Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

evanston_dad "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" tells the true story of Gladys Aylward, an Englishwoman in the 1930s who was turned down when she applied to be a missionary in China and instead decided to pack up and head there on her own to see what contributions she could make. As with all movies based on true events, I have no idea how accurate this movie is, and I don't much care. I look to movies to tell me good storied well told, not dogged recreations of things as they actually happened, and I know how to take my films with a grain of salt, thank you very much. And this movie tells a good story, and tells it very well.Ingrid Bergman shines as Aylward in a much more physical role than any I'd seen her in previously. The film turns into a kind of Chinese version of the "The Sound of Music" in its later parts, as Aylward leads a large group of children from one village to another across a harsh and rugged landscape in order to find safety from political conflict. But unlike the famous musical, this movie shows what it would actually be like to trudge across frozen mountains, or at least it comes closer to recreating what it would be like than did Rodgers and Hammerstein. One can't help but feel like this is a very sanitized version of events, but come on, this was 1958, and in any case would anyone want to watch a movie about the acute suffering of a bunch of children?A love story gets old fast and feels obligatory, even if it actually happened. On the other hand, I thought I would find Robert Donat cringe worthy playing a Chinese elder in yellow face, but I thought his parts of the movie were rather delightful.For what it's worth, my mother turned my on to this movie because the real Gladys Aylward visited her high school back in the 1950s to speak about the experiences depicted in this film, and she claimed that the movie was fairly accurate.Mark Robson received a Best Director nomination for this movie, the only nomination it managed to collect. Grade: A-

blanche-2 I saw this film years and years ago, and I never forgot it because of Ingrid Bergman's magnificent performance.Bergman plays Gladys Aylward, a British woman who wants to be a missionary in China; however, she's turned down due to lack of qualifications. Instead, Gladys goes to work as a house servant and buys a ticket to China on the layaway plan. Her boss finds out of her plans and connects her with a Miss Lawson (Athene Seyler) who has been working as a Chinese missionary for many years. Together, the women open the Inn of the Sixth Happiness where mule drivers can stay, enjoy the food, and hear the Biblical stories.Over time, Gladys becomes beloved in the community for her strength of purpose, her warmth, and her love of the Chinese people. The Mandarin (Robert Donat) puts her in charge of seeing that the law against foot binding is carried out. She meets Captain Lin Nan (Curt Jurgens), who is half-Chinese, and they fall in love. But when the Japanese attack in the '30s, it falls to Gladys to get 100 children, including several she has adopted, over the mountains to safety.Though Gladys Aylward hated this movie, the script actually follows the events of her own life closely, and that includes the soldier with whom she falls in love. What upset her was the casting of Ingrid Bergman, whom Aylward considered "evil" for becoming pregnant by Rossellini while married to someone else. She also objected to the love interest being half-European, a fact she found insulting (the man she fell in love with was pure Chinese) and the love scenes embarrassed her. In short, she felt the film damaged her reputation.Bergman, of course, makes this film. She's radiant, beautiful, and perfectly captures Gladys' sincerity and commitment. Someone wrote in the subject line of their review "A perfect actress" - and that she is. Highly emotional in some scenes, in others, she is calm and motherly, but always strong and determined. One of her best performances, and a role worthy of her great talent.This was Robert Donat's last film; he died while it was still being made. His severe asthma is apparent throughout. A lovely performance. Jurgens is effective as Lin Nan, stalwart and handsome, a man who finds getting in touch with his emotions difficult.A wonderful, heartwarming film. Gladys Aylward eventually returned to England for ten years and was refused re-entry into China after the Communists took over. She then started an orphanage in Taiwan which she ran until her death in 1970.A remarkable woman, and whether she liked it or not, it's a remarkable story and film, well directed by Mark Robson.

boblskee A lot has been said, both positive and negative, about the main Asian roles played by Caucasian actors in this film. As an Asian of Chinese descent myself, I've learnt not to get too bent up over this, especially when one considers when this movie was made.I just recently got the DVD and watched it for the second time after a gap of more than 20 years and I still see the magic of the movie and why it remains inspiring. There are, of course, quite a few creative licenses taken at the expense of the actual life of Gladys Aylward (which IMHO is actually much more inspiring) but that is to be expected with cinema.What surprised me even more was that Robert Donat who played the Mandarin (the literal translation of his title in the movie would be County Governor; ie. Hsien Chang or 縣長) actually spoke better Mandarin than Peter Chong who played Yang the cook who I assume isn't a native Mandarin speaker.All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the same awe and emotions as when I first saw it as a young boy.

edwagreen Gladys Aylward wants to go to China as a missionary. The problem is that no one feels that she is up to the task. She works very hard to save up money and go to China despite the objections of many. However, she perseveres and makes the long, arduous trip.She meets up with a general, Kurt Jurgens, they gradually will come to realize that they need each other and love shall ensue.As the Chinese Mandarin, Robert Donat, etched an unforgettable character in a brilliant supporting performance. Severely ailing at the time, he checked into the hospital after filming ended, and sadly passed on shortly afterward. Gladys Aylward came to China as a timid lord-fearing woman who knew that the omnipotent had sent her there for a reason. Not only does she become a woman there, she takes on far reaching responsibilities and even in some ways, she reminded me of a Joan of Arc, an Oscar nominated performance that she gave in 1948. Bergman, in a beautifully given performance, comes of age both as a woman and heroine.Ingrid Bergman is the perfect Gladys. You actually feel that she is the real Gladys. Her ability to acculturate is phenomenal.A well-recommended film for lovers, historians and all.