List of Chinese films of the 1940s explained

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 .

1940

Title Chinese Title Director Actors Genre Notability
Adventures of the Chinese Tarzan 中國泰山歷險記Adventure/Romance Adapted from Tarzan of the Apes
The Amorous History of Su San 蘇三艷史Drama
Baptism by Fire 火的洗禮War
City of Darkness 黑天堂Drama
Confucius 孔夫子Tang Huaiqiu Biographical/Historical
The Country Girl 鄉下大姑娘Drama
Dong Xiaowan 董小宛Alternate title: The Story of Dong Xiaowan
Drizzling Rain 瀟湘秋雨Drama
The Emerald Hairpin碧玉簪Romance Based on a Yue opera
Flower Girl 花魁女Romance/Costume
The Gardener and the Lady Romance Based on a folk legend
Ge Neniang 葛嫩娘Historical/Drama Alternate title: Grudges at the End of the Ming
Guan Yin, a Bodhisattva 觀世音Yan Youxiang
Hongxian Steals the Chest 紅線盜盒Historical/Action
Invisible Heroine 隱身女俠
Legend of the Sui Dynasty 隨宮春色Historical/Romance
Li Xiangjun 李香君Drama Based on The Peach Blossom Fan
Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai 梁山伯與祝英台Romance/Costume Based on the Butterfly Lovers
Light of East Asia 東亞之光War
Living Buddha Ji Gong 濟公活佛Biographical
Meng Lijun 孟麗君Romance/Costume Alternate title: Magnificent Relationship (華麗緣)
The Pearl Pagoda 珍珠塔Romance Sound remake of the 1926 silent of the same title
The Perfect Beauty 絕代佳人Biographical/Historical Last 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Historical/Action
Princess Snow White 白雪公主Fantasy Live-action adaptation of the 1937 Disney film
Alternate title: China Princess Snow White (中國白雪公主)
Qin Liangyu 秦良玉Biographical/Historical Based on the life and career of female general Qin Liangyu
Qin Xianglian 秦香蓮Crime Non-musical adaptation of Chen Shimei, one of the cases of Bao Zheng
Romance of the Western Chamber 西廂記Musical remake of the 1927 silent film of the same title
Songstresses Romance Adapted from a novel by Zhang Henshui
Storm on the Border 塞上風雲War First film to show Chinese minority people joining the anti-Japanese resistance
Su Wu Herds the Sheep 蘇武牧羊Biographical/Historical The story of Han dynasty diplomat Su Wu
Tempest Over Taihang Mountain 風雪太行山Xie Tian War Alternate title: Struggle on Taihang Mountain
The Vast Sky 長空萬裡War "National Defense" film made in unoccupied West China. Alternate English title: Wings of China
The Wandering Songstress 天涯歌女Drama
Yan Xijiao 閻惜嬌Based on a chapter in Water Margin
Yanmen Pass 雁門關Historical/War
Youth of China 青年中國War
Yue Fei, a National Hero 岳飛精忠報國Historical/War Story of the Song dynasty general Yue Fei
Alternate Chinese titles: 尽忠報國, 精忠報國

1941

Title Chinese Title Director Actors Genre Notability
A Girl in Wartime 亂世佳人Chen Yunshang,
Liu Qiong
Historical/War
Between Couples 夫婦之道Drama
The Brother and His Half Sister碧海青天
Charlie Chan Smashes an Evil Plot 陳查禮大破隱身術Mystery A Charlie Chan mystery. Alternate title: Charlie Chan Uncovers the Secrets
Die for Love 返魂香War/Romance
The End of Life 地老天荒Drama
Family 家Drama Adaptation of Ba Jin's novel
Heartbroken 斷腸花Romance/War
Life in the Orphan Island 孤島春秋
Princess Biluo 碧蘿公主
Princess Iron Fan 鐵扇公主Animation First Chinese animated feature film
Robber in Black 黑衣盜Chen Huanwen Mystery
Scenes of Turbulent Times 亂世風光Wu Renzhi Shi Hui,
Han Fei
Drama
Spring Breezes Recall a Dream 春風回夢記Romance

