List of Hong Kong films before 1950
Appearance
(Redirected from Hong Kong films of the 1930s)
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A list of the earliest films produced in Hong Kong from the first film in 1909 to 1949 in year order.
Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1909 | ||||||
Stealing the Roast Duck | Liang Shaobo | Liang Shaobo, Lai Pak-hoi |
Comedy short | First dramatic film production in Hong Kong, made by Asia Film Company of Shanghai.[1] [2] | ||
1913 | ||||||
Zhuangzi Tests His Wife | Lai Pak-hoi | Lai Man-Wai, Lai Pak-hoi | Comedy short | First film made by a Hong Kong studio, but never screened in Hong Kong.[1][3] | ||
1922 | ||||||
Rouge | Lai Man-Wai, Lai Pak-hoi |
Lai Man-Wai, Lim Cho Cho |
Drama | First feature film produced by a Hong Kong company (China Sun), but shot in Guangzhou.[3] | ||
1925–30 | ||||||
No films were made in Hong Kong as a result of the Great Canton–Hong Kong strike.[4] | ||||||
1931 | ||||||
Iron Bone and Orchid Heart | Kwan Man Ching | Yao-yu Sek, Kit-ching Fung |
Romance | |||
The Pain of Separation | Lai Pak-hoi | Kin-han Lap, Wah-chi Cheung |
Romance | First Hong Kong film adapted from a Cantonese folk tale/opera | ||
The Witty Sorcerer | Lai Pak-hoi | Lai Pak-hoi, Xu Menghen |
Comedy/Drama | |||
1932 | ||||||
Cry of the Cuckoo in the Temple | Liang Shaobo | Wong Man-lei | Fable | |||
Gunshot at Midnight | Kwan Man Ching | Ng Cho-fan, Wong Man-lei |
Mystery | |||
1933 | ||||||
Conscience | Lai Pak-hoi | First partial talkie.[5] | ||||
Flowers Fall and Catkins Fly | Wong Toi | Romance | Filmed in Vietnam, this was the first HK film shot at an overseas location, but never released in Hong Kong.[citation needed] | |||
The Fool Pays Respects | Hou Yao[6] | Wong Man-lei | Fantasy | Based on a Cantonese folk tale | ||
The Shining Pearl | Kwan Man Ching | Ng Cho-fan, Wong Man-lei |
Action | |||
1934 | ||||||
The Fool's Nuptial Chamber | Lai Pak-hoi | First full talkie.[5] | ||||
The Body Snatchers | Wong Toi | Ng Cho-fan | Horror | Hong Kong's first horror film | ||
Mourning of the Chaste Tree Flower | Runje Shaw, Runme Shaw, Runde Shaw | Pak Kui-Wing, Woo Tip-Ying, Tai Hau-Ho | Drama | |||
1935 | ||||||
Life Line | Guan Wenqing | [7] | ||||
The Modern Bride | Moon Kwan Man-Ching | Lam Kwan-San, Lee Yi-Nin, Yip Yan-Foo | Comedy | |||
Opera Stars and Song Girls | Kwan Ting-Yam | Tse Sing-Nong, Tam Yuk-Lan, Ma Kam-Neong, Tam Siu-Fung | Cantonese opera | |||
Scent of Wild Flowers | So Yi | Ma Sze-Tsang, Tam Lan-Hing, William Ko Wai-Lim, Tam Yuk-Lan, Kwong Shan-Siu, Lam Mui-mui | Drama | First film directed by So Yi.[8] | ||
Yesterday's Song (aka Voice of the Broken-hearted) | Chiu Shu-San | Kwan Tak-Hing, Lee Yi-Nin, Wong Man-lei, Lam Mui-mui | Drama | [9] | ||
1936 | ||||||
House Number 66 (aka The Case of the Dismembered Body) | Lee Tit | Tong Sing-To, Wu Yung, Cheng Lau-Kuen | Drama | |||
New Youth | So Yi | Ng Cho-Fan, Wong Man-lei, Nancy Chan | Drama | |||
Sum Hun | Esther Eng | |||||
1937 | ||||||
The Light of Women | Go Lee-Han | Lee Yi-Nin, Leong Tim-Tim, Leung Chui-Mei, Fok Suet-Yee, To Sam-Ku | War | [10] | ||
