Diantong Film Company
Encyclopedia
Diantong Film Company was a short-lived but important film studio and production company
during the 1930s in Shanghai
, China. Though it produced only four films during its existence between 1934-1935, all four films became important examples of the left-leaning
Chinese cinema of the 1930s. Of all the film studios of the period, Diantong had the closest connection to the Communist Party of China
.
-produced Song of the Fishermen
(dir. Cai Chusheng
). With these successes and with the help of one of the founder's cousins, Situ Huimin, a major leftist filmmaker and intellectual, the equipment company was reformed as its own independent film studio in 1934. From the beginning, Diantong was marked by youth, with its films directed by first-time filmmakers and starring novice actors and actresses (including Yuan Muzhi
, Chen Bo'er, Ying Yunwei, and others. This was in part due to Diantong being forced to recruit from local theater organizations rather than from more-established film-makers and crew, who feared associating with such a progressive organization - a similar leftist studio, the Yihua Film Company had only recently had its offices and equipment vandalized and destroyed by government agents. Additionally, Diantong drew from Situ's ties to the Communist Party, bringing in screenwriters and party-members such as Tian Han
and Xia Yan
.
In a short period of time, the company produced four classics of the period: Plunder of Peach and Plum
(dir. Ying Yunwei), Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm
(dir. Xu Xingzhi), Cityscape (dir. Yuan Muzhi
), and Spirit of Freedom (dir. Situ Huimin) (also known as The Goddess of Freedom).
Despite these successes, by 1935, Diantong was suffering not only from Kuomintang
pressure due to its political slant (so-called "White terrorism"), but also from financial woes.As a result, in the winter of 1935, Diantong closed its doors permanently. The remains of the company were soon incorporated into Zhang Shankun's newly formed Xinhua Film Company
. Meanwhile, many of Diantong's top talent, including Ying Yunwei and Yuan Muzhi, were recruited in Mingxing Film Company
's newly formed Studio 2, focused on left-wing cinema. There, they made some of the more important films of the movement, notably Yuan's Street Angel
.
Production company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...
during the 1930s in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China. Though it produced only four films during its existence between 1934-1935, all four films became important examples of the left-leaning
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
Chinese cinema of the 1930s. Of all the film studios of the period, Diantong had the closest connection to the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
.
History
Diantong's origins were originally in a sound-equipment company founded in 1933 by four American-educated engineers to take advantage of the gradual shift from silent films to "talkies." As a developer of sound-recorders, Diantong was pivotal in bringing to Chinese audiences some of the earliest sound-films, including the Lianhua Film CompanyLianhua Film Company
The Lianhua Film Company was one of two major production companies based in Shanghai, China during the 1930s, the other being the Mingxing Film Company.-Names:...
-produced Song of the Fishermen
Song of the Fishermen
Song of the Fishermen is an early Chinese silent film directed by Cai Chusheng in 1934, and produced by the Lianhua Film Company. The film, like many of the period details the struggle of the poorer classes, in this case a family of fishermen who are forced to sing on the streets in order to...
(dir. Cai Chusheng
Cai Chusheng
Resting Place= Babaoshan Revoluntionary CemeteryCai Chusheng was a Chinese film director of the pre-Communist era. Known best for his progressive output in the 1930s, Cai Chusheng later became a victim to the persecutions of the Cultural Revolution.- Early career :Born in Shanghai to Cantonese...
). With these successes and with the help of one of the founder's cousins, Situ Huimin, a major leftist filmmaker and intellectual, the equipment company was reformed as its own independent film studio in 1934. From the beginning, Diantong was marked by youth, with its films directed by first-time filmmakers and starring novice actors and actresses (including Yuan Muzhi
Yuan Muzhi
Yuan Muzhi was an actor and director from the Republic of China and later of the People's Republic of China.- Career :...
, Chen Bo'er, Ying Yunwei, and others. This was in part due to Diantong being forced to recruit from local theater organizations rather than from more-established film-makers and crew, who feared associating with such a progressive organization - a similar leftist studio, the Yihua Film Company had only recently had its offices and equipment vandalized and destroyed by government agents. Additionally, Diantong drew from Situ's ties to the Communist Party, bringing in screenwriters and party-members such as Tian Han
Tian Han
Tian Han , born in Changsha, Hunan, was a Chinese drama activist, playwright, a leader of revolutionary music and films, as well as a translator and poet. Tian contributed a great deal to the development of Chinese modern drama as well as Chinese opera...
and Xia Yan
Xia Yan
Xia Yan was a Chinese playwright and screenwriter.Xia entered Zhejiang Industrial School in 1915 ....
