Although not one of our award winners for 1925, this film from that year also deserves attention. We don't know how popular it was with audiences, but it was very timely, as it dealt with a topic of considerable concern in China at the time, i.e. warlordism. (For background, consult the excellent Wikipedia article on the subject.) By 1925 the fledgling Chinese Republic, begun with such high hopes, had suffered through nearly a decade of continuous civil conflict, with warfare going on somewhere in the country during that time. The central government seemed powerless to stop it, and those suffering most (as in all wars) were the civilians, and that was the movie's focus. For in spite of its title, this was not a war movie in the usual sense, but rather a look at how war affects the ordinary people who are charged with fighting it, in this case two love stories related against the background of war.
From the film historian's standpoint, the film is notable for its casting, which included major stars of the time as well as several future marquee names starting out in small, even uncredited, roles. In addition, the male and female leads, Wang Yuanlong and Zhang Zhiyun, played both pairs of lovers, a dual-role casting device which later became commonplace, but was innovative at the time.
Zhan Gong (1925) 战功 (Battle Exploits)
alt. English title: Amid the Rattle of Musketry
Da Zhonghua. Silent, with Chinese and English intertitles. 9 reels. Premiered May 9, 1925 at the Palace Theater in Shanghai. Producer: Lu Jie. Director: Xu Xinfu. Screenplay: San San. English Captioning: Su Gongjuan. Cinematography: Jingguangfu+. Cast: Wang Yuanlong (Wang Yihua/Zhu Zhuofu), Zhang Zhiyun (Zhang Yijun/Tong Yihan), Li Minghui (Wang Lihua), Hu Die (Hu Cuiying), Tang Jie (Tang Zigang), Zhao Chen (Zhao Xiaowei).
(+indicates the transliteration of a foreign name, which is unknown.)
Wang Yihua, scion of a noble family, and his girlfriend Tong Yihan are in love. One day, when Yihua and his younger sister Lihua are visiting relatives in the countryside, he meets Zhang Yijun, a woman who dresses in male clothing. The two strike up a friendship. The siblings return to the city, and soon thereafter Yijun shows up. She and Yihua renew their friendship, which upsets his girlfriend Yihan.
When their girls school holds a benefit musical performance to help people in a disaster-stricken area, Lihua and Yihan take the stage to perform. Yihua and Yijun attend, as do Yihua's old friend Zhao Xiaowei and his friend Zhu Zhuofu. When they are introduced before the performance, Yijun and Zhuofu appear somewhat surprised.
[a volunteer parts from his lover; Zhang Zhiyun, left, Wang Yuanlong, right. Click on any picture to enlarge.]
Afterwards, Yihua and Yijun grow even closer. But when war erupts, Yihua bids Yijun and his family farewell and joins the army. Zhuofu also enlists, and the two leave for the front lines. Before they leave, Yihua writes to Yihan, breaking off their relationship.
[lower right, a call to service; Wang Yuanlong, right]
When Yihua returns from the battlefield, and his father asks about Zhuofu, the son sadly tells of how an artillery shell exploded near them, and when Yihua awoke in the hospital he could learn nothing of Zhuofu. When she hears this, Yijun turns pale and looks horrified. That evening, Yihua proposes to Yijun, but she sadly tells him she cannot, for she is already married to Zhuofu. He had become a drunk, and abandoned her in the countryside. After that, she had dressed as a man to make herself less attractive to another man who was harassing her, and finally fled the countryside for the city. She tells Yihua, "I can only be your friend, not your wife".
At that time, Zhu Zhuofu, having lost a hand and a foot, crawls into the house. When he sees Yihua and Yijun together, he makes to leave. But Yijun stops him and brings him back, saying, "As you are today, do you really want to leave me again"?
At this point, Lihua brings Yihan in to welcome Yihua back. It turns out his sister had interrupted Yihua's breakup letter to Yihan, and she has been waiting for him faithfully. Yihua realizes where his true happiness lies, and both couples are reunited.
[This picture does not fit in with the above narrative, but I have included it anyway. The Chinese source for this labels it a still from the movie, but since it was by no means a comedy, it was Hu Die's first movie appearance -- in a supporting part -- and the two wounded soldiers (Zheng Xiaoqiu, left, and Gong Jianong, right) were in uncredited minor roles, it was more likely an outtake of clowning around on the set.]