The Magnificent Country | Chan Tin | Ng Cho-Fan, Yin Pak, Lam Lai-Ping | War | [11] | ||
Producing Citizens | Lee Fa | Kwong Shan-Siu, Lam Mui-mui, Tai Hau-Ho, Lee Yuet-ching, Fok Suet-Yee | Drama | [12] | ||
The Sentimental Woman | So Yi, Liu Shut | Leong Suet-Fei, Lee Yi-Nin, Kwong Shan-Siu, Chu Po-Chuen, Ho Tai-So, Mui Yee | Romance | |||
Spring Flower and Autumn Moon | Cheung Oi-Man | Violet Wong, Lam Mui-mui, Wu Mei-Lun | Musical | |||
Sweetie | Yeung Kung-Leung | Tam Yuk-Lan, Ching Siu-Fung, Chu Ying-Mui | Cantonese opera | |||
1938 | ||||||
A Mother's Tears (Chinese: 慈母淚) | Chiu Shu-San | To Yu, Wong Sau-Nin, Chan Tin-Chung, Wu Tip-Lai, Yuet-ching Lee | Drama | Released 25 May 1938.[13] | ||
To Lei Chang Chun | [14] | |||||
Ou Sui Sing Chi | [14] | |||||
Mei Yan Kuk | [14] | |||||
Behind the Shanghai Front Line | Tang Xiaodan | [7] | ||||
Great Wall of Blood and Flesh | Hou Yao | National defence | Patriotic film against Japanese invasion[6] | |||
Incident in the Pacific | Hou Yao | Lee Yi-Nin, Lo Ban-Chiu, Chow Siu-Ying | War | [15][16] | ||
Last Minute Call | Hou Yao | National defence | Patriotic film against Japanese invasion[6] | |||
Female Soldier | [7] | |||||
Eighth Heaven | Musical | [7] | ||||
The Purple Cups | Hou Yao | Leong Suet-Fei, Yung Yuk-Yi, Yung Siu-Yi, Chow Siu-Ying, To Sam-Ku | Drama | |||
Rouge Tears | Chuk Ching-yin | Hu Die | Drama | Cantonese remake of 1934 silent The Goddess | ||
Rouge Tears | Wu Yonggang | Hu Die | Drama | Mandarin remake of 1934 silent The Goddess | ||
Shanghai Under Fire (Chinese: 上海火線後) | Chiu Shu-San | Yin Pak, Lee Ching | War | Released 9 June 1938.[17] | ||
1939 | ||||||
It's a Woman's World (aka The Thirty-six Amazons) | Esther Ng Gam-Ha, Liu Shut | Violet Wong, Tai Hau-Ho, Wu Mei-Lun, Wu Tip-Lai, Ha Bo-Lin, To Sam-Ku, Chan Sin-Yue, Chan Pooi-Choh, Tong Lee-Lee, Mui Yee | Drama | |||
Judge Bao Vs. the Eunuch | Wan Hoi-Leng, Hung Chung-Ho | Tsang Sam-To, Leong Suet-Fei, Ma Kam-Neong | Historical Drama | |||
Lone Island Paradise | Cai Chusheng | Li Lili | National defence | Mandarin film produced by the Shanghai exiles from the Second Sino-Japanese War.[7] | ||
The Luminescent Cup | Go Lee-Han, Yeung Tin-Lok | Lee Yi-Nin, Chow Siu-Ying, Yung Siu-Yi | Drama | |||
The Radio Station Murder Case | Xu Xinyuan | Detective | The Charlie Chan series.[18] | |||
Rivals in Love | So Yi | Cheung Ying, Tam Lan-Hing, Violet Wong, Tsi Law-lin | Drama | [19][20] | ||
The Seductive Empress Now and Then | Hung Chung-Ho | Kwong Shan-Siu, Ma Kam-Neong | Drama | |||
Storm over the Pacific | Hou Yao | National defence | Patriotic film against Japanese invasion[6] | |||
1940 | ||||||
The Boundless Future | Cai Chusheng | [7] | ||||
The Love of a Woman (Chinese: 潘巧雲) | Wang Yin | Wang Yin | Drama | |||
The Red Scarf | Sung Gim-Chiu | Pak Yin, Kwong Shan-Siu, Fung Fung, Ling Mung, Chao Fei-Fei, To Sam-Ku, Chow Siu-Ying, Ho Lai-Wan | Romance | Film debut for Star Film Company.[21] | ||
The Seductive Woman | Lee Tit | Pak Yin, Cheung Ying, Wu Mei-Lun, Tai Hau-Ho, Ha Bo-Lin, To Sam-Ku | Romance | |||
