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Revision as of 21:44, 28 November 2024 by Crisco 1492 (talk | contribs) (more)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 1931 Chinese film| Sing-Song Girl Red Peony | |||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 歌女紅牡丹 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 歌女红牡丹 | ||||||
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| Directed by | Zhang Shichuan | ||||||
| Screenplay by | Hong Shen | ||||||
| Starring | |||||||
| Production company | Mingxing Film Company | ||||||
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| Country | China | ||||||
Sing-Song Girl Red Peony (simplified Chinese: 歌女红牡丹; traditional Chinese: 歌女紅牡丹; pinyin: Gēnǚ gōng mǔdān)
Plot
The prominent actress Red Peony lives with her abusive husband, supporting his expensive habits through her career. Forced by customary mores to remain in this unhappy relationship, she grows depressed and damages her voice. As her career suffers, her husband continues his spending habits, leading him to sell their daughter to a brothel when he runs out of money. Her freedom is purchased by one of Red Peony's suitors. The husband is soon arrested for involuntary manslaughter. Despite their history, Red Peony forgives him and campaigns for an early release. The husband, touched, begins to strive to become a better man.
Production
Sing-Song Girl Red Peony was directed by Zhang Shichuan for the Mingxing Film Company, with Cheng Bugao acting as assistant director. It was based on a screenplay by Hong Shen. Cinematography was handled by Dong Keyi.
For Sing-Song Girl Red Peony, Mingxing sought to use sound technology. Local productions such as Wild Flower had attempted to use sound to some extent. However, these were only partial sound films. For the film, Mingxing leased a Pathé sound camera and adopted sound-on-disc technology. Production, which took place over six months, cost 120,000 yuan (equivalent to ¥10,100,000 in 2019) each.
The cast included Hu Die, Xia Peizhen, Wang Xianzhai, Gong Jianong, Wang Jiting, Tang Jie, Tan Zhiyuan, and Xiao Ying.
Release and reception
Making its debut at the Strand Theatre on 15 March 1931, Sing-Song Girl Red Peony was well-received by audiences. The film was later distributed to the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines, with prints sold for 16,000 to 18,000 yuan (¥1,350,000 to ¥1,520,000 in 2019).
Sing-Song Girl Red Peony is considered the first sound film to have been produced in the Republic of China. Its dialogue and songs were recorded to a phonograph, which was played together with the film during showings; many contemporary Chinese cinemas lacked the technology to properly screen films with integrated sound. It was followed on 24 May 1931 by the Youlian Film Company's Yu the Beauty. In subsequent years, silent and sound films continued to be produced simultaneously. Mingxing would only release its final silent film, Season of Falling Flowers, in 1935.
References
- based on the summary by Xiao (1998b)
- ^ Huang 2014, p. 290.
- Xiao 1998b, p. 305.
- ^ Zhang 2004, p. 73.
- Zhang 2004, p. 46.
- Xiao 1998a, p. 17.
- Huang 2014, p. 296.
Works cited
- Huang, Xuelei (2014). Shanghai Filmmaking: Crossing Borders, Connecting to the Globe, 1922–1938. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-27933-9.
- Xiao, Zhiwei (1998). "Chinese Cinema". In Zhang, Yingjin; Xiao, Zhiwei (eds.). Encyclopedia of Chinese Film. New York, London: Routledge. pp. 3–30. ISBN 978-0-415-15168-9.
- Xiao, Zhiwei (1998). "Sing-Song Girl Red Peony". In Zhang, Yingjin; Xiao, Zhiwei (eds.). Encyclopedia of Chinese Film. New York, London: Routledge. pp. 305–306. ISBN 978-0-415-15168-9.
- Zhang, Yingjin (2004). Chinese National Cinema. London: Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-415-17289-9.
External links
| Films directed by Zhang Shichuan | |
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| Mingxing Film Company | ||
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