1942

Title Chinese Title Director Actors Genre Notability
A Girl's Secrets 小姐的秘密Drama
A Joyful Night 一夜銷魂Lu Luming,
Sun Min
Drama
A Tragic Marriage 淚洒相思地Lu Luming,
Shangguan Yunzhu
Tragedy
College Students 學府風光Zhang Cuiying,
Han Lan'gen
Comedy
Compassion Various Anthology Collection of 11 short stories illustrating universal brotherhood
Enemies Behind Every Bush Drama
The Fallen Peony Chen Yunshang,
Gu Eryi
Drama
Fallen Plum Blossoms 梅花落Wang Xichun,
He Bin
Drama Remake of the 1927 silent film of the same title. Released in two parts.
Grand Hotel 大飯店Mei Qi Lu Luming,
Sun Min
Drama Remake of the 1932 American film of the same title
The Happy Years 歡樂年年Chen Yunshang,
Mei Xi
Rainy Night on Cold Mountain Li Lihua,
Huang He
Adventure
Romance in Spring 春水情波Huang Han Hu Feng,
Ouyang Sha-fei
Drama Remake of the 1933 film of the same title
Roses Are Blooming Everywhere Gong Qiuxia,
Gu Yelu
Romance
Second Sight 重見光明Drama
She Lost Her Job 玉碎珠圓Bai Hong,
Han Fei
The Standard Wife 標准夫人Drama Alternate title: Repentance (懺悔)
The Strange Lady 奇女子Li Lihua,
Lu Luming,
Sun Min
Drama
Two Generations of Women Gu Lanjun,
Wang Danfeng
Wedding Night 洞房花燈夜Drama

1943

Title Chinese Titles Director !Actors Genre Notability
Ask for HelpTu Guangqi,
Zhou Manhua
Comedy
Daughter of the Fisherman Romance Yu Jia Nu
Eternity 萬世流芳Drama Controversial film on the Opium War, produced under the Japanese occupation
A Japanese Spy 日本間諜Yuan Congmei Luo Jun,
Feng Fei,
many others		Drama Adaptation of Amleto Vespa's Secret Agent of Japan. Made in China's wartime capital of Chungking.

1944

Title Chinese Title Director Actors Genre Notability
A Brave Man Can Make Mountains and Rivers Brave氣壯山河War Made in China's wartime capital of Chungking
Dream of the Red ChamberDrama Adaptation of the classic Chinese novel

1945

Title Chinese Title Director !Actors Genre Notability
Bloodshed on an Oriental Cherry 血濺櫻花War
My Love, My Homeland 還我故鄉War
Song for the Police 警魂歌Alternate Chinese title: 敢死警備隊

1946

Title Chinese Title Director Actors Genre Notability
Flying Orioles 鶯飛人間
The Holy City 聖城記
The Iron Man 鐵骨冰心
The Loyal Family 忠義之家
Sparks of the Nation 民族的火花
Spy Number One 天字第一號

1947

Title Chinese Title Director !Actors Genre Notability
Along the Sungari River 鬆花江上War
Dream in Paradise 天堂春夢Drama
Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon 八千里路雲和月Drama
Emperor's DreamAnimation
Far Away Love 遙遠的愛Drama
Long Live the Missus! 太太萬歲Romantic Comedy
Night Inn 夜店Drama Adaptation of Maxim Gorky's The Lower Depths
Phony Phoenixes 假鳳虛凰Comedy
Rhapsody of Happiness 幸福狂想曲Drama Written by Chen Baichen
The Spring River Flows East一江春水向東流Drama

1948

Title Chinese Title Director Actors Genre Notability
Go After an Easy Prey瓮中捉鳖Fang MingAnimation North East Film Studio
Myriad of Lights 萬家燈火Drama
A Wedding in the Dream 生死恨Musical/Opera First Chinese color film
Spring in a Small Town 小城之春Romantic Drama Named the greatest Chinese language film made by the Hong Kong Film Awards

1949

Title Chinese Title Director Actors Genre Notability
Bridge 橋War First post-revolution Chinese film
Crows and Sparrows烏鴉與麻雀Drama Post-revolution Chinese film
Daughters of China 中華女兒War Post-revolution Chinese film
Mother 母親Drama
Orphan on the Streets 三毛流浪記Wang Longji,
Lin Zhen 		Drama Kunlun 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Drama
Women Side by Side 麗人行Drama Also known as Three Women and Female Fighter

Mainland Chinese Film Production Totals

Year Total Films[1]
1940 59
1941 108
1942 33
1943 1
1944 1
1945 3
1946 6
1947 39
1948 75
1949 44

See also

Sources

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.

External links

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