White Clouds of Home | Situ Huimin | [7] | ||||
1941 | ||||||
A Mother's Madness (aka Dianpo Xun Zai) | Wong Fook-Hing | Tam Lan-Hing, Sun-Ma Sze-Tsang, Yung Yuk-Yi, To Sam-Ku | Drama | [22] | ||
Chaos in the Universe | Cheung Oi-Man | Yee Chau-Sui, Chu Po-Chuen, Yung Yuk-Yi, Leung Sing-Bor | Comedy | |||
Golden Gate Girl | Esther Eng | Bruce Lee | Drama | Film debut of Bruce Lee (as an infant).[23] | ||
The Metropolis | Lai Ban | Lai Cheuk-cheuk, Cheung Ying, Wu Tip-lai, Lee Sun-fung, Yuet-ching Lee | Drama | |||
Roar of the People | Tang Xiao-Dan | Cheung Ying, Fung Fung, Wong Aau, Chan Tin-Chung, Fung Ying-Seung, Ng Wui, Lee Dan-Lo, Leung Miu-Sik, Walter Tso Tat-Wah, Ko Lo-Chuen | War | [24] | ||
1942 | ||||||
The Rich House | Hung Suk-Wan | Cheung Wood-Yau, Liu Ming, Yung Yuk-Yi | Drama | |||
The Battle of Hong Kong | War propaganda | The only film made during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. | ||||
1944 | ||||||
1946 | ||||||
The Entangling Ones | Chiu Shu-San | Wong Hok-Sing, Kwun-Ling Chow, Wong Chiu-Miu | Comedy | [27] | ||
1947 | ||||||
A Wealthy Family | Yam Wu-Fa | Ng Cho-Fan, Ng Dan-Fung, Lee Lan, Tsi Po-To, Yee Chau-Sui, Fung Ying-Seung, Ma Siu-Ying, Cheng Kwun-Min, Fung Pak-Wah, To Mei-Mei, Leung Ming, Keung Chung-Ping, Sin Kong | Comedy | [28] | ||
Cuckoo's Spirit in March | Hung Suk-Wan | Ng Cho-Fan, Yu Lai-Zhen | Drama | [29] | ||
The Distressed Lover | Cheung Wood-Yau, Yung Siu-Yi, Yung Yuk-Yi, Fung Ying-Seung, Wu Mei-Lun | Chinese Opera | ||||
The Evil Mind | Wu Pang | Wong Man-Lei, Siu Yin-Fei, Leung Ying, Ma Siu-Ying, To Sam-Ku | Drama | [19] | ||
The Fickle Lady | Mok Hong-See | Ng Cho-Fan, Wong Man-lei, Yung Siu-Yi, To Mei-Mei, Lee Sin-Pan, Lee Yuet-Ching | Drama | |||
Happy Wedding | Chiang Wai-Kwong | Kwun-Ling Chow, Wong Chiu-Miu | Comedy, Cantonese opera | [30] | ||
Lucky Bride | Chiu Shu-San | Mak Bing-Wing, Kwun-Ling Chow, Luk Wan-Fei | Drama | |||
The Net of Justice | Xu Xinyuan | Detective | The Charlie Chan series.[18] | |||
Prostituting to Raise the Orphan | Hung Chung-Ho | Cheung Yuet-Yee, Sun-Ma Sze-Tsang, Lau Hak-Suen, Lam Ka-Sing, Ko Lo-Chuen, To Sam-Ku, Lee Sin-Pan, Cheng Bo-Yin | Cantonese opera | |||
Romance of the West Chamber | Yeung Kung-Leung | Pak Yuk-Tong, Lee Suet-Fong, Wong Man-Lei, Kwai Ming-Yang, Cheung Yuet-Yee, Siu Yin-Fei, Kam Yi, Yiu Ping, Ma Siu-Ying, Lau Kwai-Hong, Tsi Hau-Tsat, Lam Ka-Sing, Chao Fei-Fei | Historical Drama Cantonese opera | [31] | ||
Unforgetable Love | So Yi, Chu Kei | Ma Sze-Tsang, Hung Sin-Nui, Lau Hak-Suen, Yip Ping, Siu Wong-Ang, Ling Mung, Ko Lo-Chuen, Law Mo-Lan, Wong Sau-Nin, Lai Ming, Ng Tung, Fung Ying-Seung, Tang Mei-Mei | Romance | The only film produced by Gam Luen (Jinying) Film Company. | ||
Unpredictable Tomorrow | Yam Wu-Fa | Sun-Ma Sze-Tsang, Siu Yin-Fei, Yee Chau-Sui, Wu Mei-Lun, Ma Siu-Ying, Tsi Po-To, Leung Ying, Bai Yang, Sin Kong, Keung Chung-Ping, To Sam-Ku, Cheng Kwun-Min | Drama | |||
1948 | ||||||
Charlie Chan Outwits the Black Despot | Xu Xinyuan | Detective | The Charlie Chan series.[18] | |||
