The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
1958 · Movie · NR · 158 min · ★ 6.8 · 95% critics
A determined Englishwoman, turned away by official channels, works to fund her own journey to a remote Chinese village. As she learns the language and customs, she earns trust by running an inn, taking on civic duties, and helping resolve local conflicts—until war reaches the region and she must guide vulnerable children toward safety.
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Details
- Years
- 1958
- Release date
- 1958-11-23
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 158 min
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.8/10 (85 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want an old-school, heartfelt true-story drama about perseverance, community, and courage under pressure; Not for you if you’re sensitive to dated casting choices, colonial overtones, or a slow, sentimental pace.
Pros: inspiring true-story drive; emotional, uplifting moments; scenic period atmosphere | Cons: slow, overlong pacing; forced romance subplot; dated cultural portrayals
Themes
- china
- missionary
- biography
- based on true story
- trans-siberian railway
- 1930s
- japanese occupation of china
Awards & recognition
- Golden Globe Award — Best Film Promoting International Understanding · 1959
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1959 · nominated
Cast & crew
Ingrid Bergman
as Gladys Aylward
Curd Jürgens
as Capt. Lin Nan
Burt Kwouk
as Li
Robert Donat
as The Mandarin of Yang Cheng
Tsai Chin
as Sui-Lan
Richard Wattis
as Mr. Murfin
Athene Seyler
as Jeannie Lawson
Ronald Squire
as Sir Francis Jamison
- MD
Michael David
as Hok-A
- PC
Peter Chong
as Yang
Directed by Mark Robson