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.
Li Pingqian | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 1902 | ||||||
| Died | November 18, 1984 (aged 81–82) | ||||||
| Other names | Jack Li, Lee Ping-chien, Lee Ping-sin | ||||||
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, occasional actor | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Chinese | 李萍倩 | ||||||
| |||||||
Life
editLi was born in Hangzhou and was originally given the name Chunchou.[1][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.[2][3] In 1924, he co-founded Shenzhou Film Company with Wu Xuchang.[2] The company went bankrupt in 1927 and Li joined Tianyi Film Company.[2] He eventually moved on to Mingxing Film Company, until that was destroyed by Japanese bombardments during World War II.[2]
In the 1950s, Li moved to Hong Kong and became directing Cantonese films for companies such as Yonghua and Great Wall Film Company.[2]
Filmography
editAs actor
edit| Year | English title | Original title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Unbearable Memories | 不堪回首 | Zhu Wenguang | Lost | |
| Wedding Day | 佳期 | Lost | |||
| The Night with the Full Moon | 花好月圆 | Lost | |||
| 1926 | Embarrassing Sister | 難為了妹妹 | Yes | Lost | |
| 1927 | A Crushing Blow | 劉關張大破黃巾 | Lost | ||
| The Female Lawyer | 女律師 | Lost | |||
| 1928 | Precious Ruby | 紅寶石 | Yes | Lost | |
| Stories of Sherlock Holmes | 福爾摩斯偵探案 | Sherlock Holmes | Yes | Lost | |
| 1955 | It So Happens to a Woman | 我是一個女人 | Yes |
As director
edit| Year | English title | Chinese title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Embarrassing Sister | 難為了妹妹 | Also actor |
| My Good Boy | 好兒子 | Co-director | |
| 1927 | Princess 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 | |
| 1928 | The Lotus Cave | 蓮花洞 | Also writer |
| Precious Ruby | 紅寶石 | Two-part film, also writer and actor | |
| 1929 | Emperor 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 | |
| 1930 | Yang Yunyou and Dong Qichang | 楊雲友與董其昌 | |
| The Queen of College Students | 大學皇后 | Two-part film | |
| 1931 | Between 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 | ||
| 1932 | Miss 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 | ||
| 1933 | A 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 | |
| 1934 | Three Sisters | 三姊妹 | Also co-writer |
| The Classic for Girls | 女兒經 | Co-director | |
| 1935 | Ardent, Loyal Souls | 民族魂 | Co-director |
| Human Being | 人倫 | Also writer | |
| 1936 | The Battle Between Peach and Plum | 桃李爭艷 | Also writer |
| Rendezvous | 夜會 | ||
| 1937 | The Flower Blossoms and Wilts | 花開花落 | |
| 1938 | A Pair in Love | 鳳求凰 | |
| Camille | 茶花女 | Also writer | |
| 1939 | The 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 | |
| 1940 | Du Shiniang | 杜十娘 | Also writer |
| Hongxian Steals the Case | 紅線盜盒 | ||
| 1941 | The Living Way | 生路 | |
| The Family | 家 | Co-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 | ||
| 1942 | Compassion | 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 | |
| 1943 | Gratitude 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 | ||
| 1944 | Song from Another Heaven | 天外笙歌 | |
| Drifting Petals | 惜花飞 | ||
| 1945 | New Year Day | 萬戶更新 | Co-director |
| 1947 | Mother and Son | 母與子 | |
| Spring over the Lake | 湖上春痕 | Also writer | |
| Hang on to Your Relatives | 裙帶風 | ||
| 1948 | The Murderer | 兇手 | |
| Catch the Dream | 春歸何處 | ||
| 1949 | Our Husband | 春雷 | Also writer |
| 1950 | A Strange Woman | 一代妖姬 | |
| The Awful Truth | 說謊世界 | ||
| 1951 | A Night-Time Wife | 禁婚記 | |
| 1952 | Blossoms in the Heart | 百花齊放 | |
| A Bachelor Is Born | 方帽子 | ||
| City Adventure | 蜜月 | ||
| 1953 | Marriage Affair | 門 | |
| Day Dream | 白日夢 | ||
| Parents' Love | 寸草心 | ||
| The Peerless Beauty | 絕代佳人 | ||
| 1954 | Tales of the City | 都會交響曲 | |
| 1955 | It So Happens to a Woman | 我是一個女人 | Also actor |
| 1956 | The Three Loves | 三戀 | |
| 1957 | Escape into Trap | 逆旅風雲 | |
| Forever Waiting | 望夫山下 | ||
| 1958 | Miss Fragrance | 香噴噴小姐 | |
| The Green Swan Club | 綠天鵝夜總會 | ||
| 1960 | Girl on the Front Page | 新聞人物 | |
| Laugh, Clown, Laugh | 笑笑笑 | ||
| Rendezvous | 佳人有約 | ||
| 1961 | The Seaman and the Dancing Girl | 華燈初上 | |
| A Dazzling Trap | 迷魂阱 | ||
| 1962 | The Princess Falls in Love | 三看御妹劉金定 | Yue opera film |
| 1963 | Between Vengeance and Love | 雪地情仇 | |
| 1964 | Three Charming Smiles | 三笑 | Huangmei opera film |
| 1965 | Romantic World | 艷遇 | |
| A Heroic Romance | 烽火姻緣 | Yue opera film |
In popular culture
editIn the 2008 Chinese TV series Zhao Dan (赵丹), Li Pingqian is portrayed by actor Meng Jun (孟俊).
References
edit- ^ a b Stokes, Lisa Odham; Braaten, Rachel (2020-01-15). Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-5381-2062-0.
- ^ a b c d e f Xiao, Zhiwei; Zhang, Yingjin (2002-06-01). Encyclopedia of Chinese Film. Routledge. pp. 220–221. ISBN 978-1-134-74554-8.
- ^ a b Ye, Tan; Zhu, Yun (2012). Historical Dictionary of Chinese Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-8108-6779-6.
- ^ "The Writer/Director in Focus IV: Li Pingqian - Hong Kong Film Archive". www.filmarchive.gov.hk. Retrieved 2024-01-04.