The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is a film based on the novel The Small Woman, written by Alan Burges, itself on the life of Gladys Aylward. The film starts in London, in the 30's. Gladys (Ingrid Bergma…
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is a film based on the novel The Small Woman, written by Alan Burges, itself on the life of Gladys Aylward. The film starts in London, in the 30's. Gladys (Ingrid Bergman) is a young British second maid who dreams of going to China as a Christian missionary. Unfortunately, she is told that she can't be sent there due to her lack of education. A little, discouraged, but not ready to give up, she decides to go by herself. In a travel agency, she asks information for the train ticket. She's going to start a new job as a housekeeper at Sir Francis Jamison's (Ronald Squire) place, so she decides to pay her plane ticket with the money she'll rise, giving a little amount to the agency each week until the ticket is completely paid. Thanks to Sir Francis Jamison, who has some connections in China, Gladys has a place to stay in this foreign country: at Jeannie Lawson's (Athene Seyler) inn in Yang Cheng. Jeannie is a strong old woman full of life. She lives in an inn, that hasn't been opened for a while, with her cook, Yang (Peter Chong). She has decided to reopen the inn with the help of Gladys and Yang. This is a success and the new Inn is named: The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. After a bad accident, Jeannie dies, leaving Gladys and Yang alone to handle the inn. The mandarin of Yang Cheng (Robert Donat) is desperately in need of a foot inspector to make sure that the traditional practice of foot binding is stopped in the regions he governs. Gladys is the one chosen. It's a success. She then helps the illiterate people to read, adopts many orphans, stops a fight in a jail, makes several good actions and many friends. She is loved by everybody and is re-named Jen-Ai (The Woman who Loves the People) by the locals. Meanwhile, she meets Captain Lin Nan (Curt Jürgens) and they fell in love with each other. This one encourages her to leave the country due to an imminent Japanese's invasion. She refuses because she belongs to China. When the war between Japan and China begins, it's a catastrophe and the village is completely destroyed. The population has to evacuate the town. Now, having a hundred children to take care of, Gladys leaves the village with them to take them to a more secure place. This will be a long and hard expedition. The Inn of the Sixth Happiness was nominated for Best Director Oscar (but didn't win). It won a Golden Globes for Best Film Promoting International Understanding and was nominated for Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama (Ingrid Bergman) and Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama (Robert Donat). Ingrid Bergman and Kurt Jürgens were also both nominated for a BAFTA Award (Best Foreign Actor and Best Foreign Actress). Mark Robson received a DGA Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. Finally, both Ingrid Bergman and Robert Donat won a Best Actress and Best Actor National Board of Review, USA Award. The film was the second most popular film at the British Box Office in 1959. ---Written by Robert D Knapp
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Biography,Drama,War
Film Details
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is a film based on the novel The Small Woman, written by Alan Burges, itself on the life of Gladys Aylward. The film starts in London, in the 30's. Gladys (Ingrid Bergman) is a young British second maid who dreams of going to China as a Christian missionary.
Unfortunately, she is told that she can't be sent there due to her lack of education. A little, discouraged, but not ready to give up, she decides to go by herself. In a travel agency, she asks information for the train ticket.
She's going to start a new job as a housekeeper at Sir Francis Jamison's (Ronald Squire) place, so she decides to pay her plane ticket with the money she'll rise, giving a little amount to the agency each week until the ticket is completely paid. Thanks to Sir Francis Jamison, who has some connections in China, Gladys has a place to stay in this foreign country: at Jeannie Lawson's (Athene Seyler) inn in Yang Cheng. Jeannie is a strong old woman full of life.
She lives in an inn, that hasn't been opened for a while, with her cook, Yang (Peter Chong). She has decided to reopen the inn with the help of Gladys and Yang. This is a success and the new Inn is named: The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.
After a bad accident, Jeannie dies, leaving Gladys and Yang alone to handle the inn. The mandarin of Yang Cheng (Robert Donat) is desperately in need of a foot inspector to make sure that the traditional practice of foot binding is stopped in the regions he governs. Gladys is the one chosen.
It's a success. She then helps the illiterate people to read, adopts many orphans, stops a fight in a jail, makes several good actions and many friends. She is loved by everybody and is re-named Jen-Ai (The Woman who Loves the People) by the locals.
Meanwhile, she meets Captain Lin Nan (Curt Jürgens) and they fell in love with each other. This one encourages her to leave the country due to an imminent Japanese's invasion. She refuses because she belongs to China.
When the war between Japan and China begins, it's a catastrophe and the village is completely destroyed. The population has to evacuate the town. Now, having a hundred children to take care of, Gladys leaves the village with them to take them to a more secure place.
This will be a long and hard expedition. The Inn of the Sixth Happiness was nominated for Best Director Oscar (but didn't win). It won a Golden Globes for Best Film Promoting International Understanding and was nominated for Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama (Ingrid Bergman) and Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama (Robert Donat).
Ingrid Bergman and Kurt Jürgens were also both nominated for a BAFTA Award (Best Foreign Actor and Best Foreign Actress). Mark Robson received a DGA Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. Finally, both Ingrid Bergman and Robert Donat won a Best Actress and Best Actor National Board of Review, USA Award.
The film was the second most popular film at the British Box Office in 1959. ---Written by Robert D Knapp.