With its new equipment and staff training from Universal Pictures, the Commercial Press paved the way for China's newly-emerging industry at the start of the 1920s, with all seven Chinese productions released in 1920 from that one studio.
Che Zhong Dao (1920) 车中盗 (Railway Robbers)
Commercial Press. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng, adapted from an American detective story. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Ding Yuanyi, Ren Pengnian, Bao Guirong, Zhang Shouwu.
Note: The actual English title of the source story is not recorded: Chen Chunsheng later said he based his adaptation on an American detective story titled (in Chinese) 《火车行动》 ("The Railway Action") in a collection titled 《焦头烂额》, which might be translated as "Badly Battered" or "In a Big Fix".
Two men recently released from prison for armed robbery overhear in a bar that on a certain day, the owner of an iron company will be traveling by train to his foundry carrying silver to be paid as wages. They plot to steal the silver, and on the day, board the train and sit near the owner. When the train stops at a small station, they seize the opportunity to grab his bag and flee the train. They hide the loot in the cellar of a female accomplice. The chief of police asks a famous detective to consult on the case. He goes through many dangers, and with a clue provided by a girl flower seller, finds where the silver is hidden and brings the thieves to justice.
Chunxiang Nao Xue (1920) 春香闹学 (Chunxiang Disturbs the Studies)
Commercial Press. 300m. Direction: Mei Lanfang. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Mei Lanfang (Chunxiang), Yao Yuxiao (Du Liniang), Li Shoushan (Chen Zuiliang).
Classical opera excerpt. Magistrate Du, an important official, invites Chen Zuiliang, an old-style private tutor, to teach poetry and writing to Du's daughter Liniang and her companion, a girl named Chunxiang. But Chunxiang is too fond of play, and when Mr. Chen criticizes her, instead of being ashamed she unexpectedly teases him. This so angers the teacher he threatens to resign, but decides to stay after Liniang mollifies him with sweet talk.
Huang Shan De Jin (1920) 荒山得金 (Gold in the Wasteland)
Commercial Press. 7 reels. Action. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Zhang Shengwu (Song Jinlang), Bao Guirong (Liu Yichun), Hong Jingling (Liu Youquan), Wang Guilin (old man on neighboring boat).
After bandits raid and destroy his family's home, a young man, Song Jinlang, becomes a drifter. He is taken in by boatman Liu Youquan, who gives him a job. The young man's work and concern for others so impresses everyone that he soon is married to the boss's daughter. All is well until the bandits reach their area and begin preying upon the people who live along the river. Jinlang draws on his own experience to lead the river people in resistance. They trap the bandits in a cave and wipe them all out.
Li Da Shao (1920) 李大少 (The Li Family Scion)
Commercial Press. 2 reels. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Ding Yuanyi, Zhang Shengwu, Bao Guirong, Hong Jingling.
Meng Huitou (1920) 猛回头 (Sudden Turnaround)
Commercial Press. 2 reels. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Ding Yuanyi, Bao Guirong, Zhang Shengwu.
An unfilial son hears of the filial actions of another, which so moves him he resolves to mend his ways and becomes a filial son.
Pipa Ji (1920) 琵琶记 (Pipa Story)
Commercial Press. Unfinished. Cast: Zhou Yanfang, Wang Lingzhu. Plot unavailable.
Tiannü San Hua (1920) 天女散花 (The Angel Scatters the Flowers)
Commercial Press. 300m. Direction: Mei Lanfang. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Mei Lanfang (the angel), Yao Yuxiao (the servant), Li Shoushan (Wei-Mo-Gu).
Classical opera excerpt, based on a Buddhist story.
In 1921, the Commercial Press continued its numerical domination, turning out 4 of that year's 7 films. But for the first time, competition emerged in the form of The China Film Making Company and the China Film Research Company. Both of these newcomers were short-lived, but the latter produced the year's biggest success, a recreation of a sensational Shanghai murder case, "Yan Ruisheng." In addition to being China's first docudrama, it was also the Chinese film industry's first box office smash, and showed investors the commercial potential of motion pictures. It was discussed in an earlier article.
