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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.
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventures of the Chinese Tarzan | 中國泰山歷險記 | Wang Cilong | Lai Cheuk-Cheuk | Adventure/Romance | Adapted from Tarzan of the Apes |
| The Amorous History of Su San | 蘇三艷史 | Wu Cun | Zhou Xuan | Drama | |
| Baptism by Fire | 火的洗禮 | Sun Yu | Zhang Ruifang, He Weiling | War | |
| City of Darkness | 黑天堂 | Wu Cun | Zhou Xuan, Gong Jianong | Drama | |
| Confucius | 孔夫子 | Fei Mu | Tang Huaiqiu | Biographical/Historical | |
| The Country Girl | 鄉下大姑娘 | Wang Yin | Yuan Meiyun | Drama | |
| 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 Wancang | Chen Yunshang | Romance | Based on a Yue opera |
| Flower Girl | 花魁女 | Wu Yonggang | Chen Yen-yen, Liu Qiong | Romance/Costume | |
| The Gardener and the Lady | Wang Cilong | Lu Ming, Wang Yin | Romance | Based on a folk legend | |
| Ge Neniang | 葛嫩娘 | Chen Yiqing | Gu Lanjun, Mei Xi | Historical/Drama | Alternate title: Grudges at the End of the Ming |
| Guan Yin, a Bodhisattva | 觀世音 | Yan Youxiang | Zhang Cuihong | ||
| Hongxian Steals the Chest | 紅線盜盒 | Li Pingqian | Gu Lanjun | Historical/Action | |
| Invisible Heroine | 隱身女俠 | Wu Wenchao | Li Lihua | ||
| Legend of the Sui Dynasty | 隨宮春色 | Yang Xiaozhong | Chen Yen-yen, Liu Qiong | Historical/Romance | |
| Li Xiangjun | 李香君 | Wu Cun | Gu Lanjun | Drama | Based on The Peach Blossom Fan |
| Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai | 梁山伯與祝英台 | Yueh Feng | Zhang Cuihong, Gu Yelu | Romance/Costume | Based on the Butterfly Lovers |
| Light of East Asia | 東亞之光 | He Feiguang | War | ||
| Living Buddha Ji Gong | 濟公活佛 | Zheng Xiaoqiu | You Guangzhao | Biographical | |
| Meng Lijun | 孟麗君 | Zhang Shichuan | Zhou Xuan, Shu Shi | Romance/Costume | Alternate title: Magnificent Relationship (華麗緣) |
| The Pearl Pagoda | 珍珠塔 | Fang Peilin | Li Hong, Gu Yelu | Romance | Sound remake of the 1926 silent of the same title |
| The Perfect Beauty | 絕代佳人 | Wang Cilong | Hu Die | 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 | Wu Yonggang | Wang Xichun, Shu Shi | Historical/Action | |
| Princess Snow White | 白雪公主 | Wu Yonggang | Chen Juanjuan | 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 | Bu Wancang | Chen Yunshang | Biographical/Historical | Based on the life and career of female general Qin Liangyu |
| Qin Xianglian | 秦香蓮 | Wen Yimin | Zhang Cuihong, Wang Cilong | Crime | Non-musical adaptation of Chen Shimei , one of the cases of Bao Zheng |
| Romance of the Western Chamber | 西廂記 | Zhang Shichuan | Zhou Xuan | Musical remake of the 1927 silent film of the same title | |
| Songstresses | Zhang Shichuan | Zhou Manhua | Romance | Adapted from a novel by Zhang Henshui | |
| Storm on the Border | 塞上風雲 | Ying Yunwei | Li Lili, Shu Xiuwen | War | First film to show Chinese minority people joining the anti-Japanese resistance |
| Su Wu Herds the Sheep | 蘇武牧羊 | Bu Wancang | Chen Yunshang, Mei Xi | Biographical/Historical | The story of Han dynasty diplomat Su Wu |
| Tempest Over Taihang Mountain | 風雪太行山 | He Mengfu | Xie Tian | War | Alternate title: Struggle on Taihang Mountain |
| The Vast Sky | 長空萬裡 | Sun Yu | Gao 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 Cun | Zhou Xuan | Drama | |
| Yan Xijiao | 閻惜嬌 | Yueh Feng | Mei Xi, Diao Banhua | Based on a chapter in Water Margin | |
| Yanmen Pass | 雁門關 | Fang Peilin | Yuan Meiyun, Mei Xi | Historical/War | |
| Youth of China | 青年中國 | Su Yi | Tao Jin, Bai Yang | War | |
| Yue Fei, a National Hero | 岳飛精忠報國 | Wu Yonggang | Liu Qiong | Historical/War | Story of the Song dynasty general Yue Fei Alternate Chinese titles: 尽忠報國, 精忠報國 |
