THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS
US, 1958, 158 minutes, Colour.
Ingrid Bergman, Curt Jurgens, Robert Donat, Athene Seyler, Ronald Squire, Richard Wattis, Burt Kwouk.
Directed by Mark Robson.
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is based on the life and work of Gladys Aylward, a servant girl who becomes a missionary and a social influence for good on China. The Inn, which was to be a means of communicating the message, was called after the Sixth Happiness, one more than in traditional happiness, the happiness of personal integrity.
The period is that of the Japanese invasion and Gladys Aylward climaxes much of her work in saving a hundred children by bringing them over the mountains. What could have been a mawkish and sentimental religious film is a moving, human experience thanks to a restrained and balanced screenplay and a beautifully dignified performance by Ingrid Bergman. She is at her best in this film. A younger Curt Jurgens and Robert Donat (the original Mr. Chips, Oscar 1939) as the Mandarin, in his last film, give good support.
The film is one of those that appeal to most people and, because of its goodness and optimism, give them a great lift.
1. Did you find this a moving film? Why - the subject, the personality of Gladys Aylward, the treatment?
2. Was Gladys Aylward presented as a sympathetic human being? Was she credible as a woman and as a missionary?
3. How did the London sequence build up a picture of her dedication and sincerity? Why did she feel that she must go to China? Did she have a strong enough basis for this belief? Are feelings and convictions sufficient? Was the missionary society right in rejecting her because she was not qualified?
4. How was China presented? a strong impression of China and its way of life; an understanding of the Chinese? Gladys' first impressions - especially the execution?
5. How did Mrs Lawson impress as a missionary? Was the running of the Inn, a good, idea for missionary contact? Why?
6. Why did Mrs Lawson call it the Inn of the Sixth Happiness? Traditional Chinese wisdom said there were five happiness’s. What was the sixth happiness? Did Gladys Aylward discover it?
7. How did Gladys become Chinese? Consider her success with the foot binding and the prisoners.
8. What kind of man was the Colonel? Why did he say he had few feelings? Why did he resent his mixed blood? Why did he stay in China and work and fight for the government?
9. Initial impressions of the Mandarin? Did they change? What aspects of the Chinese character did he illustrate?
10. Why did Gladys and the Colonel fall in love?
11. Why was Gladys called the one who is loved?
12. What impression of war did the film give - the planes and bombing, suffering, death, evacuating the village, the collapse of the Mandarin's power?
13. What was the impact of Gladys' escape with the children? Was it moving? Was it realistically filmed? The significance of Lee's death and the Christian significance of his funeral service? Did you like the ending and Gladys' 'Going home'?
14. The film could be classified as religious? What Was religious about it? Did it portray Christian values convincingly? Was it exaggerated or sentimental? Was it effective?
