Today’s movie is a biography with a scene that happens on November 12.
Watch and enjoy this film tonight.
INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS
Gladys Aylward comes to London in hopes of becoming a missionary in China, but the mission society says she is not qualified. However, they do get her a job as a second maid with Sir Francis Jamison. She buys a ticket to China via the Trans-Siberian Railway in installments. She starts secretly reading Sir Francis’s books about China. When he learns about this, instead of firing her, Sir Francis writes to Jeannie Lawson, a friend of his in China. After a long and difficulty journey, she arrives at Jeannie Lawson’s mission in Yang Cheng. Lawson has bought an inn that she plans to run and tell Bible stories to the guests. Gladys works hard to become assimilated, then Miss Lawson is killed in a fall. The missionary society wants to close the inn, but she refuses to go. At the suggestion of the Eurasian Captain Lin Nan, the local mandarin appoints Gladys as the inspector to ensure that the law against foot binding is obeyed. She becomes almost fully assimilated and is called Jin Ai (The One Who Loves People) by the Chinese. She gains great face among the Chinese when she goes into the local prison during a riot and diffuses the situation. Jin Ai and Col. Lin Nan tour the villages and their attraction grows. Jin Ai starts taking in orphans. Word comes that the Japanese are preparing to attack China. The Japanese bomb the city. The city is evacuated and Jin Ai is left behind. Col. Lin Nan finds her when his men reach the city after a temporary Japanese retreat. Impressed by her bravery and compassion the Mandarin converts to Christianity. She stays behind with the orphans when the city is permanently evacuated. She leaves with 100 orphans for the city of Sian. She brings the orphans through difficult terrain and avoids the Japanese. On November 12, 1938 [2:32:56 to 2:37:27] Jin Ai and the orphans reach the safety of Sian.
A truly inspirational story. However, Bergman looked nothing like Aylward and a romance was added to the storyline. Still, as entertainment and not history, it is a decent film.
Date given in film at 2:33:21-22
Awards – It was nominated for Best Director Oscar at the 31st Academy Awards.
Producer - Buddy Adler
Director - Mark Robson
Screenplay - Isobel Lennart
Runtime – 2 hours 38 minutes
Released – December 11, 1958
Starring –
Ingrid Bergman as Gladys Aylward
Curt Jürgens as Captain Lin Nan
Robert Donat as The Mandarin
Michael David as Hok-A
Athene Seyler as Jeannie Lawson
Ronald Squire as Sir Francis Jamison
Moultrie Kelsall as Dr. Robinson
Richard Wattis as Mr. Murfin
Peter Chong as Yang
Tsai Chin as Sui-Lan
Edith Sharpe as Secretary
Joan Young as Sir Francis' cook
Lian-Shin Yang as Woman with Baby
Noel Hood as Miss Thompson
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