The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

1958

Action / Biography / Drama / War

12
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 100% · 6 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 84% · 2.5K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.2/10 10 5890 5.9K

based on a true story china missionary biography based on true story trans-siberian railway

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Plot summary

All her life, Englishwoman Gladys Aylward knew that China was where she belonged. Unqualified to be sent as a missionary, Gladys works as a domestic to earn to send herself to a poor, remote village. There, she eventually lives a full and happy life: running the inn, acting as 'foot inspector', advising the local Mandarin, and even winning the heart of mixed-race Captain Lin Nan. Gladys discovers her real destiny when the country is invaded by Japan and the Chinese children need her to save their lives.

Director

Mark Robson Photo
Mark Robson

Top cast

Aileen Lewis Photo
Aileen Lewis as Train Passenger
Richard Wattis Photo
Richard Wattis as Mr. Murfin
Burt Kwouk Photo
Burt Kwouk as Li
Robert Donat Photo
Robert Donat as The Mandarin of Yang Cheng
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
1.42 GB
1280*544
English 2.0
Approved
Subtitles
23.976 fps
2 hr 37 min
Seeds 4
2.91 GB
1920*816
English 5.1
Approved
Subtitles
23.976 fps
2 hr 37 min
Seeds 14

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by CinemaSerf 6 / 10

Ingrid Bergman is the renowned British missionary Gladys

Ingrid Bergman is the renowned British missionary Gladys Aylward in this rather lavish - if shallow - biopic of her adventures in China. Forced to raise her £41 train fare by cleaning houses in London, she embarks on her journey with grim determination but no real notion as to what awaits her. Luckily, one of her erstwhile employers "Sir Francis" (Ronald Squire) has furnished her with the name of someone who might be able to help. Soon enough, she is established in the eponymous lodgings offering a place of rest for travellers. The town is run by local mandarin Robert Donat and protected by troops under the command of "Capt. Lin Nan" (Curd Jürgens). Initially she and the Captain don't quite see eye to eye, but gradually he begins to appreciate her skills as a communicator, mediator and generally decent woman. Her interventions generally improve life for all concerned and soon she is well respected by all. The mood soon changes, though, when the Japanese launch an invasion and she must try to ensure that a large group of children make it to safety over some rugged terrain under frequent assault from their pursuing invaders. The story itself is one of heroism and bravery, and is well worth telling - even if it has a slightly condescending colonial tone to it. Sadly though, the talent here just don't work very well at all. Sometimes Bergman could over-act, and here she does it in spades. Her characterisation is only really skin-deep. Donat just doesn't convince at all with his silk clothes and thin moustache and Jürgens... Well what was he thinking? What was director Mark Robson thinking? It's a very long film, and it does drag quite often before the ending gets us to the gist of the remarkable real-life achievements of this strong-willed woman. It is photographed beautifully with some glorious costumes and outdoor settings to set the context for this story well. It's a bit of a slog to watch but on a big screen it still just about works.
Reviewed by

Reviewed by jerrylb 6 / 10

Beautiful

Despite its length, the mish-mash of accents and the alarming number of handkerchiefs needed to watch this film, 'The Inn of the Sixth Happiness' overflows with love of life and humanity. Bergman is luminous in her role, and the intense emotion she pours into every scene lifts this otherwise average film onto a higher plane.

Robert Donat was terminally ill with a brain tumour when he made this film, and (much to his professional embarrassment) had to have his lines on cue-cards dotted around the set for his last few shots. Ingrid Bergman's tears are desperately real, for Donat's final words are the farewell of a dying man where art and life fold together into a brief unity. One of the most poignant moments in cinema.

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