequence, he says farewell to his 'Jenai'. But Gladys' most important mission is yet to come. She must lead 100 children over the mountains to the safety of a Christian missionary school.

Based on "The Small Woman" by Alan Burgess, THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS was a very successful movie, but it did change a lot of historical truths in favour of Hollywood fantasy. The real Gladys Aylward was appalled at the alleged romance between her character and Captain Nan; but of course the film works better if we know that Gladys is a complete woman with romantic inclinations (Bergman and Jurgens have good chemistry too). The location filming was done throughout North Wales and London (and the locations do create a convincing sense of being in China).

Robert Donat died before the movie was released. He's so wonderful as the Mandarin, you just want to get up and hug him in that final scene! Curd Jurgens is equally fine as Lin. Ingrid Bergman brings all her best qualities and strengths to the role of Gladys; this is one of her best performances. Despite her work, Bergman was not nominated for an Academy Award, probably because of her recent win for "Anastasia". The film was directed by Mark Robson, following his work in "Peyton Place" the previous year. He acquits himself nicely here; and while the scenes often border on epic, in essence it is a small story about one "small woman".

You'll adore this inspirational and heart-warming movie masterpiece.

I watched this movie when it first came out, a long time ago. I was thirteen years old and I went and saw that movie three times. That was a very intense story. Even at age thirteen when I couldn't understand everything that was going on I knew Gladys loved the character played by Kurt Jurgins, I loved him too! I was raised in Hawaii and marrying someone of another race was a big possibility for me. Even more than forty years later I can watch that movie and have a good cry. Enjoy it, movies back then left a lot to the imagination and that is the best way.

This movie should be watched by any person who has that nagging feeling there is something she needs to accomplish in her life and she is not sure she can do it. You CAN! And only God knows hoe WONDERFUL an adventure that will be for you!I rated it 5 stars, can't seem to fix the fact only 2 show up. This movie is on my top 5!