Zhang Shichuan

Zhang Shichuan

Zhang Shichuan ( 張石川  /  张石川 , Zhāng Shíchuān ) born as Zhang Weitong ( Chinese  張偉 通  /  張伟 通 , Pinyin Zhāng Wěitōng ; * January 1, 1890 in Ningbo , Zhejiang , Chinese Empire ; † July 8, 1954 in Shanghai , People's Republic of China ) was a Chinese film director and producer. He is considered a pioneer of Chinese film .

Zhang worked for an advertising agency before he accepted a consulting position in 1913 at the Asia Film Company, which was founded by two Americans. However, he immediately took over all of the company's responsibilities. Zhang hired the playwright Zheng Zhengqiu and together they created the short film Ehepaaruar in der Not / Die for Marriage ( 難 夫 難 妻 / 难 夫 难 妻 , Nanfū Nanqi , 1913) - their first of numerous collaborations, the first real feature film in China applies; previously only theatrical performances had been filmed. Then Zhang founded his first own film production company Huanxian ( 幻 仙 影片 公司 , 1916) and shot Innocent Spirit in the Opium Den / Victims of Opium ( 黑 籍 冤魂 , Heiji Yuanhun , 1916)

Together with Zhou Jianyun and Zheng Zhengqiu, Zhang founded the Mingxing film company in Shanghai in 1922 , which became the most important Chinese film company of the 1920s. Unlike Zheng, Zhang was for profit. Under his leadership emerged commercial entertainment films, including the oldest surviving Chinese film romance of a fruit seller / Romance of a Fruit Peddler ( 擲果緣 / 掷果缘 , Zhi Guo Yuan , 1922) aka Love of a worker / Laborer's Love ( 勞工之愛情 / 劳工 之 爱情 , Laogong zhi Aiqing , 1922). With the martial arts film Burning of Red Lotus Temple ( 火燒 紅蓮寺 / 火烧 红莲寺 , The Huo shao Hongliansi , 1928) Zhang was so successful that he shot 18 sequels by 1931 .

In 1931, Zhang directed China's first sound film , singer Rote Päonie / Song Girl Red Peony ( 歌女 紅 牡丹 / 歌女 红 牡丹 , Ge'nü Hong Mudan ) with Hu Die in the lead role, also with actress Hu and profitable Cosmetics of Market ( 脂粉 市場 / 脂粉 市场 , Zhifen Shichang , 1933). In 1932, Mingxing studio facilities were destroyed by a Japanese bomb attack. In the early 1930s, Zhang Shichuan hired many left-wing writers and directors, and Mingxing made socially critical films such as Spring Silkworms ( 春蠶 / 春蚕 , Chuncan , 1933) by Cheng Bugao .

After the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in 1937, film production there was unified under the umbrella of the United Artists Film Company and Zhang worked as a production manager in various areas. After the Japanese surrender, Zhang was viewed as a traitor for his work. Although never officially charged, Zhang did not recover from the public humiliation, he only made two films. The extent of his oeuvre is unknown, but is estimated to be around 150 to 200 films.

Footnotes

1. ↑ a. A. 1889
2. ↑ a. A. June 8, 1953

Web links

• Zhang Shichuan / Zhang Shi-chuan [1] in the Chinese Movie Database (Chinese / English) - Chinese movie database - dianying.com, accessed on March 28, 2016 - online
• Zhang Shichuan / Zhang Shi-chuan [2] in the Hong Kong Movie Database (Chinese / English) - Chinese film database - hkmdb.com, accessed on March 28, 2016 - Online
• Zhang Shichuan in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• biography

Note: This article places the family name before the person's first name. This is the usual order in Chinese. Zhang is the family name here, Shichuan is the first name.