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Don't listen to the negative reviews

A different way of telling a story

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

(Flash Review)A Christian woman is being called to travel to China, this being the 50's, to work at a mission. Unable to get there through proper channels as she is unqualified and undereducated, she pays her own way and journeys there herself by rail, boat, rickshaw, etc… Upon her arrival to an isolated Chinese village, she must learn the language, the customs and win acceptance by the locals. While there, the main director of the inn passes away so she must take control of it while also working as a foot inspector (unbinding girls feet when found bound tight) as her social duties. That among resolving village problems and making friends with the local military captain win her acceptance among the people. This will serve her well when war finds their isolated village. What brave and gritty heroics will she take on during tumultuous times? Overall, this is a nice foreign period piece with the famous Bergman carrying the film. Some great rural Chinese scenes and views help bring this cinematic voyage along.

This is a story of a real English woman (Gladys Aylward) who gave her life for the Chinese people as a missionary with surprisingly strong will.She visited the office of China Inland Mission Center in London only to be refused. On her way to the introduced employer for a housemaid, she stopped by a travel agent and booked a train to China via Siberia. In this way, she always does what she believes she ought to do, upon belief of that God protects and leads her. She shows her sanguine attitude and tireless energy which are typical to God believers. One may doubt if such a woman actually exists, but I remember similar woman. I read an autobiography ("Chasing the Dragon" by Jackie Pulllinger) of another English woman who served as a missionary at the Walled City of Hong Kong. From the memory of my surprise from the book, I could believe that Cladys Aylward actually existed. I think Ingrid Bergman acted this woman very well. However, this movie has many embroideries and dramatizations that are typical to 1950s Hollywood movies. For example, English language dominates the movie in China, and the scene the children are welcomed amid hearty cheers of people of Sian. The most questioned embroidery is that the colonel is given Caucasian blood and made to the lover of Cladys.

I don't know if the real Ingrid Bergman was a saint, but she was better than any other actor or actress at conveying the saintly in us.Bergman positively glows in this simple tale of a maid, who is rejected as a missionary and achieves greatness all the same. She is incredibly moving.The art direction is also magnificent, and wholly convincing.The rest of the cast is doing their best, but neither Curt Jurgens nor Robert Donat are very convincing as Chinese characters. Also disappointing is Sir Malcolm Arnold's score. It is certainly not overly Chinese. As a matter of fact, it could be used for any British war film.I also just saw a very similar movie "The Devil at 4 O'Clock." Sixth Happiness is considerably better, thanks to Bergman, and the decision not to have a subplot for the teenagers. Next to Happiness, Devil seems calculating and a bit cynical too.

Very Hollywood "based on a true story" movie about a white woman (played by Ingrid Bergman) who goes to China during a time of great unrest to spread the word of God. It's not quite as offensive as it sounds. While it definitely does not break apart completely from the long-revered Asian stereotypes Hollywood loved to enforce, it treats the people as humans. I have little sympathy for the woman's mission. However, Gladys Aylward (at least in this version) wanted more than anything to help the less fortunate. Her goodness shines far and wide. Eventually, the Japanese descend on the small town in which she lives, and she must transport a large number of orphaned children South, where they can be cared for. Ingrid Bergman is excellent, as always. Robert Donat plays one of the main Chinese characters, the village elder. I know it's not politically correct, but Donat is very good in the role. The biggest flaw in the film is Curd Jürgens, who plays a bi-racial military officer and Bergman's love interest. The love story feels rather forced, and Jürgens' performance is awful. He looks like a stupider version of John Wayne. I'm guessing that this film was a big-time piece of Oscar bait in its day. Ingrid Bergman had just won one for Anastasia a couple of years earlier, so the Academy didn't bite. The only nomination it got was for its director, and it's kind of hard to see why. Robson does a fine job, but nothing to write home about. Still, despite its flaws and its dated nature, the film is pretty good. And it does succeed at being touching.