Li Pingqian Explained

Li Pingqian
Birth Date:1902
Birth Place:Hangzhou, Qing Empire
Death Place:British Hong Kong
Other Names:Jack Li, Lee Ping-chien, Lee Ping-sin
Occupation:Film director, screenwriter, occasional actor

Li Pingqian (1902 – 18 November 1984), also known as Jack Pingqian Li, was a Chinese filmmaker who directed over 100 films in his career in mainland China and Hong Kong.[1] [2] He is probably best known for his works with actresses Gong Qiuxia and Xia Meng, who each starred in more than a dozen of his films. Moreover, his 1964 Huangmei opera film Three Charming Smiles starring Chen Sisi was a huge hit in China.

Life

Li was born in Hangzhou and was originally given the name Chunchou.[3] He moved to Shangai in the 1920s to begin a career in filmmaking after leaving Hujiang University in 1919, where he studied sociology but did not graduate. In 1924, he co-founded Shenzhou Film Company with Wu Xuchang. The company went bankrupt in 1927 and Li joined Tianyi Film Company. He eventually moved on to Mingxing Film Company, until that was destroyed by Japanese bombardments during World War II.

In the 1950s, Li moved to Hong Kong and became directing Cantonese films for companies such as Yonghua and Great Wall Film Company.

Many of Li's earlier works are lost.[4]

Filmography

As actor

YearEnglish titleOriginal titleRoleDirectorNotes
1925Unbearable Memories不堪回首Zhu WenguangLost
Wedding Day佳期Lost
The Night with the Full Moon花好月圆Lost
1926Embarrassing Sister難為了妹妹Lost
1927A Crushing Blow劉關張大破黃巾Lost
The Female Lawyer女律師Lost
1928Precious Ruby紅寶石Lost
Stories of Sherlock Holmes福爾摩斯偵探案Sherlock HolmesLost
1955It So Happens to a Woman我是一個女人

As director

YearEnglish titleChinese titleNotes
1926Embarrassing Sister難為了妹妹Also actor
My Good Boy好兒子Co-director
1927Princess Iron Fan鐵扇公主Co-director
New Camellia新茶花
Maiden in Armour花木蘭從軍
Wails to Pagoda仕林祭塔Co-director
Ladies Kingdom西遊記·女兒國Co-director
1928The Lotus Cave蓮花洞Also writer
Precious Ruby紅寶石Two-part film, also writer and actor
1929Emperor Qianlong Tours the South Part III乾隆遊江南第3集
Lonely Swan After the Calamity劫後孤鴻Also writer
Warnings for the Lovers情慾寶鑑
Flowers Platform on Fire火燒百花臺Two-part film
1930Yang Yunyou and Dong Qichang楊雲友與董其昌
The Queen of College Students大學皇后Two-part film
1931Between Themselves夫妻之間
Stories of Sherlock Holmes福爾摩斯偵探案Also actor
Arsène Lupin亞森羅賓
Emperor Qianlong Tours the South Part VIII乾隆遊江南第8集
Emperor Qianlong Tours the South Part IX乾隆遊江南第9集
Pleasures of the Dance Hall歌唱春色
1932Miss Shanghai Han Xiuwen上海小姐韓繡雯
Two Daughters of the Northeast東北二女子
Old and New Problems舊恨新愁
Poetry Written on the Banana Leaf芭蕉葉上詩
A Married Woman有夫之婦
1933A Modern Woman現代一女性
Good Harvest豐年
Sons and Daughters of the Times時代的兒女
The Spring Dream of the Lute琵琶春怨Also writer
1934Three Sisters三姊妹Also co-writer
The Classic for Girls女兒經Co-director
1935Ardent, Loyal Souls民族魂Co-director
Human Being人倫Also writer
1936The Battle Between Peach and Plum桃李爭艷Also writer
Rendezvous夜會
1937The Flower Blossoms and Wilts花開花落
1938A Pair in Love鳳求凰
Camille茶花女Also writer
1939The World of Money金銀世界
The Imperial Maid Fei Zhen'e費貞娥刺虎Also writer
The Young Mistress' Fan少奶奶的扇子
Regrets of Life and Death生死恨Also writer
1940Du Shiniang杜十娘Also writer
Hongxian Steals the Case紅線盜盒
1941The Living Way生路
The FamilyCo-director
Where Will You Go生離死別Also writer
The Brave Lady英烈傳Also writer
The Widow風流寡婦
King of the Inferno地藏王
1942Compassion博愛Co-director
A Distinguished Lady貴婦風流Also writer
Four Sisters四姊妹Also writer
Two Guys and a Girl歡喜冤家Also writer
1943Gratitude and Vengeance of Actors藝海恩仇記Also writer
The Fight over a Child桃李爭春
Floating Clouds Cover the Moon浮雲掩月
Madam Butterfly蝴蝶夫人
1944Song from Another Heaven天外笙歌
Drifting Petals惜花飞
1945New Year Day萬戶更新Co-director
1947Mother and Son母與子
Spring over the Lake湖上春痕Also writer
Hang on to Your Relatives裙帶風
1948The Murderer兇手
Catch the Dream春歸何處
1949Our Husband春雷Also writer
1950A Strange Woman一代妖姬
The Awful Truth說謊世界
1951A Night-Time Wife禁婚記
1952Blossoms in the Heart百花齊放
A Bachelor Is Born方帽子
City Adventure蜜月
1953Marriage Affair
Day Dream白日夢
Parents' Love寸草心
The Peerless Beauty絕代佳人
1954Tales of the City都會交響曲
1955It So Happens to a Woman我是一個女人Also actor
1956The Three Loves三戀
1957Escape into Trap逆旅風雲
Forever Waiting望夫山下
1958Miss Fragrance香噴噴小姐
The Green Swan Club綠天鵝夜總會
1960Girl on the Front Page新聞人物
Laugh, Clown, Laugh笑笑笑
Rendezvous佳人有約
1961The Seaman and the Dancing Girl華燈初上
A Dazzling Trap迷魂阱
1962The Princess Falls in Love三看御妹劉金定Yue opera film
1963Between Vengeance and Love雪地情仇
1964Three Charming Smiles三笑Huangmei opera film
1965Romantic World艷遇
A Heroic Romance烽火姻緣Yue opera film

In popular culture

In the 2008 Chinese TV series Zhao Dan (赵丹), Li Pingqian is portrayed by actor Meng Jun (孟俊).

Notes and References

  1. Book: Stokes . Lisa Odham . Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema . Braaten . Rachel . 2020-01-15 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-1-5381-2062-0 . 295 . en.
  2. Book: Xiao . Zhiwei . Encyclopedia of Chinese Film . Zhang . Yingjin . 2002-06-01 . Routledge . 978-1-134-74554-8 . 220–221 . en.
  3. Book: Ye . Tan . Historical Dictionary of Chinese Cinema . Zhu . Yun . 2012 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-0-8108-6779-6 . 96 . en.
  4. Web site: The Writer/Director in Focus IV: Li Pingqian - Hong Kong Film Archive . 2024-01-04 . www.filmarchive.gov.hk.