Wang Renmei: The Wildcat of Shanghai

Introduction

Introduction Àrst saw the Àlm Wild Rose in Pordenone at the world’s largest silent film festival. There, with screenings of other films from the Golden Age of Chinese Films, I discovered this masterpiece film from the Hollywood of Asia. Over the next decade and a half, I proceeded to seek out and view, in depth, those magnificent motion pictures, mostly at the China Film Archive in Beijing. In addition, I started to research the lives of many of the stars who made this period so famous. Thanks to my son, Mahlon, who is fluent in Mandarin and a writer and teacher himself, I was able to access and understand the materials about this period and the actors who appeared on the screen. My Àrst book about Ruan Lingyu, the brilliant actress who took her own life at the age of 24 at the height of her career, led me to her co-star Jin Yan. After Ànishing his biography, I realized that no history of Chinese film would be complete without a book about Wang Renmei, Jin’s Àrst wife who was a marvelous singer and screen star at an early age. Too early, it seemed as I unfolded her history—a history also affected by Chairman Mao Zedong. I All of these actors played in Àlms which reÁect the turbulent times of China in the twentieth century. Both Jin and Wang experienced the Japanese invasion, World War II, the Chinese Civil War, the creation of the People’s Republic of China and the Cultural Revolution. Their careers and lives were affected by all of these events. I am grateful to the hardworking staff of the China Film Archive in Beijing for making materials and Àlms available to me. Several people in China spent time with me to talk about their experiences and their knowledge of Wang Renmei. I want to thank Qin Yi, Wang Yong, and Yuhua Dong especially. Assisting me with translation, in addition to Mahlon, were Yong Wei and Xinyu Dong. I have used the pinyin system of romanization in the text except for the well-known names and historical references. My wife Susan Harmon encouraged me to write another book. She, together with Michelle Cash, helped with typing the text and Michelle and Nona Perry assisted with transcriptions. Dr. Edwin Weihe, chairman of Àlm studies at Seattle University, supported my efforts. Finally, I would like to thank Michael Duckworth, publisher of Hong Kong University Press, and his talented staff, for giving me yet another opportunity to tell the story of Shanghai Àlm stars with this book about “Wildcat” Wang Renmei. Richard J. Meyer Wellington, New Zealand March 2013 xxii Introduction Cast of Characters in the Life of Wang Renmei In order of appearance in the text Mao Zedong – chairman of the Communist Party of China 1945– 1976; chairman of the People’s Republic of China 1954–1959. Wang Zhengshu (Li’an) – father of Wang Renmei, teacher of Mao Zedong. Wang “Xixi” – youngest daughter of Wang Zhengshu; her name was later changed to Wang Renmei. Dr. Sun Yat-sen – played a role in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911; Àrst provisional president of the Republic of China in 1912; co-founded Guomindang. Yuan Shikai – second provisional president of the Republic of China 1912–1915; self-proclaimed emperor of China 1915–1916. Chiang Kai-shek – president of the Republic of China 1948–1949; president of the Republic of China on Taiwan 1950–1975; leader of Guomindang. Wang Renxuan – Wang Renmei’s oldest brother. Zhu De – commander-in-chief of the People’s Liberation Army, 1946–1954. Li Jinhui – founder and director of the Bright Moon Troupe; director of the Meimei School; father of Chinese popular music. Wang Renda – brother of Wang Renmei. Wang Renlu – brother of Wang Renmei. Wang Renyi – brother of Wang Renmei. Li Minghui – Classmate of Wang Renmei at Meimei School; fellow performer and singer with the Bright Moon Troupe; Shanghai movie star. Luo Mingyou – owner and operator of movie theaters all over China in the 1920s and founder of Lianhua Studios. Sun Yu – U.S. trained director who worked at Min Xin and Lianhua. Shi Dongshan – one of China’s leading directors from the 1920s to 1950s. Li Ming – caretaker of Wang Renmei in 1929, stage performer; underground member of the Chinese Communist Party. Jin Yan – considered to be the most popular male movie star in Shanghai in the...