Review of The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) by Jeff B — 27 Feb 2011

Ingrid Bergman wasted on a soapy-sappy idealized & hacked-up telling of the life of Gladys Aylward, British maid turned Christian missionary in northern China during the 1930s/1940s.

Technicolor and CinemaScope spent not on Chinese locales but Wales countryside and London set pieces; Communist China might have been closed to the West at the time, but no use of Taiwan or Hong Kong suggests budget-scrimping. Aylward disapproved of the scriptwork, calling it "a pack of lies." In accordance with standard operating procedure of the day, the major Chinese roles are cast with Caucasians. Even the name of Aylward's abode is incorrect; it was actually called "The Inn of the Eight Happinesses." Why MGM scriptwriters changed that, traded down to 25% less happiness, well who can say.

The only redeeming value of the film is that it will inform the viewer of the now obsolete practice of Chinese foot-binding. I knew nothing of this cruel and senseless custom, and was shocked to learn of it. How anyone could have thought this practice added beauty to the feminine form is entirely beyond me.

RECOMMENDATION: Take a pass. Instead, devote your viewing time to some other far more worthy film within the Ingrid Bergman catalog ... and use Wiki to self-inform regarding the cruelty of foot-binding.