Mingxing was a film production company based in Shanghai, the Republic of China. Between its establishment in 1922 and 1938, the year after it closed in the face of the Second Sino-Japanese War, it released 174 narrative films. The company's output consisted of 128 silent films and 46 sound films. Of the company's productions, 69 were directed or co-directed by Zhang Shichuan; another 55 were credited to Zheng Zhengqiu. __NOTOC__ History Co-founded by the dramatists and media entrepreneurs Ren Jinping, Zhang Shichuan, Zheng Zhegu, Zheng Zhengqiu, and Zhou Jianyun,; Mingxing had its first theatrical releases a double feature of the short comedies The King of Comedy Visits Shanghai and Labourer's Love at the Olympic Theatre on 1922. After two further unsuccessful releases, the company was in dire financial straits. This changed following the release of Orphan Rescues Grandfather (1923), a full-length melodrama that screened to full cinemas in Shanghai and was later distributed throughout China and Southeast Asia. As Mingxing expanded its facilities and began offering shares, it increased its production from three films in 1924 to sixteen in 1928. These included further melodramas with moral lessons and, later, wuxia (martial arts) films. The company's productions expanded to include leftist cinema following the arrival of screenwriters such as Qian Xingcun and Xia Yan in the 1930s.
On 15 March 1931, Mingxing released Sing-Song Girl Red Peony the first full sound film produced in China. In subsequent years, Mingxing continued to produce silent and sound films in conjunction, with its final silent film Season of Falling Flowers being released on 27 April 1935. Though experiencing some economic difficulties, Mingxing continued to expand, opening a second studio in June 1936. However, with the escalation of the Second Sino-Japanese War, including the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, the studio was forced to close in 1937. Several already-completed films were screened the following year.
The majority of Mingxing's 174 films, as with most early Chinese films, are considered lost. Early films were shot on volatile nitrate film, which was easily destroyed, and many experienced material degradation. Further contributing to the loss of historical films were internal turbulence and international conflict; for instance, Mingxing's warehouse was damaged during the Japanese bombing of Shanghai in 1932. Twenty-four productions are known to have survived, including Labourer's Love, the oldest surviving Chinese film. Some films, such as An Amorous History of the Silver Screen (1931), are known only to have survived in the China Film Archive, while others, such as The Classic for Girls (1934), have seen home release.
List of films This list is divided into two tables, one for Mingxing's silent films and one for its sound films. Each table is sorted by release date by default, with further sorting capability in certain fields. Titles are given in English-language translations as well as traditional and simplified Chinese. Films are presented together with their director(s), whose names are rendered using the Chinese naming scheme wherein the surname precedes the given name. The list only counts fictional films produced by the company and does not include films from other genres, such as actualities. Silent films
+ Key Indicates film is extant
+ The silent films of Mingxing English title Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Première Director The King of Comedy Visits Shanghai Zhang Shichuan Labourer's Love Zhang Shichuan Havoc in a Bizarre Theatre Zhang Shichuan Zhang Xinsheng Zhang Shichuan Orphan Rescues Grandfather Zhang Shichuan Jade Pear Spirit Zhang Shichuan,Xu Hu Zhang Shichuan Forced to Marry Zhang Shichuan Zhang Shichuan Last Conscience Zhang Shichuan Little Friends Zhang Shichuan Zhang Shichuan Young Master Feng Hong Shen Blind Orphan Girl Zhang Shichuan Zhang Shichuan Ren Jinping Lonely Orchid Zhang Shichuan May You Soon Have a Son Hong Shen Zhang Shichuan Zhang Shichuan Little Lovers Zheng Zhengqiu Roses Bloom Everywhere in April Hong Shen Daughter of the Wealthy Zhang Shichuan Fiancée Bu Wancang Her Pain Zhang Shichuan Zheng Zhengqiu Love and Gold Zhang Shichuan, Hong