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An Amorous History of the Silver Screen (simplified Chinese: 银幕艳史; traditional Chinese: 銀幕艷史; pinyin: Yínmù Yànshǐ) is a 1931 film directed by Cheng Bugao for the Mingxing Film Company.

Plot

After becoming a treaty port, the city of Shanghai develops into a modern and cosmopolitan city of skyscrapers and paved streets. A thriving film industry emerges, as does a large pleasure quarters.

The courtesan Wang Fengzhen is slapped by a client after arriving late, and he mocks her tears by telling her she could be the next Lillian Gish. She decides to enrol with a major film company and soon gains recognition for her talent and range. She gains the attentions of the wealthy Fang Shaomei, who showers her with gifts and distracts her from her career. The two decide to cohabitate, but Wang begins to lose her prominent place in cinema.

Over time, Fang becomes increasingly indifferent, finding pleasure in the attentions of a dancing girl. Wang follows her paramor to a hotel and confronts him; when he is unrepentant, she swears to take control of her life and live independently through movie stardom.

Returning to the studio, Wang is warmly received. During a tour she is exposed to the updated studio, where several films – including The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple and Shadow of Red Tears – are being shot. Wang rises to stardom, again gaining the attentions of Fang. The dancing girl, seeing the power of fame, auditions for a role in a new film.

References

1. Summary based on Zhang (2005, pp. xix–xxii)

Works cited

• Zhang, Zhen (2005). An Amorous History of the Silver Screen: Shanghai Cinema, 1896-1937. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-98238-0.