The Crazy Match-maker (aka The Crazy Matchmaker, Woman Dismantles White) | Lo Duen | Wong Chiu-Miu, Tsi Law-Lin, Lo Duen, Chan Yeuk-Ho, Lee Yuet-Ching, Tang Chuk-Kwun, Yip Chuen-Wah, Ho Bik-Kin, Fong Yeung, Fung Ging-Man, Wong Gam, Lau Ming, Hark Yan | Drama | Debut for Sei Hoi (Sihai) Film Company, a film production company.[32][33] | ||
Four Phoenixes Take Flight | Cho Kei | Fung Fung, Yung Siu-Yi, Tsi Po-To, Ng Lai-Sheung, Law Mo-Lan, To Sam-Ku | Comedy | [34] | ||
The Groom and His Double | Moon Kwan Man-Ching | Cheung Ying, Ng Lai-Sheung, Yee Chau-Sui, Lam Mui-mui, Tang Wai-Zhen, Sun Tsi-Hing, To Sam-Ku, Yip Yan-Foo, Law Sin-Yee, Lisa Mok Wan-Ha, Hui Yee-Wan, Lai Ming | Comedy | [35] | ||
Hundreds of Children and Thousands of Grandchildren | Ng Wui | Cheung Ying, Pak Suet-Sin, Yip Ping, Tang Mei-Mei, Fa Bik-Ha, Yeung Sau-Fung | Comedy | |||
Joy and Success | Chow Sze-Luk | Sit Kok-Sin, Pak Yin, Tang Mei-Mei | Comedy | |||
Local Scholar | Mok Hong-See | Liu Hap-Wai, Lo Ban-Chiu, Lee Lan, Wong Kei, Yuet-ching Lee, Gam Lau | Drama | |||
The Lusty Thief Girl | Moon Kwan Man-Ching | Lee Yi-Nin, Chan Sin-Yue, Ng Lai-Sheung, Tai Hau-Ho, Lam Siu-Mui, Cheng Lau-Kuen | Crime | [36] | ||
Mad Fire Mad Love | Esther Eng | [37] | ||||
Return of the Swallows | Fung Chi-Kong, Fung Yat-Wai | Sit Kok-Sin, Siu Yin-Fei, Tsi Law-lin, Ma Siu-Ying, To Sam-Ku, Law Mo-Lan, Yeung Sau-Fung, Law Sin-Yee, Ma Siu-Ling, Gam Lau | Comedy | [38] | ||
The Thirteenth Girl's Adventure in Nengren Temple | Hung Chung-Ho | Chan Yim-Lung, Luk Fei-Hung, Lam Kar-Yee | Martial Arts | |||
Wealth Is Like a Dream | Yue Leung | Lo Ban-Chiu, Siu Yin-Fei, Lam Ka-Sing, Lam Kar-Yee | Drama | |||
Woman's Heart (Chinese: 天下婦人心) | Wu Pang | Cho Yee-Man, Yung Yuk-Yi, Cho Man-Ngai, To Sam-Ku, Yuet-ching Lee, Gam Lau | Drama | |||
1949 | ||||||
Adventure at the Women's House | Fung Chi-Kong | Sheung Hoi-Mui, Yu Lai-Zhen, Tong Sing-To, Chun Siu-Lei, To Sam-Ku, Ha Bo-Lin, Chan Lap-Ban | Chinese opera. | [39] | ||
The Ancient Beauty, Meng Lijun | Chan Pei | Chow Kwun-Ling, Sit Kok-Sin, Leung Siu-Kam, Ha Bo-Lin | Historical Drama | [40] | ||
The Crazy Duke (aka The Crazy Earl) | Yeung Kung-Leung | Ma Sze-Tsang, Tsi Law-Lin, Lee Pang-Fei, Tang Mei-Mei, Ko Lo-Chuen, Gam Lau | Musical comedy | |||
The Eight Yang Sister Seeks Golden Knife | Man Kok-Fei, Chan Yim-Lunh, Ying Lai-Ming, Lam Kar-Yee | Martial Arts, Cantonese opera | [41] | |||
Sima Fu's Encounter with the Honey Gang | Hung Suk-Wan | Ng Cho-Fan, Yung Siu-Yi, Yung Yuk-Yi | Thriller | |||
Strange Bedfellows | Yue Leung | Pak Wan, Pak Lei, Ma Siu-Ying, Lam Mui-mui, Lau Kwai-Hong, Tang Mei-Mei | Comedy | |||
Tan Kei in the Meat Hill | But Fu | Man Kok-Fei, Chun Siu-Lei, Lau Hak-Suen, Kam Yi, Piu Wai-Mui | Historical Drama Cantonese Opera | |||
To Kill the Love | Chu Kei | Pak Yin, Cheung Wood-Yau, Tsang Nam-Sze, Lee Ngan, Chan Chui-Bing, Ho Chung-Fong | Drama | |||
The True Story of Wong Fei Hung | Early Kung Fu film |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Timeline: Hong Kong cinema". hollywoodreporter.com. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ Fonoroff 1988, p. 293.