| Title | Chinese Titles | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ask for Help | Zhu Shilin | Tu Guangqi, Zhou Manhua | Comedy | ||
| Daughter of the Fisherman | Bu Wancang | Zhou Xuan | Romance | Yu Jia Nu | |
| Eternity | 萬世流芳 | Bu Wancang, Ma-Xu Weibang | Chen Yunchang | 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. |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Brave Man Can Make Mountains and Rivers Brave | 氣壯山河 | He Feiguang | Li Lili, Wang Hao | War | Made in China's wartime capital of Chungking |
| Dream of the Red Chamber | Bu Wancang | Zhou Xuan | Drama | Adaptation of the classic Chinese novel |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodshed on an Oriental Cherry | 血濺櫻花 | He Feiguang | Li Lili | War | |
| My Love, My Homeland | 還我故鄉 | Shi Dongshan | Tao Jin, Zhao Shuyin | War | |
| Song for the Police | 警魂歌 | Tang Xiaodan | Wang Hao, Zong You Kang Jian | Alternate Chinese title: 敢死警備隊 | |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Orioles | 鶯飛人間 | Fang Peilin | Ouyang Feiying, Chen Tianguo, Yan Su | ||
| The Holy City | 聖城記 | Shen Fu | Bai Yang, Xie Tian, Qi Heng | ||
| The Iron Man | 鐵骨冰心 | Pei Chong | Liu Qiong, Qian Shanzhu | ||
| The Loyal Family | 忠義之家 | Wu Yonggang | Liu Qiong, Qin Yi | ||
| Sparks of the Nation | 民族的火花 | Yang Xiaozhong | Wang Danfeng, Yan Hua | ||
| Spy Number One | 天字第一號 | Tu Guangqi | Ouyang Feiying, He Bin, Zhou Chu |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Along the Sungari River | 鬆花江上 | Jin Shan | Zhang Ruifang, Wang Renlu | War | |
| Dream in Paradise | 天堂春夢 | Tang Xiaodan | Shangguan Yunzhu | Drama | |
| Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon | 八千里路雲和月 | Shi Dongshan | Bai Yang | Drama | |
| Emperor's Dream | Animation | ||||
| Far Away Love | 遙遠的愛 | Chen Liting | Zhao Dan, Qin Yi, Wu Yin | Drama | |
| Long Live the Missus! | 太太萬歲 | Sang Hu | Shi Hui, Shangguan Yunzhu | Romantic Comedy | |
| Night Inn | 夜店 | Huang Zuolin | Zhou Xuan, Wei Wei | Drama | Adaptation of Maxim Gorky's The Lower Depths |
| Phony Phoenixes | 假鳳虛凰 | Huang Zuolin | Shi Hui, Li Lihua, Lu Shan | Comedy | |
| Rhapsody of Happiness | 幸福狂想曲 | Chen Liting | Zhao Dan, Huang Zongying | Drama | Written 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 | |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Go After an Easy Prey | 瓮中捉鳖 | Fang Ming | Animation | North East Film Studio | |
| Myriad of Lights | 萬家燈火 | Shen Fu | Shangguan Yunzhu, Lan Ma, Wu Yin | Drama | |
| A Wedding in the Dream | 生死恨 | Fei Mu | Mei Lanfang | Musical/Opera | First Chinese color film |
| Spring in a Small Town | 小城之春 | Fei Mu | Wei Wei, Li Wei | Romantic Drama | Named the greatest Chinese language film made by the Hong Kong Film Awards |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge | 橋 | Wang Bin | War | First post-revolution Chinese film | |
| Crows and Sparrows | 烏鴉與麻雀 | Zheng Junli | Zhao Dan, Shangguan Yunzhu, Sun Daolin | Drama | Post-revolution Chinese film |
| Daughters of China | 中華女兒 | Ling Zifeng Zhai Qiang | War | Post-revolution Chinese film | |
| Mother | 母親 | Shi Hui | Qin Yi | Drama | |
| Orphan on the Streets | 三毛流浪記 | Zhao Ming, Yan Gong | 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 | Sang Hu | Shi Hui | Drama | |
| Women Side by Side | 麗人行 | Chen Liting | Sha Li, Huang Zongying, Shangguan Yunzhu | Drama | Also known as Three Women and Female Fighter |
| Year | Total Films [1] |
|---|---|
| 1940 | 59 |
| 1941 | 108 |
| 1942 | 33 |
| 1943 | 1 |
| 1944 | 1 |
| 1945 | 3 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1947 | 39 |
| 1948 | 75 |
| 1949 | 44 |