Shen Resurrection of Conscience Bu Wancang Zhang Shichuan Sacrifice for the Family Zhang Shichuan Fallen Plum Blossoms Zhang Shichuan, Zheng Zhengqiu Bu Wancang Twenty-Eight Beauties Zheng Zhengqiu Tian Qilang Zhang Shichuan True and False Daughters Zhang Shichuan Tablet of Blood and Tears Zheng Zhengqiu Dream by the Lake Bu Wancang Zhang Shichuan,Hong Shen Zhang Shichuan Ma Yongzhen From Shandong Zhang Shichuan Concubine Yang Goes to Beijing Zheng Zhengqiu Chechi Kingdom Zhang Shichuan Zhang Shichuan Beauty's Gate Bu Wancang Zhang Shichuan,Hong Shen White Cloud Pagoda Zhang Shichuan, Zheng Zhengqiu The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple Zhang Shichuan Love of Classmates Zhang Shichuan, Hong Shen Zhang Shichuan Heroine in Black Zheng Zhengqiu, Cheng Bugao Lady Detective Zhang Shichuan Struggles in Marriage Cheng Bugao Zheng Zhengqiu Zheng Zhengqiu, Cheng Bugao Divorce Cheng Bugao Confession Zhang Shichuan Cheng Bugao Yellow Flowers in Blood and Tears 2 Zheng Zhengqiu,Cheng Bugao Little Hero Liu Jin Cheng Bugao Beauty Under the Knife Zheng Zhengqiu Zhang Shichuan Lover's Blood Cheng Bugao Zheng Zhengqiu Father Loves Mother Cheng Bugao Zhang Shichuan Golden Road Cheng Bugao Zheng Zhengqiu Zhang Shichuan,Cheng Bugao Cheng Bugao Cheng Bugao Cheng Bugao Taohua Lake Zheng Zhengqiu Tang Jie,Wang Jiting Zhang Shichuan Three Fathers Tang Jie, Wang Jiting Cheng Bugao Three Swords of Love Xu Xinfu Join the Army for the Wife Tang Jie, Wang Jiting Sea of Hatred Tan Zhiyuan, Gao Lihen Figure on the Window Cheng Bugao Tan Zhiyuan, Gao Lihen Shadow of Red Tears Zheng Zhengqiu Zhang Shichuan Cheng Bugao Farewell to a Beauty Zheng Zhengqiu Unlucky to Be Born a Woman Cheng Bugao Iron Youth Zhang Shichuan Cheng Bugao Lucky Silver Stars Zhang Shichuan Zhang Shichuan Love and Death Cheng Bugao Resurrecting the National Spirit Zhang Shichuan Love and Life Tang Jie,Wang Jiting Lovely Enemy Cheng Bugao Old Grudges and New Sorrows Li Pingqian Battlefield Adventures Zhang Shichuan Wild Torrent Cheng Bugao Lute and Resentment in Spring Li Pingqian Shen Xiling Gao Lihen, Zhang Shichuan,Cheng Bugao Waves of Love in Spring Zheng Zhengqiu Li Pingqian Chen Kengran Oppression Gao Lihen Mother and Son Tang Jie My Sister's Tragic Tale Gao Lihen,Wang Jiting Late Spring Zhang Shichuan Hong Shen Cigarette Beauty Chen Kengran Xu Xinfu Exhibition Chen Kengran Zhang Shichuan Romance on Mount Hua Cheng Bugao Cheng Bugao Children of the Times Li Pingqian Valley of Gold Li Pingqian Chen Kengran Three Sisters Li Pingqian Willows and Wallflowers Xu Xinfu Go Northwest Cheng Bugao Chen Kengran Youth Line Yao Sufeng 24 Hours in Shanghai Shen Xiling Bigamy Heart of a Beauty Xu Xinfu Human Being Li Pingqian Season of Falling Flowers
Sound films
+ Key Indicates film is extant
+ The sound films of Mingxing English title Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Première Director Sing-Song Girl Red Peony Zhang Shichuan This Is Paradise Zhang Shichuan Who Is the Hero Xu Xinfu Old Beijing Zhang Shichuan Fate in Tears and Laughter Zhang Shichuan Flowers of Freedom Zheng Zhengqiu Lovelorn Zhang Shichuan Zhang Shichuan Azolla Cheng Bugao Spring Silkworms Cheng Bugao Twin Sisters Zheng Zhengqiu The Classic for Girls Cheng Bugao,Zhang Shichuan,Shen Xiling,Yao Sufeng,Zheng Zhengqiu,Xu Xinfu,Li Pingqian,Chen Kengran, Two Against One Zhang Shichuan Madame Mai Zhang Shichuan Flowers Reborn Zheng Zhengqiu Lonely Orchid Zhang Shichuan Passionate and Loyal Soul Zhang Shichuan,Xu Xinfu,Zheng Zhengqiu,,Cheng Bugao,Shen Xiling,Li Pingqian Homesick Shen Xiling Zhang Shichuan Tuberose Cheng Bugao Xu Xinfu Shen Xiling Peach Blossoms after Misfortune Zhang Shichuan Brother's Tour Cheng Bugao Spring Flowers Li Pingqian Old and New Shanghai Cheng Bugao Diamond Xu Xinfu Red Begonia Zhang Shichuan Women's Rights Zhang Shichuan Little Lingzi Cheng Bugao City of Night Li Pingqian Unyielding in Life and Death Ying Yunwei Ouyang Yuqian Forever Smiling Money for the New Year Zhang Shichuan Crossroads Shen Xiling Dragon and Tiger Xu Xinfu Zhang Shichuan Dream World Cheng Bugao Street Angel Yuan Muzhi Zhang Shichuan Four Daughters Night Escape Cheng Bugao Night of Horrors Zhang Shichuan
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