My Fame and Misfortune - Wang Renmei's Memoirs

Author: Wang Renmei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Wang Renmei, originally from Liuyang, Hunan. Her father, Wang Zhengquan, was a mathematics teacher at Changsha Normal School, with a wide range of students, including Mao Zedong. Renmei grew up in Changsha and was originally named Shuxi. She had seven siblings and was the youngest. At the age of seven, her mother died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage, and she had already started primary school. In 1926, she enrolled in the provincial women's normal school, where she had a special interest in mathematics and hoped to become a mathematics teacher like her father. However, that summer, her father was stung by a wasp, which developed into an abscess and nearly cost him his life. In May 1928, the China Revue Troupe, organized by Li Jinhui, set sail from Shanghai and spent ten months performing in cities such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Bangkok, Malacca, Jakarta, and Sumatra. The following year, the China Revue Troupe disbanded, and Wang Renmei returned to Shanghai, where she studied English at the Nanyang Commercial College for a year. Soon after, Li Jinhui reorganized the Bright Moon Revue Troupe and took them on tours to Beijing and Tianjin, followed by a journey to Northeast China. Wang Renmei, Li Lili, Xue Lingxian, and Hu Jia were known as the "Four Heavenly Kings" of the Bright Moon Troupe. Film director Sun Yu recognized her talent and transformed her from one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of the Bright Moon Troupe into the leading lady of the Union Film Company's new film, "Wild Rose." The film was a great success, and Renmei's performance was natural and authentic. Why was this the case? The director said it was because she was playing herself. When "Fish Light Curve" came out, the character of the little cat was essentially Renmei playing herself once again, taking it a step further. "Fish Light Curve" was a successful work by director Cai Chusheng, a peak in Renmei's film acting career, and also a milestone in the development of Chinese film art. It won the Honorary Award at the Moscow International Film Festival. The theme song of "Fish Light Curve" became extremely popular at the time. People would mention "Fish Light Curve" and think of Wang Renmei, and vice versa. After that, Renmei starred in several other films. After the liberation, she became an actress at Shanghai Changjiang Film Studio. In 1957, following the Anti-Rightist Campaign, she suddenly became mentally unstable, and I sent her to the psychiatric hospital of Beijing Medical College. During her treatment, she gradually learned that in 1950, when she returned to Shanghai from Hong Kong, she coincided with the cultural rectification movement, where someone accused her of associating with Dai Li, the head of the Kuomintang's military intelligence, and she was severely traumatized, even being sent to a mental institution. Fortunately, her older sister Wang Mingxia took her to Beijing and stayed with her at her older brother Wang Renxuan's home, where her nerves relaxed, and she recovered. From then on, Renmei joined the Beijing Film Studio. At the age of 14, as a member of the China Revue Troupe, she became one of the earliest dancers to perform in Southeast Asia. At 16, she became one of the sensational "Four Heavenly Kings" of dance and song. At 17, she broke new ground in her film acting career with "Wild Rose," introducing a simple, rugged, and fresh style that contrasted sharply with the overly dramatic and awkward performances that had been popular on screen at the time. She was hailed as the "Wild Rose." At 20, she starred in "Fish Light Curve," which became a sensation and set the highest box office record for Chinese films at the time. The following year, it won the "Honorary Award" at the Moscow International Film Festival, becoming the first Chinese film to receive international recognition. She was also known as the "Wild Cat." At 21, she starred in "Children of the Storm," playing the leading role of the wandering poor girl Chen Feng. She performed both the solo and chorus parts of "Soprano Under the Iron Hoof" and "March of the Volunteers," composed by Nie Er. She has starred in many highly acclaimed films in Chinese film history, such as "Aspiration Soaring High," "Morning in the Metropolis," and "Spring Light That Cannot Be Contained," as well as stage plays like "Peacock Blade," "Family," and "Rising and Falling." She also directed the play "Sunrise." She personally experienced and witnessed the early development of Chinese cinema. In 2005, as China's cinema celebrated its centennial, the noble and pure Wang Renmei naturally stirred the hearts of those who came after her. However, her written materials were extremely scarce, making the memoirs she compiled particularly noteworthy. This book is a photo-illustrated memoir. I believe a true Renmei, a noble and pure Renmei, will never be forgotten by people.