In our last post, concerning the life and movie career of Fan Xuepeng, one of Chinese cinema's earliest martial arts heroines, we mentioned "Heroic Son and Daughter," the five-part series that brought her fame. She also mentions the making of the series frequently in her own memoir that was a major source for the article. Although we cannot view these films today, we do have written plot summaries for four parts, which give us some idea of what these early sword movies were like. Although the stories were told in series, they were not a "serial," in the sense that one episode ended with a cliffhanger that left the audience in suspense. Rather, each part was a separate and complete movie in itself.
[right: "Bring it on, tough guy": '13th Sister' confronts a foe]
One thing that stands out is that despite the title, there seems to have been little "heroic" about the principal male character, the honest scholar-official An Ji, played by Wen Yimin, the films' director (and Fan Xuepeng's later lover and eventual husband). An Ji sounds much like a male character from the earlier "Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies" romance genre, with a penchant for getting into trouble from which his wife's ingenuity and fighting skills were his only means of escape.
Ernü Yingxiong (1927-31) 儿女英雄 (Heroic Son and Daughter)
Youlian. B&W. Silent. Part I, 9 reels; Part III, 10 reels. Part III premiered June 30, 1929 at the Palace Theater in Shanghai; other release dates and lengths unknown. Producer: Chen Kengran. Direction: Wen Yimin. Screenplay: Xu Bibo, based on the 3 volume novel, “Legend of the Heroic Son and Daughter.” Cinematography: Hong Weilie. Program notes: Xu Bibo. Sets: Chen Meihao. Editing: Ye Renfu. Intertitles: Shen Jianhao. Cast: Fan Xuepeng (He Yufeng/Thirteenth Sister), Wen Yimin (An Ji), Mao Yitan (Nian Ciwu), Gu Ruzhen (Zhang Jinfeng), Ye Renfu (Zhang Leshi), Shi Juefei (Deng Jiugong), Zhang Qingsheng (Hua Zhong), Shang Guanwu (the red-faced brave), Shang Xiao (the brave monk).
Part 1 (1927): Shisan Mei Dapo Nengrensi 十三妹大破能仁寺 (Thirteenth Sister Smashes the Nengren Temple):
He Yufeng, a swordswoman called "Thirteenth Sister," leads a group of heroes in challenging and defeating a group of licentious monks who prey upon vulnerable women. In the end, she marries An Ji, a scholar and the son of a high-ranking official.
Part 2 (1928): Shisan Mei Dapo Chuan Yun Ling 十三妹大破穿云岭 (Thirteenth Sister Smashes Cloud-Piercing Ridge):
When An Ji is summoned to the capital to take the imperial examinations, Thirteenth Sister escorts her husband on the journey. As they pass an area known as Cloud-Piercing Ridge, the couple is set upon by a gang led by An Ji's old enemy Jin Maohou. Fortunately, some of her followers led by Deng Jiugong happen by, and with their help, Thirteenth Sister's side is victorious.
Part 3 (1929): Shisan Mei Da Bao Baiyun An 十三妹大闹白云庵) (Thirteenth Sister Disturbs the White Cloud Convent)
After An Ji is assigned to a government post, a man named Qiu Ma is assigned to assassinate him. On route to the An mansion he stops at White Cloud Convent to counsel with an evil old nun he has known for a long time. The woman is very familiar with Thirteenth Sister's fighting ability, and advises Qiu Ma to enlist the help of a gang led by Huang Yong. After discussing it thoroughly, Qiu and Huang concoct a ruse to lure Thirteenth Sister away from her home, and while she is gone they break in, take her husband prisoner, and imprison him in the convent. When she returns, Thirteenth Sister figures out what has happened, and after sending word to the nearest military post, she breaks in to the convent and holds off the villains until troops arrive. The entire gang is rounded up.
Part 4 (1930): Shisan Mei Dapo Zhangjia Zhai 十三妹大破张家寨) (Thirteenth Sister Destroys the Zhang Clan's Fortress)
Yufeng (Thirteenth Sister) and An Ji are traveling to his new government post, and during the journey they happen upon a youth named Yang Qing being attacked by two thugs. The thugs run off, but that night they come to the inn where the travelers are staying, and Thirteenth Sister again comes to the rescue. The thugs report back to their boss, an evil landlord named Lu Mou, and after they inform him that An Ji is the new district magistrate, Lu sends one of his underlings to offer the newcomer a substantial bribe. An Ji angrily refuses. Lu Mou, outraged at having to deal with an honest official for once, plots against An Ji. Lu has public notices posted accusing the couple of harboring Yang Qing, who Lu claims is a notorious robber, and has his underlings spread rumors that Yufeng is having an affair with the youth. Then Lu contacts the Zhangs, another clan of local tyrants, and the two former rivals team up to ruin An Ji, beginning with a plot to kill Thirteenth Sister. They plan to entrap her at the Zhang stronghold, but she avoids being trapped and fights them off until An Ji arrives with government troops.
Part 5 (1931): Shisan Mei Dapo Fuhu Gang 十三妹大破伏虎岗) (Thirteenth Sister Destroys Fuhu Ridge). No plot information available.
