- Actors: Ingrid Bergman, Robert Donat, Curd Jürgens, Michael David, Athene Seyler
- Directors: Mark Robson
- Writers: Alan Burgess, Isobel Lennart
- Producers: Buddy Adler
- Format: Colour, Full Screen, HiFi Sound, PAL
- Language English
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Fox
- VHS Release Date: 5 Jun 1995
- Run Time: 158 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CQM8
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,041 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
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
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
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".
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I first saw this film one Christmas when I was about 10 years old and it has remained in my memory ever since. I have never seen a film that takes you through such emotions and i would recommend that it is watched with a loved one, a box of chocolates and a large box of tissues. I can not listen to the song "nick nack paddy wack give a dog a bone" without crying and I don't think you will either.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
dvd
saw this film as a young one and loved it then have always wanted to see it again Bit dated now but still enjoyed it thoroughly
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. K. Garrett
Very Satisfied
I got this DVD on the specified date, it was packaged well and was in great condition. I watched it over a couple of nights because it is a long film haha. Read more
Published 2 months ago by msfs
DVD
So pleased with this film its my husbands favourite he had it on video but now we dont have a video player he has missed not being able to watch the film when he wants so thank... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. Charmaine M. Lynch
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT
This is one of my most favorite old movies and the story is really heart wrenching, the acting in this movie is one of the best i have seen
Published 3 months ago by hammerman84
Memories, memories
Bought this film to show my daughter as she hadn't seen it. The quality of the dvd was superb and the story was much as i had remembered it, did not however remember that all the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by penny
feel good movie
Actually purchased this Film as a present, for my sister as she said she loved it when she saw it years ago.
We ended up watching it together and loved it all over again. Read more
We ended up watching it together and loved it all over again. Read more
Published 6 months ago by ABD
memory lane
I last saw this film over 30 years ago on New Years Day after a heavy snow fall. We sat round the fire and watched this film and its always stayed with me so I decided to buy it,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Diane
happiness
this film is an eye opener into the life and the dangers this lady went through to safe all the children a good tear jerker
Published 12 months ago by topcat
Against the odds one woman evades Japanese army with a crocodile of...
"The Inn of The Sixth Happiness" is a biographical film of a domestic second parlour maid, Gladys Alyward, who wants to go to China as a missionary. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ms. C. C. Dobson
Inn of the Sixth Happiness
this is a true story of one womens fight to do what she wants to do. This film is very uplifting when you are feeling down as a women. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Linda
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