- ^ a b Fonoroff 1988, p. 294.
- ^ Fonoroff 1988, p. 295.
- ^ a b Fonoroff 1988, p. 298.
- ^ a b c d Ye & Zhu 2012, p. 77.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fonoroff 1988, p. 299.
- ^ "Scent of Wild Flowers". hkmdb.com. 8 February 1935. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "Yesterday's Song". hkmdb.com. 1 February 1935. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Film Screenings - The Light of Women". filmarchive.gov.hk. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ "The Magnificent Country". hkmdb.com. 30 April 1937. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ "Producing Citizens". hkmdb.com. 17 June 1937. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "A Mother's Tears". hkmdb.com. 25 May 1938. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ a b c New York State Archives Film Scripts Index
- ^ Chan, Kelly Kar Yue (11 May 2020). Chinese Culture in the 21st Century and its Global Dimensions: Comparative and Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Springer Nature. p. 132. ISBN 978-9811527432. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "Incident in the Pacific". hkmdb.com. 7 April 1938. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Shanghai Under Fire". hkmdb.com. 9 June 1938. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ a b c Fonoroff 1988, p. 301.
- ^ a b "Early Cinematic Treasures". bcmagazine.net. December 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "Film Screenings - Rivals in Love". lcsd.gov.hk. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ "The Red Scarf". hkmdb.com. 29 June 1940. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "A Mother's Madness". hkmdb.com. 7 November 1941. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "Golden Gate Girl (1941)". bfi.org.uk. 1941. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Press Releases - HK Film Archive's "100 Must-See Hong Kong Movies" to screen historically significant films in February and March (with photos)". info.gov.hk. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Press Releases - HK Film Archives "Early Cinematic Treasures Rediscovered" to present long-lost cinematic gems". January 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Film Screenings - The Rich House". lcsd.gov.hk. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "The Entangling Ones". hkmdb.com. 1946. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "A Wealthy Family". hkmdb.com. 2 November 1947. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ Stokes, Lisa Odham (2020). Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema. Scarecrow Press. pp. 563–564. ISBN 9781538120620. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Happy Wedding". hkmdb.com. 1947. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Romance of the West Chamber". hkmdb.com. 10 August 1947. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Film Screenings - The Crazy Matchmaker". filmarchive.gov.hk. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "The Crazy Match-maker". hkmdb.com. 3 November 1948. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Four Phoenixes Take Flight". hkmdb.com. 16 May 1948. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "The Groom and His Double". hkmdb.com. 22 March 1948. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "The Lusty Thief Girl". hkmdb.com. 25 April 1948. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Mad Fire Mad Love (1948)". bfi.org.uk. 1948. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Press Releases - HK Film Archive's "Early Cinematic Treasures Rediscovered 3" to feature pre- and post-war productions (with photos)". info.gov.hk. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ "Adventure at the Women's House". hkmdb.com. 24 December 1949. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ "Film Screenings - The Ancient Beauty, Mang Lai-kwun". lcsd.gov.hk. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "The Eight Yang Sister Seeks Golden Knife". hkmdb.com. 27 November 1952. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
Bibliography
[edit]- Fonoroff, Paul (1988). "A Brief History of Hong Kong Cinema" (PDF). Chinese University of Hong Kong.
- Ye, Tan; Zhu, Yun (2012). Historical Dictionary of Chinese Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8108-6779-6.