Zheng Zhengqiu, first generation writer and director, was born Zheng Fangze on January 25, 1889 in
Shanghai, the son of a Cantonese opium merchant. His father initially envisioned an official career for his son, and devoted some funds to securing a position for him. But the younger Zheng had already developed a social conscience, concluded the Qing (Manchu) dynasty government was hopelessly corrupt, and since his own preferences were for the arts, rejected an official career. So, after receiving a public school education, in 1910 he began publishing a journal which in addition to reviewing Chinese drama from a progressive viewpoint, also strongly advocated reform of traditional dramatic forms and experimentation with new ones, in the belief that drama could serve as an instrument for China's national salvation. After this, he joined a newspaper, "The People Speak," as its theater critic, while also writing for two magazines, "People's Pictorial" and "Civil Rights Illustrated."
In 1913, he and Zhang Shichuan organized the Xinmin (New People) Company, with the special mission of writing, directing and producing films for the Asia Theater Company. As their initial effort, the two young men made the first Chinese-produced short fiction film, "A Couple in Difficulty." After this, drawing on actors from several of the new, progressive theatrical companies that were springing up around China, Zheng organized a theatrical company in Shanghai dedicated to presenting "monodramas" (i.e. one-man shows) which strongly advocated particular political causes, such as opposition to the attempt by Yuan Shikai to have himself named Emperor, publicizing Sun Zhongshan's (Sun Yat-sen's) ordeal as a prisoner in Imperial China's London Embassy, and Japan's increasing encroachment on Chinese sovereignty. After the May 4th Movement, he founded the New People's Library, publishing the journal "Medical News Monthly."
In 1922, Zheng Zhengqiu and Zhang Shichuan were two of five young Chinese who founded the Mingxing (Star) Film Company, destined to become the dominant studio in China's film industry. At the same time, they established the Mingxing Film School, with Zheng Zhengqiu assuming the post of principal. But the main advantage of film for Zheng was the medium it provided him for venting his rage at the injustices of Chinese society and politics, residue of the feudal system that had prevailed for centuries. Throughout the 1920s, in such screenplays as "An Orphan Saves his Grandfather," "The Poor Children," "The Last Conscience," and "A Blind Orphan Girl," or in such directorial efforts as "A Beauty of 16" and "A Little Lover," Zheng dedicated his talents to campaignng against the injustices of that system. Particular targets of his criticism were the miserable lot of women, the evils of patriarchy, and the plight of China's working poor.
At the beginning of the 1930s, there was an obvious change in his thinking, from reformer to radical. In 1933, he published an article titled "How to Progress," in which he argued that Chinese intellectuals should follow a course of "anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism, anti-feudalism," and enthusiastically welcomed new literary workers' participation in filmmaking. In the same year, he wrote and directed "Twin Sisters," regarded as his representative work.
Zheng Zhengqiu's unexpected death on July 16, 1935 at the age of 46 was a terrible blow to a Chinese film industry already reeling from the suicide of its greatest silent actress Ruan Lingyu. (A further blow came on July 17, when actor-composer Nie Er died in Japan under mysterious circumstances.) In Zheng's career, he wrote and/or directed over 40 films, including several Chinese cinema landmarks, with immeasurable influence on the country's later film history.
Filmography:
Written and Directed:
1913:
A Couple in Difficulty (co-directed with Zhang Shichuan)
1926:
A Little Lover
A Lovelorn Actress
1927:
A Beauty of 16
Blood and Tears on the Tablet
Yang Xiaozhen
1928:
Heroine in Black
The Lady's Lover
Tears and Flowers, pt.1
1929:
Tears and Flowers, pt.2
Beauty Under the Blade
Young Compatriots on the Battlefield
1930:
Peach Blossom Lake, pts.1,2
1931:
Shadow of Red Tears, pts.1,2
Farewell to the Beauty
1932:
The Flower of Freedom
1933:
Romance in Springtime
Twin Sisters
1934:
Reborn Flowers
A Bible for Girls (co-directed with Hong Shen, Zhang Shichuan and Shen Xiling)
Written:
1922:
The King of Comedy Visits Shanghai
A Laborer's Love (aka Romance of a Fruit-Peddler)
Disturbance in the Haunted Theater
Zhang Xinsheng
1923:
An Orphan Saves His Grandfather
1924:
The Death of Yuli
The Poor Children
The Good Brother
1925:
The Last Conscience
A Lesser Friend
Woman of Shanghai
1926:
A Blind Orphan Girl
He Wants to Have a Baby
1927:
A Couple in Name Only
Reciprocity
Ma Yongzhen From Shandong
The Monkey Monk
1928:
A Beauty's Cares
Burning the Red Lotus Temple, pt.1
A Hero's Revenge, pts.1,2
Woman Detective
1929:
New Journey to the West
1930:
Mother From a Brothel
1931:
Sea of Hatred
Directed:
1927:
Plum Blossoms Fall, pts.1,2,3
1928:
White Cloud Pagoda
Hall of the Broken Zither
1935:
Hot Blood and Faithful Hearts (aka Soul of the Nation)
Acting:
1922:
The King of Comedy Visits Shanghai
A Laborer's Love (aka Romance of a Fruit-Peddler)
1924:
The Poor Children
Love and Vanity
