![]() When the film first appeared Gladys Aylward was upset by the portrayal of Colonel Linnan – a brave Chinese soldier who was wrongly presented as half European – and distressed by an invented Hollywood love scene and the suggestion that she had left her work with her orphans to be happily reunited with the Colonel. Perhaps most tellingly of all, in addition to changes made to any number of characters and places the movie revolves around the Inn of the Sixth Happiness while the actual setting was the Inn of Eight Happinesses – taking its name from a Chinese numeral thought to be auspicious. Once she tells them of her plans to go to China we entirely lose the tensions that erupt between Gladys Aylward and her family and the film then invents an effortless introduction between a Gladys’ employer and an old friend in China. But the movie also takes any number of liberties with the story itself. It’s a charming film but on recently reading a biography of Miss Aylward I realised that the Hollywood make-over does not do justice to, and sometimes distorts, the real story of this brave and determined Christian missionary.įor one thing, the casting of a tall Swede is entirely at variance with the small woman from Edmonton who spoke with a broad cockney accent. J.There is a lovely movie, staring Ingrid Bergman, called “The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.” Made in 1958 it celebrates the remarkable life of a petite woman, born in 1902 in Edwardian England, called Gladys Aylward. An inspiriational biographical portrait of one woman's unswerving faith and commitment to helping others, this is recommended. Aylward established a mission in Hong Kong, and later went to Taiwan, where she continued her work along with her adopted son, Clifford Liu. Becoming a Chinese citizen and adopting native dress, Aylward roamed the countryside, preaching in her spare time, while eventually achieving the status of local heroine through her work with orphans, her role in quelling a prison riot, and for leading (singlehandedly) some 100 children over the mountains to safety during World War II. A small, unprepossessing woman, Aylward laboriously earned the money for a harrowing, death-defying trip to China via train, boat, bus, and mule, where she assisted aging missionary Jeannie Lawson at an inn for mule drivers. Viewers follow Aylward's intrepid journey from British parlor maid to legendary status of a Chinese missionary (Aylward was the inspiration for the Hollywood feature film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman). Fullscreen.Īuthor Carol Purves narrates this documentary about the remarkable life of Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) - subject of Purves' biography Chines Whispers - featuring archival photos, illustrations, and recordings of Aylward's voice. In English and Spanish with optional English & Spanish subtitles. See how this ordinary woman experienced the extraordinary, simply because she said "yes" to God. Gladys continued her work with children until her death in 1970. With Japan invading China full force, Gladys and the 100 children traveled for days on foot across the mountains to safety. Lawson died, Gladys began to take in unwanted children, eventually numbering about 100. Together they opened an inn for mule drivers and told them stories about Jesus. In China she assisted aging missionary Jeannie Lawson. ![]() In 1930, she boarded a train and after many weeks and harrowing situations, she finally reached her destination. ![]() She worked as a parlormaid for many years until she had enough money saved for her passage. ![]() Young Gladys sensed a calling from God to leave London and go to minister in China. This fascinating documentary presents the events of Gladys' life, chronicled by Carol Purves, author of Chinese Whispers: The Gladys Aylward Story and accompanied by photographs, illustrations, and recordings of Gladys' own voice. Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) may have been small in stature at barely five feet tall, but she was a giant of conviction! Even Hollywood was amazed by her story and made a movie about it, entitled The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. ![]()
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