The Shaolin Temple (少林寺) is a 1982 Chinese–Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Chang Hsin Yen and starring Jet Li in his debut role along with Ding Lan and Yu Hai in supporting roles. The film is based on the Shaolin Monastery in China and depicts Shaolin Kung Fu. The film was among the first major co-productions between Hong Kong and mainland China, and the first to be filmed in mainland China with a mostly mainland cast. The film's plot has an episodic storytelling structure while combining action, comedy and romance elements.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese television series adapted from the classical 14th century novel of the same title by Luo Guanzhong. The series was produced by China Central Television (CCTV) and was first aired on the network in 1994. It spanned a total of 84 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long. One of the most expensive television series produced at the time, the project cost 170 million yuan. It was completed over four years and involved over 400,000 cast and crew members, including divisions of the People's Liberation Army from the Beijing, Nanjing and Chengdu military regions. Some of the dialogue spoken by characters was adapted directly from the novel. Extensive battle scenes, such as the battles of Guandu, Red Cliffs and Xiaoting, were also live-acted.
Old Well is a 1987 Chinese film written by Zheng Yi about a village worker's effort of digging a well in his water-starved hometown located in northwest China and his affairs with his old girlfriend. It is produced by Xi'an Film Studio and directed by Wu Tianming, starring Zhang Yimou and Liang Yujin.
Qian Daosun (1887–1966) was a Chinese writer and translator. His renowned translations include the Inferno part of the Divine Comedy, Man'yōshū and The Tale of Genji. Qian was born in a family of officials and scholars.
China Movie Channel is the trade name of the "Satellite TV Show Production Facility", an agency of the Chinese Government's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television. In mainland China, the agency provides programming to the China Central Television channel CCTV-6, which is dedicated to movies. It airs CCTV New Year's Gala since February 18, 1996.
August First Film Studio, or Bayi Film Studio, is the only military film studio in China. Founded on August 1, 1952, it is a comprehensive film studio with the production capacity of feature films, battlefield documentaries, military education films, news documentaries, national defense scientific research films, TV dramas and other films. The unit's main business area is located in Fengtai District, Beijing, and consists of Wang Zuo Film and Television Base and Hubei Film and Television Base.
After School is a 1972 Chinese animated short film.
Joseph Nan-Hong Kuo is a Taiwanese film director best known for his Hong Kong based kung fu films of the 1970s and 1980s.
Sun Yueh was a Taiwanese actor.
Zhang Yi is a Chinese actor best known for his roles in films Dearest, Cock and Bull and Operation Red Sea and television series Soldiers Sortie, My Chief and My Regiment and The Knockout.
Leap is a 2020 Chinese biographical sports drama film directed by Peter Chan and starring Gong Li and Huang Bo. The film is based on the China women's national volleyball team's stories spread over more than 40 years. The film was released in mainland China and the United States on September 25, 2020. It had been slated for release in China on January 25, 2020, the first day of the Chinese New Year, but was withdrawn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ningling Ge was a crown prince of the Western Xia dynasty and the fourth son of the Emperor Jingzong, the founding monarch. Ningling Ge was a member of Tangut Weiming (嵬名) clan.
Empress Xiancheng, of the Yeli (野利) clan, was a Western Xia empress as the first empress of Emperor Jingzong.
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