Movie |
Missionary | China
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Best Film Promoting International Understanding | 1959
1958 | Robert
Best Actress | 1958 | Ingrid
Best Director | 1959
Best British Screenplay | 1959
Best Foreign Actress | 1959 | Ingrid
Best Foreign Actor | 1959
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | 1959
Final film of Robert Donat. NOTE: He died during its making. In the scene where he is saying goodbye to Gladys as the elders prepare to take their leave of the city, he says as though he was prophesying his death, "I fear we shall never see each other again."
The real Gladys Aylward (1902-70), born in London, was a former domestic turned missionary in China, best known for her work with children. She became a Chinese citizen in 1936. Four years later, despite being in ill health herself, she shepherded more than 100 children over the mountains to safety at the height of the Sino-Japanese war. In 1958, the year this film was released, she founded a children's home in Taiwan, which she continued to run until her death. Known in China as "Ai-weh-deh", or "Virtous One", she continues to be regarded as a national heroine.
The real Gladys Aylward was reportedly very embarrassed at the romantic part of the film. She did fall in love with a Chinese soldier but they never married and their affair was very brief.
The real name of the inn that was set up by Gladys Aylward was "The Inn of the Eight Happinesses"; those eight being love, virtue, gentleness, tolerance, loyalty, truth, beauty and devotion.
Robert Donat had suffered from chronic asthma all his life, and had turned down many offers because of this. He worked very little during the 1950s, and it is reputed that he was almost penniless when he accepted the role in this film. When he died, he left just £25,000 in his will--which was his salary from this film.
"[Robert Donat's final line in his final film] The Mandarin: We shall not see each other again, I think. Farewell, Jen-Ai."
"Gladys Aylward: [handing a Chinese girl to her father] Here, the next time you want her feet bound, bind them yourself, not the woman, and you listen to her screams."