.
In a short period of time, the company produced four classics of the period: Plunder of Peach and Plum
Plunder of Peach and Plum
Plunder of Peach and Plum is an early Chinese sound film from 1934. Produced by the left-leaning Shanghai-based Diantong Film Company, Plunder was directed by Ying Yunwei and starred popular actor Yuan Muzhi...
(dir. Ying Yunwei), Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm
Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm
-External links:* at the Chinese Movie Database...
(dir. Xu Xingzhi), Cityscape (dir. Yuan Muzhi
Yuan Muzhi
Yuan Muzhi was an actor and director from the Republic of China and later of the People's Republic of China.- Career :...
), and Spirit of Freedom (dir. Situ Huimin) (also known as The Goddess of Freedom).
Despite these successes, by 1935, Diantong was suffering not only from Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
pressure due to its political slant (so-called "White terrorism"), but also from financial woes.As a result, in the winter of 1935, Diantong closed its doors permanently. The remains of the company were soon incorporated into Zhang Shankun's newly formed Xinhua Film Company
Xinhua Film Company
The Xinhua Film Company , was one of the film companies to capitalize on the popularity of the leftist film movement in 1930s Shanghai, that had begun with the Mingxing and Lianhua Film Companies. It should not be mistaken for the modern-day Xinhua News Agency...
. Meanwhile, many of Diantong's top talent, including Ying Yunwei and Yuan Muzhi, were recruited in Mingxing Film Company
Mingxing Film Company
Mingxing Film Company was one of the largest Chinese production companies during the 1920s, and 1930s in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The company lasted from 1922 until 1937 when it was closed permanently by the Second Sino-Japanese War.-History:...
's newly formed Studio 2, focused on left-wing cinema. There, they made some of the more important films of the movement, notably Yuan's Street Angel
Street Angel (1937 film)
Street Angel is a Chinese film released in 1937. The film was directed by Yuan Muzhi and stars the popular singer Zhou Xuan.-Synopsis:The film deals with two sisters, Xiao Hong and Xiao Yun who have fled from the war in Northeast China to Shanghai, where they are living under the brutal thumb of...
.
Productions
| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Director | Cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Plunder of Peach and Plum Plunder of Peach and Plum Plunder of Peach and Plum is an early Chinese sound film from 1934. Produced by the left-leaning Shanghai-based Diantong Film Company, Plunder was directed by Ying Yunwei and starred popular actor Yuan Muzhi... |
風雲兒女 | Ying Yunwei | Yuan Muzhi Yuan Muzhi Yuan Muzhi was an actor and director from the Republic of China and later of the People's Republic of China.- Career :... , Chen Bo'er |
| 1935 | Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm -External links:* at the Chinese Movie Database... |
风云儿女 | Xu Xingzhi | Yuan Muzhi Yuan Muzhi Yuan Muzhi was an actor and director from the Republic of China and later of the People's Republic of China.- Career :... , Wang Renmei |
| 1935 | Spirit of Freedom | 自由神 | Situ Huimin | |
| 1935 | Scenes of City Life Scenes of City Life Scenes of City Life is a 1935 Chinese film directed by Yuan Muzhi.The film is also known, in English, as Cityscape.- Cast :*Bai Lu*Lan Ping *Tang Na*Wu Ying*Zhou Boxun*Wu Yinxian... |
都市风光 | Yuan Muzhi Yuan Muzhi Yuan Muzhi was an actor and director from the Republic of China and later of the People's Republic of China.- Career :... |
Bai Lu, Jiang Qing Jiang Qing Jiang Qing was the pseudonym that was used by Chinese leader Mao Zedong's last wife and major Communist Party of China power figure. She went by the stage name Lan Ping during her acting career, and was known by various other names during her life... |
External links
- Diantong Film Company at the British Film InstituteBritish Film InstituteThe British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
- Diantong Film Company at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...