Ingrid Bergman stars in this story based on the true life story of Gladys Aylward, a modern-day saint whose unquenchable passion to do good took her halfway around the world.

Inspired by her dream to be a missionary, an English parlour maid (Bergman) journeys to China and opens an inn for tired, hungry mule drivers crossing desolate mountain trails. Gradually overcoming the natives' hostility, she wins the heart of a Eurasian colonel (Curt Jurgens) and converts a powerful mandarin (Robert Donat) to Christianity. But her greatest feat is achieved during the Japanese invasion of China when she leads one hundred homeless children to safety across enemy-held terrain.

Powerful and poignant, this inspired film was adapted from Alan Burgess's best-seller The Small Woman.