The Behind-the-Scenes Stories of Chinese Cinema 1905--2005

Author: Liu Shu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Untold Stories Behind Chinese Cinema tells the little-known behind-the-scenes tales of beloved classic films in China's film industry, offering readers an insightful read that blends storytelling, literary quality, and factual depth. — Xie Tieli, Honorary Chairman of the China Film
The Untold Stories Behind Chinese Cinema is rich in content, well-documented, and based on solid interviews, making it a work of authenticity, documentation, and artistry. — Jiang Ping, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Film Directors' Association
Pop songs become popular for several reasons: first, their lyrics are simple yet melodious; second, they are easy to sing along to and spread quickly; and, most importantly, they resonate with many listeners, evoking emotional connections. As a beloved form of entertainment in people's lives, films are no different. And those classic old films that have deeply rooted in the minds of audiences are even more so. To commemorate the 110th anniversary of the birth of world cinema and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese cinema, and to meet the urgent needs of loyal film enthusiasts, audiences, and the cultural market at home and abroad, this book is titled The Untold Stories Behind Chinese Cinema. It introduces a selection of influential and beloved classic films from China's film industry, exploring them from different perspectives through historical research and documentary-style writing. The book blends storytelling, literature, and historical facts to reveal the little-known stories behind these films.
Thus, in this extensive book, readers will find a series of vivid old film posters as the opening, briefly reviewing the evolution of Chinese cinema over the past century. Then, the book jumps through time and space, telling readers about the deep connections between many famous films in New China and the atmosphere of their times, their profound origins, and close inheritances. The author has specially selected several representative works of Southern Chinese cinema. For example, the film Undercover in Canton is based on the real story known as the "Guangzhou Case." Tide in the South Sea won an award at the third Hundred Flowers award ceremony of , which was not publicly announced. The emergence and wide influence of several distinctive "Southern Films" are also highlighted. The turbulent birth processes of A Thousand Miles Against the Wind and The Tide Sweeps the Sands from the Zhuhai Film Studio, the large-scale musical and dance epic Red Dawn and its inseparable "trilogy," the circumstances of the commemorative film for the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the influential "22 Great Stars" of New China, the chronology of director Xie Jin during two special periods, seven remade films during absurd times, and the "Six Peking Opera and Two Dance" after the "Eight Model Revolutions." Additionally, the book introduces the emergence of the world-famous White-Haired Girl, Red Detachment of Women, Sajoaba, and The Red River Husbands, from their inception to their final forms. The political struggles that ensnared the opera film Song of the Gardener, the diverse life stories of the main actors in Sentinel Under Neon Lights, the lifelong regrets of stars who did not complete their films, the artistic portrayal of Lu Xun's novels on screen, and the interesting stories between the approachable screen character "Li Xiangyang" and the remade film Battle in the Plains.
The author also focuses on the memorable anti-spionage films that have left a deep impression on audiences and loyal fans, showcasing the diverse and distinctive images of female spies. These have become a unique landscape in China's dubbed films. The book presents perspectives from different angles, with detailed and concise narratives, like a stream merging into a vast river.
Time is like a golden whip, memory is like a rope, and those old films that have remained etched in the hearts of audiences are like a genuine bond between filmmakers and loyal fans. This red silk thread, unbreakable, connects our hearts and love. Gathering is fate, and true feelings never change!