List of Chinese films of the 1940s

This is a list of films produced in the Republican period and initial Communist period of China ordered by year of release in the 1940s.

For an alphabetical listing of Chinese films see Category:Chinese films.

1940

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
Adventures of the Chinese Tarzan中國泰山歷險記Wang CilongLai Cheuk-CheukAdventure/RomanceAdapted from Tarzan of the Apes
The Amorous History of Su San蘇三艷史Wu CunZhou XuanDrama
Baptism by Fire火的洗禮Sun YuZhang Ruifang,
He Weiling
War
City of Darkness黑天堂Wu CunZhou Xuan,
Gong Jianong
Drama
Confucius孔夫子Fei MuTang HuaiqiuBiographical/Historical
The Country Girl鄉下大姑娘Wang YinYuan MeiyunDrama
Dong Xiaowan董小宛Zhang Shichuan,
Zheng Xiaoqiu
Zhou Xuan,
Shu Shi
Alternate title: The Story of Dong Xiaowan
Drizzling Rain瀟湘秋雨Zhang Shankun,
Bu Wancang
Chen Yunshang,
Mei Xi
Drama
The Emerald Hairpin碧玉簪Bu WancangChen YunshangRomanceBased on a Yue opera
Flower Girl花魁女Wu YonggangChen Yen-yen,
Liu Qiong
Romance/Costume
The Gardener and the LadyWang CilongLu Ming,
Wang Yin
RomanceBased on a folk legend
Ge Neniang葛嫩娘Chen YiqingGu Lanjun,
Mei Xi
Historical/DramaAlternate title: Grudges at the End of the Ming
Guan Yin, a Bodhisattva觀世音Yan YouxiangZhang Cuihong
Hongxian Steals the Chest紅線盜盒Li PingqianGu LanjunHistorical/Action
Invisible Heroine隱身女俠Wu WenchaoLi Lihua
Legend of the Sui Dynasty隨宮春色Yang XiaozhongChen Yen-yen,
Liu Qiong
Historical/Romance
Li Xiangjun李香君Wu CunGu LanjunDramaBased on The Peach Blossom Fan
Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai梁山伯與祝英台Yueh FengZhang Cuihong,
Gu Yelu
Romance/CostumeBased on the Butterfly Lovers
Light of East Asia東亞之光He FeiguangWar
Living Buddha Ji Gong濟公活佛Zheng XiaoqiuYou GuangzhaoBiographical
Meng Lijun孟麗君Zhang ShichuanZhou Xuan,
Shu Shi
Romance/CostumeAlternate title: Magnificent Relationship (華麗緣)
The Pearl Pagoda珍珠塔Fang PeilinLi Hong,
Gu Yelu
RomanceSound remake of the 1926 silent of the same title
The Perfect Beauty絕代佳人Wang CilongHu DieBiographical/HistoricalLast days of the Ming dynasty, focusing on the role played by famous beauty Chen Yuanyuan
Alternate title: Chen Yuanyuan the Beauty
Powder and Sword紅粉金戈Wu YonggangWang Xichun,
Shu Shi
Historical/Action
Princess Snow White白雪公主Wu YonggangChen JuanjuanFantasyLive-action adaptation of the 1937 Disney film
Alternate title: China Princess Snow White (中國白雪公主)
Qin Liangyu秦良玉Bu WancangChen YunshangBiographical/HistoricalBased on the life and career of female general Qin Liangyu
Qin Xianglian秦香蓮Wen YiminZhang Cuihong,
Wang Cilong
CrimeNon-musical adaptation of Chen Shimei, one of the cases of Bao Zheng
Romance of the Western Chamber西廂記Zhang ShichuanZhou XuanMusical remake of the 1927 silent film of the same title
SongstressesZhang ShichuanZhou ManhuaRomanceAdapted from a novel by Zhang Henshui
Storm on the Border塞上風雲Ying YunweiLi Lili,
Shu Xiuwen
WarFirst film to show Chinese minority people joining the anti-Japanese resistance
Su Wu Herds the Sheep蘇武牧羊Bu WancangChen Yunshang,
Mei Xi
Biographical/HistoricalThe story of Han Dynasty diplomat Su Wu
Tempest Over Taihang Mountain風雪太行山He MengfuXie TianWarAlternate title: Struggle on Taihang Mountain
The Vast Sky長空萬裡Sun YuGao Zhanfei,
Bai Yang,
Jin Yan,
Wang Renmei
War"National Defense" film made in unoccupied West China. Alternate English title: Wings of China
The Wandering Songstress天涯歌女Wu CunZhou XuanDrama
Yan Xijiao閻惜嬌Yueh FengMei Xi,
Diao Banhua
Based on a chapter in Water Margin
Yanmen Pass雁門關Fang PeilinYuan Meiyun,
Mei Xi
Historical/War
Youth of China青年中國Su YiTao Jin,
Bai Yang
War
Yue Fei, a National Hero岳飛精忠報國Wu YonggangLiu QiongHistorical/WarStory of the Song dynasty general Yue Fei
Alternate Chinese titles: 尽忠報國, 精忠報國

