This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Good start, but then it gets ruined

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

It's very much a feel-good movie. And it's hard not to feel good about any movie that features Ingrid Bergmann. She brings the sort of vulnerable but stoical female strength to a part that most miserable, bigoted feminists despise, yet which invariably succeeds over males and females alike. Here we see her at her best, and stuffing it to Julie Andrews with her bossy-boots know-it-all nannyism. Unfortunately, the true history of these nosing, arrogant, western Christian zealots is less romantic. And this movie should well be observed back-to-back with 'The Mission', an effort that demonstrates the downside of Zionist imperialism.Still, taken for what it is as the gradual triumph of a single well-meaning individual against every adversity presented to her; the movie is still an uplifting and inspiring piece of drama. Most of the male parts are inevitably camp, as Caucasians like Kurt Jurgens attempt to play Oriental with varying degrees of success. It would be interesting to hear the views of a Chinese audience. The developing relationships are well-chronicled. The pacing of the story is entirely believable. There are plenty of dramatic moments, and the camera-work both in studio and on location is excellent. It would be no exaggeration to say that Bergmann made this movie. It wouldn't have been half so watchable with any other leading movie starlet of her day. I like it as much for her presence as for any other reason. By now it would benefit from a re-mastering. After 50 years that's only to be expected. Whether or not west really is best remains to be seen. Though it seems rather ironic that we take our sentimentalisation of children to a continent that - even today - breeds them for slave labour. Knick-knack, paddy-whack, give a brat a bone, this young kid won't ever go home.

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 had seen this movie about a year ago in my World History Class and i have to say it is a great movie that is rarely seen nowadays. The characters are believable and the story is very well done. I would recommend seeing this if you ever get the chance. Just having to watch the main character struggle in a new society, with new challenges, ideals is simply an amazing point of view not common in any movie produced now. Once again I would strongly urge that you find a copy of this movie for your viewing pleasure you will not be disappointed by any aspect contained within. Nothing in this movie has any obscene shock value and is a great family movie

I saw the trailer for this on PBS and at first I thought I be in for a cringe-fest a la Charlie Chan. I've become a fan of many "for us by us" Hong Kong and Asian movies with real actors and actresses, so from these movies, my expectations are a little more refined than those who might see Hero as "that Japanese or Chinese movie." Instead of cringing, I found a thoroughly enjoyable movie with its heart in the right place. Someone commented that Ingrid Bergman was for real this one, and I got that impression as well.I believe the foot-binding practice had been officially banned by the Manchus but the ban had never been really enforced, especially in the more remote areas. The foot-binding scene was really nice. It did not imply "I am western-person, I will save you Chinese from this stupid practice." Very simple, nicely done.