Mulan Joins the Army (1939 film)
Encyclopedia
Mulan Joins the Army is a 1939 Chinese
historical war film. It is one of several film adaptations of the Hua Mulan
legend, which have included two silent versions: Hua Mulan Joins the Army (1927) by Tianyi Film Company, and a less successful Mulan Joins the Army (1928) produced by Minxin
. The story was also the basis for the 1998 Disney animated film, Mulan
.
The film was directed by Bu Wancang
and stars Chen Yunchang
as the title character, a young woman who disguises herself as a man in order to take her father's place in the army. The screenplay was by Ouyang Yuqian. The film was produced in Shanghai by the Huacheng Film Company, a subsidiary of the Xinhua Film Company
.
dynasty. When China is invaded by nomads, her father is called into service by the Emperor. In a scene of filial piety, Mulan dons her father's old armor and takes his place in the army.
During training, the "feminine" Mulan is teased and harassed by other draftees who she promptly beats one by one to the ground. Admonishing them to unite together instead of harassing one another, she reminds them that the true enemy are the nomads invading their country. Also during training, she meets with Liu Fendou who becomes her loyal friend. The two feel a natural attraction, even if Liu is unsure why (believing Mulan to be a man). These scenes therefore provide some comic relief and romantic intrigue.
Eventually Mulan is set to the frontline where she meets with the army's weak commanders who flirt with the idea of cooperating with the nomads rather than fighting with them. In particular, the advisor to the general pushes for collaboration. Mulan disgusted, dresses as a nomad and spies on the enemy when she learns that an attack is imminent. Returning to her home camp, her warnings are ignored by the general to disastrous results. When the attack finally happens, the General is killed, but not before putting Mulan in charge. Mulan regroups the Chinese forces and defeats the nomads, but not before Mulan herself kills the General's erstwhile advisor.
Returning to the Imperial capital, Mulan is offered a position in the Emperor's court. She turns the position down, asking only to return to her home. Returning to her feminine persona, she marries Liu Fendou.
, hoped to relaunch a "Hollywood of the East." The first step was the release of the costume epic, Diao Chan
directed by Bu Wancang
. The film proved to be an enormous success, a success that Xinhua's chief Zhang Shankun wished to replicate it with a second costume epic.
Unfortunately, by 1939, nearly all of Shanghai's major stars such as Jin Yan
or Zhao Dan
had fled to Chongqing
. Zhang first attempted to recruit Hu Die in Hong Kong for his studio's newest venture but ultimately failed. While in Hong Kong however, he managed to sign with the playwright Ouyang Yuqian to pen his film, and Cantonese actress Chen Yunchang to star.
Zhang very much focused on making the actress a fresh-face for Shanghai, and publicity for the Chen began before the studio even read the script.
Ouyang's script was based on the traditional story of Hua Mulan
, a story that most of the Shanghai audience would have already been familiar with. At the same time Ouyang infused the film with subtle nationalist undertones. Impressed with the script, Zhang and Xinhua invested heavily in both production and publicity of the film.
, Mulan Joins the Army ended up being a critical darling. It was moreover, a major commercial success, playing to full theaters in Shanghai, as well as making its lead, Chen Yunchang, into a bona-fide star.
Today the film is seen as an obvious appeal to the Shanghai audience's own wartime sensibilities. The weak Chinese generals, the outside nomad invaders all would have reminded the audience of the country's woes at that time, namely the Second Sino-Japanese War
. As one scholar posits, the film was seen as a call to arms, with the Chinese hero (or in this case, heroine) rising up to defeat foreign attackers striking a particularly resonant chord.
Cinema of China
The Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. Since 1949 the cinema of mainland China has operated under restrictions imposed by the Communist Party of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and...
historical war film. It is one of several film adaptations of the Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan is a legendary figure from ancient China who was originally described in a Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan . In the poem, Hua Mulan takes her aged father's place in the army. She fought for 12 years and gained high merit, but she refused any reward and retired to her hometown...
legend, which have included two silent versions: Hua Mulan Joins the Army (1927) by Tianyi Film Company, and a less successful Mulan Joins the Army (1928) produced by Minxin
Minxin Film Company
The Minxin Film Company or the China Sun Film Company was one of the earliest movie studios in the history of Chinese cinema.- History :...
. The story was also the basis for the 1998 Disney animated film, Mulan
Mulan
Mulan is a 1998 American animated film directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, with story by Robert D. San Souci and screenplay by Rita Hsiao, Philip LaZebnik, Chris Sanders, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, and Raymond Singer. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney...
.
The film was directed by Bu Wancang
Bu Wancang
Bu Wancang was a prolific Chinese film director and screenwriter active between the 1920s and the 1960s. He is also known by his Cantonese name, Baak Maan Chong, and his English name, Richard Poh. He was born in Anhui.-Career:...
and stars Chen Yunchang
Chen Yunchang
Chen Yunchang was a Chinese movie actress in the 1930s and 1940s.-Biography:Chen Yunchang was born in Guangzhou in 1919, but her hometown is Taishan, Guangdong. She starred some popular movies including Mulan Joins the Army in 1939.Chen married Tang Yuhan, a doctor in Shanghai, in 1943...
as the title character, a young woman who disguises herself as a man in order to take her father's place in the army. The screenplay was by Ouyang Yuqian. The film was produced in Shanghai by the Huacheng Film Company, a subsidiary of the 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...
.
Cast
- Chen YunchangChen YunchangChen Yunchang was a Chinese movie actress in the 1930s and 1940s.-Biography:Chen Yunchang was born in Guangzhou in 1919, but her hometown is Taishan, Guangdong. She starred some popular movies including Mulan Joins the Army in 1939.Chen married Tang Yuhan, a doctor in Shanghai, in 1943...
as Hua Mulan, the film's heroine - Mei Xi as Li Yuanda, Mulan's fellow general and eventual love interest.