1941

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
A Girl in Wartime亂世佳人Zhang ShankunChen Yunshang,
Liu Qiong
Historical/War
Between Couples夫婦之道Zhang Shichuan,
Zheng Xiaoqiu
Zhou ManhuaDrama
The Brother and His Half Sister碧海青天Yueh FengTong Yuejuan,
Gu Yelu
Charlie Chan Smashes an Evil Plot陳查禮大破隱身術Xu XinfuXu Xinyuan,
Gu Meijun,
Gong Qiuxia
MysteryA Charlie Chan mystery. Alternate title: Charlie Chan Uncovers the Secrets
Die for Love返魂香Zhu ShilinYing YinWar/Romance
The End of Life地老天荒Shu ShiBai Hong,
Murong Wan'er
Drama
FamilyBu Wancang,
Li Pingqian
DramaAdaptation of Ba Jin's novel
Heartbroken斷腸花Wang YinYuan Meiyun,
Liu Qiong
Romance/War
Life in the Orphan Island孤島春秋Wu CunGong Jianong,
Murong Wan'er,
Bai Hong
Princess Biluo碧蘿公主Zhu ShilinWang Xichun
Princess Iron Fan鐵扇公主Wan brothersAnimationFirst Chinese animated feature film
Robber in Black黑衣盜Chen HuanwenShangguan YunzhuMystery
Scenes of Turbulent Times亂世風光Wu RenzhiShi Hui,
Han Fei
Drama
Spring Breezes Recall a Dream春風回夢記Yueh FengTong Yuejuan,
Gu Yelu
Romance

1942

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
A Girl's Secrets小姐的秘密Wen YiminLu LumingDrama
A Joyful Night一夜銷魂Wen YiminLu Luming,
Sun Min
Drama
A Tragic Marriage淚洒相思地Sun MinLu Luming,
Shangguan Yunzhu
Tragedy
College Students學府風光Wu WenchaoZhang Cuiying,
Han Lan'gen
Comedy
CompassionVariousEnsemble castAnthologyCollection of 11 short stories illustrating universal brotherhood
Enemies Behind Every BushZhu ShilinYan Jun,
Chen Qi
Drama
The Fallen PeonyBu WancangChen Yunshang,
Gu Eryi
Drama
Fallen Plum Blossoms梅花落Tu GuangqiWang Xichun,
He Bin
DramaRemake of the 1927 silent film of the same title. Released in two parts.
Grand Hotel大飯店Mei QiLu Luming,
Sun Min
DramaRemake of the 1932 American film of the same title
The Happy Years歡樂年年Yang XiaozhongChen Yunshang,
Mei Xi
Rainy Night on Cold MountainMa-Xu WeibangLi Lihua,
Huang He
Adventure
Romance in Spring春水情波Huang HanHu Feng,
Ouyang Sha-fei
DramaRemake of the 1933 film of the same title
Roses Are Blooming EverywhereFang PeilinGong Qiuxia,
Gu Yelu
Romance
Second Sight重見光明Bu WancangChen Yunshang,
Gu Yelu
Drama
She Lost Her Job玉碎珠圓Zheng XiaoqiuBai Hong,
Han Fei
The Standard Wife標准夫人Bu WancangChen Yen-yen,
Mei Xi
DramaAlternate title: Repentance (懺悔)
The Strange Lady奇女子Wen YiminLi Lihua,
Lu Luming,
Sun Min
Drama
Two Generations of WomenBu WancangGu Lanjun,
Wang Danfeng
Wedding Night洞房花燈夜Zhu ShilinChen Yen-yen,
Liu Qiong
Drama

1943

TitleChinese TitlesDirectorActorsGenreNotability
Ask for HelpZhu ShilinTu Guangqi,
Zhou Manhua
Comedy
Daughter of the FishermanBu WancangZhou XuanRomanceYu Jia Nu
Eternity萬世流芳Bu Wancang,
Ma-Xu Weibang
Chen YunchangDramaControversial film on the Opium War, produced under the Japanese occupation
A Japanese Spy日本間諜Yuan CongmeiLuo Jun,
Feng Fei,
many others
DramaAdaptation of Amleto Vespa's Secret Agent of Japan. Made in China's wartime capital of Chungking.