A name appearing in the credits of the China Film Making Company's two films that year was that of Bu Wancang, an 18-year-old assistant cinematographer. We will hear more of him later, as one of China's most prolific directors in the first half of the 20th century.
Chai Fang Nü (1921) 柴房女 (The Servant Girl)
Commercial Press. 5 reels. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Ding Yuanyi, Bao Guirong, Zhang Shengwu. Plot unavailable.
Dai Xu Zhushou (1921) 呆婿祝寿 (The Fool Offers Congratulations)
Commercial Press. 3 reels. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Ding Yuanyi, Bao Guirong, Zhang Shengwu, Hong Jingling.
Comedy centering on the antics of a prominent family's dull-witted son-in-law during a lavish birthday banquet for the family patriarch.
De Toucai (1921) 得头彩 (Taking First Prize)
Commercial Press. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Ding Yuanyi, Bao Guirong, Zhang Shengwu, Hong Jingling. Comedy short.
Fantong (1921) 饭桶 (The Fathead)
China Film Making Company. 3 reels. Direction: Lu Shoulian. Cinematography: Gergen* (US). Cast: Qin Haha (the fathead), Hong Jingling, Zhou Fengzhen, Liu Pangzi, Yang Mou.
A short, fat, slow-moving man is called "rice bucket" (a derogatory term for a fathead, or a good-for-nothing) by everyone, although they all find his silly antics amusing. One day, he falls asleep on a woodpile, and dreams he is with a beautiful woman. In the dream, he caresses her face and kisses her on the cheek. He awakens to find he has been kissing a pig.
Han Da Zuo Zei (1921) 憨大捉贼 (The Fool Catches the Thieves)
Commercial Press. 2 reels. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Ding Yuanyi, Bao Guirong, Zhang Shengwu, Hong Jingling.
Si Jie Cun (1921) 四杰村 (Four Heroes Village)
China Film Making Company. Direction: Lu Shoulian. Cinematography: Gergen* (US), Bu Wancang.
During the time of the Empress Wu Zetian (690-705), Luo Hongzun, younger brother of famous poet Luo Binwang travels to visit their parents, accompanied by his servant Yu Qian. While they stop on route at an inn, a corrupt local official accuses Luo Hongzun of a trumped-up charge of theft, and orders him jailed. Meanwhile, he informs the Luo family's long-time enemies, the Zhu brothers, so they can take action against Luo Hongzun. When his master is arrested, Yu Qian runs to Luo Binwang's home for assistance. To seek redress for this grievance, the elder Luo goes to the capital to see the famous magistrate Di Renjie ("Judge Dee"), now a close advisor to the throne. The Zhu brothers take Luo Hongxun from the local officials and confined him in a place called Four Heroes Village, and though Yu Qian trails and catches up with them, his master is so closely guarded the servant can do nothing in the way of rescue. But a wandering Buddhist monk learns of the situation, and uses his status to enter the village at night and help Luo Hongxun to escape. The Zhu brothers pursue, and when they catch up, a bitter struggle takes place in which the Zhu brothers are killed.
*Chinese transliteration of a foreign name, exact name unknown.
After the success of "Yan Ruisheng," by 1922 commercial competition was beginning to pick up. There were 12 full-length and short films made that year, but for various reasons some were not released until 1923 or 1924, so are listed under those years. (As noted earlier, Chinese references list films by year of production, so often disagree with our practice.) Of those actually released in 1922, we have already discussed "A Laborer's Love," "The King of Comedy Visits Shanghai," "The Sea Oath" and "Women Skeletons." Two more releases from 1922 were:
Shiyi Ji (1922) 拾遗记 (The Loser)
Commercial Press. 2 reels. Direction: Ren Pengnian. Screenplay: Chen Chunsheng. Cinematography: Liao Enshou. Cast: Ding Yuanyi, Bao Guirong, Zhang Shengwu.
Two comic figures compete with each other to get some found money. As each outwits the other, the money goes back and forth between them. In the end it turns out to be counterfeit.
Wantong (1922) 顽童 (A Naughty Kid)
Shanghai Film Company. 1 reel. Direction, Screenplay and Cinematography: Dan Duyu. Cast: Dan Erchun (the naughty kid).
A naughty boy grounded for misbehaving gets out of his room and creates havoc in the streets.
