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Inn Of The Sixth Happiness [1958]
![Inn Of The Sixth Happiness [1958]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SZ889ZPYL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £12.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
An epic and extraordinary true story--or, at least, an extraordinary story based on a novel (Alan Burgess's The Small Woman) based on a true story. Gladys Aylward (an improbably mesmerizing Ingrid Bergman) is a British would-be missionary with an obsession about China. As she has no experience, the Missionary Society won't let her go, but she goes anyway, alone, to a remote northern province. She is hated, then loved; finally she becomes both a significant political figure and the heroine of a miraculous escape in which she shepherds 100 children to safety across the mountains just ahead of a Japanese invasion. Curt Jurgens is suitably stony as Lin Nan, the half-Dutch, half-Chinese military officer who falls in love with her, and a visibly ailing Robert Donat (who died before this, his final film, was released) is the wily local mandarin who sees and makes use of her extraordinary abilities. Directed by Mark Robson, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is a sweeping, stirring tearjerker, a big tale told in a big landscape with acres of orchestrated strings by Malcolm Arnold. A beautiful and beautifully made film that's a classic of the "everyone said I couldn't but I did it anyway" genre. --Richard Farr
Triumph Against the odds
Review date: 2007-08-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
A beautiful film, based on the story of a most remarkable woman.
Ingrid Bergman gives the performance of her life in my opinion, and Robert Donat and Curt Jurgens provide wonderful support. The latter provides a romantic interest. I accept that this interest was largely fabricated to make the film more appealing at the box office, but it seems all quite tasteful and unrequited to me. The Chinese cast are good too, especially the children.
The photography is stunning, using dark, rich colours. Some of those '50s colour movies have often looked dull and out of place on TV, but now on a large screen in a fairly dark room, you begin to get the effect of cinema. You can almost see the full pleated curtains of The Gaumont and The Odeon, as they softened their Art-Deco lines, and let in a bit of 50s Chintz.
I am glad to read that I am not the only person still deeply moved by the final scenes of this movie from an age of more innocence and hope.
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Reviews
Very Enjoyable
Review date: 2007-06-14 Rating: 10 out of 10
Ingrid Bergman is inspirational as missionary, Gladys Aylward in this famous story.
A fine film well acted and directed. The children's trek through the mountains and their singing of "This old man" is very touching.
The previous reveiwer must be very proud of their great aunt!
Review from the Great Niece of Gladys Aylward
Review date: 2006-08-31 Rating: 10 out of 10
I think this film is a wonderful way of telling my Great Aunt's story. Though she was not too happy about her portrayal in certain love scenes, I think she was generally quite pleased with the overall result. As a member of her family, I hope many people will enjoy this touching story of the most heroic member of my family.
What is a heroine ?
Review date: 2006-03-24 Rating: 10 out of 10
Few people will need to read a review of this rightly famous film. I should think that if you mentioned the names Ingrid Bergman and China to the average filmgoer ( over a certain age now admittedly) they would roughly be able to tell you the plot of it. Bergman achieves in this film that most difficult acting feat, to make her character at the same time both ordinary and heroic. The scene in which the children emerge over the mountain singing "This Old Man" cannot be viewed by anybody even today dry-eyed. An absolutely inspirational film and beyond criticism.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Ingrid Bergman
Curt Jurgens
Robert Donat
Director(s):
Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036020794
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-04-18
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 152 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1958
Language: English (Original Language)