1944

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
A Brave Man Can Make Mountains and Rivers Brave氣壯山河He FeiguangLi Lili,
Wang Hao
WarMade in China's wartime capital of Chungking
Dream of the Red ChamberBu WancangZhou XuanDramaAdaptation of the classic Chinese novel

1945

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
Bloodshed on an Oriental Cherry血濺櫻花He FeiguangLi LiliWar
My Love, My Homeland還我故鄉Shi DongshanTao Jin,
Zhao Shuyin
War
Song for the Police警魂歌Tang XiaodanWang Hao,
Zong You
Kang Jian
Alternate Chinese title: 敢死警備隊

1946

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
Flying Orioles鶯飛人間Fang PeilinOuyang Feiying,
Chen Tianguo,
Yan Su
The Holy City聖城記Shen FuBai Yang,
Xie Tian,
Qi Heng
The Iron Man鐵骨冰心Pei ChongLiu Qiong,
Qian Shanzhu
The Loyal Family忠義之家Wu YonggangLiu Qiong,
Qin Yi
Sparks of the Nation民族的火花Yang XiaozhongWang Danfeng,
Yan Hua
Spy Number One天字第一號Tu GuangqiOuyang Feiying,
He Bin,
Zhou Chu

1947

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
Along the Sungari River鬆花江上Jin ShanZhang Ruifang,
Wang Renlu
War
Dream in Paradise天堂春夢Tang XiaodanShangguan YunzhuDrama
Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon八千里路雲和月Shi DongshanBai YangDrama
Emperor's DreamAnimation
Far Away Love遙遠的愛Chen LitingZhao Dan,
Qin Yi,
Wu Yin
Drama
Long Live the Missus!太太萬歲Sang HuShi Hui,
Shangguan Yunzhu
Romantic Comedy
Night Inn夜店Huang ZuolinZhou Xuan,
Wei Wei
DramaAdaptation of Maxim Gorky's The Lower Depths
Phony Phoenixes假鳳虛凰Huang ZuolinShi Hui,
Li Lihua,
Lu Shan
Comedy
Rhapsody of Happiness幸福狂想曲Chen LitingZhao Dan,
Huang Zongying
DramaWritten by Chen Baichen
The Spring River Flows East一江春水向東流Zheng Junli,
Cai Chusheng
Bai Yang,
Tao Jin,
Shu Xiuwen,
Shangguan Yunzhu
Drama

1948

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
Go After an Easy Prey瓮中捉鳖Fang MingAnimationNorth East Film Studio
Myriad of Lights萬家燈火Shen FuShangguan Yunzhu,
Lan Ma,
Wu Yin
Drama
A Wedding in the Dream生死恨Fei MuMei LanfangMusical/OperaFirst Chinese color film
Spring in a Small Town小城之春Fei MuWei Wei,
Li Wei
Romantic DramaNamed the greatest Chinese language film made by the Hong Kong Film Awards

1949

TitleChinese TitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
BridgeWang BinWarFirst post-revolution Chinese film
Crows and Sparrows烏鴉與麻雀Zheng JunliZhao Dan,
Shangguan Yunzhu,
Sun Daolin
DramaPost-revolution Chinese film
Daughters of China中華女兒Ling Zifeng
Zhai Qiang
WarPost-revolution Chinese film
Mother母親Shi HuiQin YiDrama
Orphan on the Streets三毛流浪記Zhao Ming,
Yan Gong
Wang Longji,
Lin Zhen
DramaKunlun Film Company production, also known as The Winter of Three Hairs. Post-revolution Chinese film
Ai le zhongnian (Sorrows and Joys of Middle Age)哀樂中年Sang HuShi HuiDrama
Women Side by Side麗人行Chen LitingSha Li,
Huang Zongying,
Shangguan Yunzhu
DramaAlso known as Three Women and Female Fighter

Mainland Chinese Film Production Totals

YearTotal Films[1]
194059
1941108
194233
19431
19441
19453
19466
194739
194875
194944

See also

Sources

  • 中国影片大典 Encyclopaedia of Chinese Films. 1931-1949.9, 故事片·戏曲片. (2005). Zhong guo ying pian da dian: 1931-1949.9. Beijing: 中国电影出版社 China Movie Publishing House. ISBN 7-106-02414-7
  • 中国影片大典 Encyclopaedia of Chinese Films. 1949.10-1976, 故事片·戏曲片. (2001). Zhong guo ying pian da dian: 1949.10-1976. Beijing: 中国电影出版社 China Movie Publishing House. ISBN 7-106-01508-3

References

  1. From Encyclopaedia of Chinese Films table of contents. This does not include films produced by studios under the control of occupying Japanese forces.
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