In an earlier post, we discussed "Ma Jiefu" the 1926 full-length film adaptation of a story from Pu Songling's 17th century collection, "Strange Stories from Liaozhai," that has proven so rich a source of material for Chinese filmmakers over the decades. But that was actually just the first adaptation from a Shanghai studio: the first Chinese production was done a year earlier, in Hong Kong. In addition to being the first filmed adaptation from this classical collection, it marked another first: it was the first full-length motion picture from a Hong Kong studio. The movie's makers read like a Who's Who of early Hong Kong cinema: in addition to Li Minwei, the father of Hong Kong film, and his real-life wife Lin Chuchu as the lovers, it was directed by Li's brother Li Beihai (who also played the first villain) and featured Liang Shaobo, director of the first Hong Kong-made film, in the role of the murderous second villain. Some Chinese sources list this as a mainland film, but the Minxin studio had not yet relocated to Shanghai, and while filming was done across the border in Guangdong, the studio was still located in Hong Kong.
Yanzhi (1925) 胭脂 (Rouge). This is the English title listed in mainland Chinese references. The Hong Kong English title was: Love is Dangerous . Thanks to Mr. Frank Bren for this additional information.)
Minxin. Silent. Release date: February 20, 1925. Direction and Screenplay: Li Beihai, adapted from a short story in the Liao Zhai Zhi Yi ("Strange Stories from Make-Do Studio") by Pu Songling (1640-1715). Cinematography: Luo Yongxiang. Cast: Lin Chuchu (as Yanzhi), Li Minwei (as E Qiuzhun), Li Beihai (as Su Jie), Liang Shaobo (as Big Mao).
One day, as a girl named Yanzhi ("Rouge") is out with her friend Madame Wang, she meets a handsome young man named E Qiuzhun. Afterward, when Yanzhi tells her friend how attractive she found the young man, Madame Wang jokingly offers to act as their matchmaker. Madame Wang mentions the incident to her lover Su Jie, and he tries to exploit the situation by disguising himself as Qiuzhun, then sneaking into Yanzhi's home in the middle of the night in an attempt to seduce her. But Yanzhi, although deceived into believing that the intruder is really Qiuzhun, firmly rejects him anyway. Su Jie leaves, taking along one of the girl's shoes as a souvenir. The shoe later comes into the possession of a thug called Big Mao, who also sneaks into Yanzhi's home at night in the guise of Qiuzhun, with the same intent of seduction. This time, Yanzhi's father intercepts the intruder, and in their struggle the father is killed. Big Mao flees, leaving the shoe behind. E Qiuzhun is accused of the crime, tried and convicted. But Qiuzhun persuades the local authorities to reopen the case, and further investigation gains him a new trial, which this time results in an acquital. At the end, he and Yanzhi become husband and wife.