- Liu Jiqun
- Huang Naishuang
- Han Lan'gen & Yin Xiushen as two draftees; comic relief.
Plot
Hua Mulan, the heroine, is a young maiden who lives with her elderly father during the Northern WeiNorthern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
dynasty. When China is invaded by nomads, her father is called into service by the Emperor. In a scene of filial piety, Mulan dons her father's old armor and takes his place in the army.
During training, the "feminine" Mulan is teased and harassed by other draftees who she promptly beats one by one to the ground. Admonishing them to unite together instead of harassing one another, she reminds them that the true enemy are the nomads invading their country. Also during training, she meets with Liu Fendou who becomes her loyal friend. The two feel a natural attraction, even if Liu is unsure why (believing Mulan to be a man). These scenes therefore provide some comic relief and romantic intrigue.
Eventually Mulan is set to the frontline where she meets with the army's weak commanders who flirt with the idea of cooperating with the nomads rather than fighting with them. In particular, the advisor to the general pushes for collaboration. Mulan disgusted, dresses as a nomad and spies on the enemy when she learns that an attack is imminent. Returning to her home camp, her warnings are ignored by the general to disastrous results. When the attack finally happens, the General is killed, but not before putting Mulan in charge. Mulan regroups the Chinese forces and defeats the nomads, but not before Mulan herself kills the General's erstwhile advisor.
Returning to the Imperial capital, Mulan is offered a position in the Emperor's court. She turns the position down, asking only to return to her home. Returning to her feminine persona, she marries Liu Fendou.
Production history
Film production in late 1930s Shanghai was a tricky business. With most of the established talent having fled to Hong Kong and the interior, one of the remaining production companies, the Xinhua Film CompanyXinhua 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...
, hoped to relaunch a "Hollywood of the East." The first step was the release of the costume epic, Diao Chan
Diao Chan (film)
Diao Chan is a 1938 Chinese sound film directed by Bu Wancang and produced by Zhang Shankun's Xinhua Film Company. The film is a portrayal of one of the "Four Beauties" of ancient China, in this case the titular Diaochan, from the late Eastern Han Dynasty era...
directed by Bu Wancang
Bu Wancang
Bu Wancang was a prolific Chinese film director and screenwriter active between the 1920s and the 1960s. He is also known by his Cantonese name, Baak Maan Chong, and his English name, Richard Poh. He was born in Anhui.-Career:...
. The film proved to be an enormous success, a success that Xinhua's chief Zhang Shankun wished to replicate it with a second costume epic.
Unfortunately, by 1939, nearly all of Shanghai's major stars such as Jin Yan
Jin Yan
Jin Yan was a Korean-born actor who gained fame in China during that country's golden age of cinema, based in Shanghai. His acting talents and good looks gained him much popularity in the 1930's. He was dubbed "The Emperor of Cinema" and "The Rudolph Valentino of Shanghai".- Filmography :-...
or Zhao Dan
Zhao Dan
Zhao Dan was a Chinese actor popular in the golden age of Chinese Cinema.-Biography:Zhao first became famous working in the Mingxing Film Company in the 1930s including playing opposite Zhou Xuan in Street Angel...
had fled to Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
. Zhang first attempted to recruit Hu Die in Hong Kong for his studio's newest venture but ultimately failed. While in Hong Kong however, he managed to sign with the playwright Ouyang Yuqian to pen his film, and Cantonese actress Chen Yunchang to star.
Zhang very much focused on making the actress a fresh-face for Shanghai, and publicity for the Chen began before the studio even read the script.
Ouyang's script was based on the traditional story of Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan is a legendary figure from ancient China who was originally described in a Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan . In the poem, Hua Mulan takes her aged father's place in the army. She fought for 12 years and gained high merit, but she refused any reward and retired to her hometown...
, a story that most of the Shanghai audience would have already been familiar with. At the same time Ouyang infused the film with subtle nationalist undertones. Impressed with the script, Zhang and Xinhua invested heavily in both production and publicity of the film.
Reception
Mulan Joins the Army was made during the Japanese occupation of China and the so-called "Solitary Island" period of Chinese cinema. Given the film's subtle patriotism, it proved extremely popular with domestic audiences. Premiering in Shanghai's newest theater, the Astor in February 1939, in time for the Lunar New YearChinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
, Mulan Joins the Army ended up being a critical darling. It was moreover, a major commercial success, playing to full theaters in Shanghai, as well as making its lead, Chen Yunchang, into a bona-fide star.
Today the film is seen as an obvious appeal to the Shanghai audience's own wartime sensibilities. The weak Chinese generals, the outside nomad invaders all would have reminded the audience of the country's woes at that time, namely the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. As one scholar posits, the film was seen as a call to arms, with the Chinese hero (or in this case, heroine) rising up to defeat foreign attackers striking a particularly resonant chord.
See also
- Hua MulanHua MulanHua Mulan is a legendary figure from ancient China who was originally described in a Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan . In the poem, Hua Mulan takes her aged father's place in the army. She fought for 12 years and gained high merit, but she refused any reward and retired to her hometown...
, the original legend on which the film was based. - Second Sino-Japanese WarSecond Sino-Japanese WarThe Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, political background for the making of the film. - Diao ChanDiao Chan (film)Diao Chan is a 1938 Chinese sound film directed by Bu Wancang and produced by Zhang Shankun's Xinhua Film Company. The film is a portrayal of one of the "Four Beauties" of ancient China, in this case the titular Diaochan, from the late Eastern Han Dynasty era...
, earlier Xinhua film that laid the groundwork for Mulan Joins the Army.
External links
- Mulan Joins the Army at the UCSD Chinese Cinema Learning Center