To Marry or To Write?—Sheng Qinxian and Her (Screen) Writing in 1940s Shanghai

S. Louisa Wei

doi:10.1515/jcfs-2023-0017

To Marry or To Write?—Sheng Qinxian and Her (Screen) Writing in 1940s Shanghai

S. Louisa Wei^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Creative Media

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

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Abstract

During the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, writer-translator Sheng Qinxian (1921–2017) joined the script division of the Incorporated Film Studio of China and wrote the screenplays of three successful films: The Honourable Beggar (义丐 1944), Reunion of a Troubled Couple (冤家喜相逢 1945), and Modern Women (摩登女性 1945). Despite this success, she did not receive a writing credit for the third film, which might be one of the reasons that caused her to quit shortly after its theatrical release. It was never easy to be the only woman in any trade during this time, but Sheng’s story allows us to see an era from a unique perspective. What were her working conditions? Where is her position in Chinese film history? Did she make a unique contribution? This article aims to find answers to these questions in view of 1940s’ Shanghai cinema and via the context of Chinese culture and society before 1949. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	489-507
Journal	Journal of Chinese Film Studies
Volume	3
Issue number	3
Online published	9 Nov 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1515/jcfs-2023-0017
Publication status	Published - 15 Dec 2023

Funding

The research of this paper is funded by the author’s project titled “Female Auteurs in Sinophone Cinema: A Cultural History 1916–1949” (RGC General Research Fund, CityU 11602622, Project No. 9043451).

Research Keywords

Sheng Qinxian
women screenwriters
Chinese cinema
early Chinese film
Eileen Chang

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COPYRIGHT TERMS OF DEPOSITED FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION FILE: Wei, S. L. (2023). To Marry or To Write?—Sheng Qinxian and Her (Screen) Writing in 1940s Shanghai. Journal of Chinese Film Studies, 3(3), 489-507. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcfs-2023-0017.

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abstract = "During the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, writer-translator Sheng Qinxian (1921–2017) joined the script division of the Incorporated Film Studio of China and wrote the screenplays of three successful films: The Honourable Beggar (义丐 1944), Reunion of a Troubled Couple (冤家喜相逢 1945), and Modern Women (摩登女性 1945). Despite this success, she did not receive a writing credit for the third film, which might be one of the reasons that caused her to quit shortly after its theatrical release. It was never easy to be the only woman in any trade during this time, but Sheng{\textquoteright}s story allows us to see an era from a unique perspective. What were her working conditions? Where is her position in Chinese film history? Did she make a unique contribution? This article aims to find answers to these questions in view of 1940s{\textquoteright} Shanghai cinema and via the context of Chinese culture and society before 1949. {\textcopyright} 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.",

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AB - During the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, writer-translator Sheng Qinxian (1921–2017) joined the script division of the Incorporated Film Studio of China and wrote the screenplays of three successful films: The Honourable Beggar (义丐 1944), Reunion of a Troubled Couple (冤家喜相逢 1945), and Modern Women (摩登女性 1945). Despite this success, she did not receive a writing credit for the third film, which might be one of the reasons that caused her to quit shortly after its theatrical release. It was never easy to be the only woman in any trade during this time, but Sheng’s story allows us to see an era from a unique perspective. What were her working conditions? Where is her position in Chinese film history? Did she make a unique contribution? This article aims to find answers to these questions in view of 1940s’ Shanghai cinema and via the context of Chinese culture and society before 1949. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.

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To Marry or To Write?—Sheng Qinxian and Her (Screen) Writing in 1940s Shanghai

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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GRF: Female Auteurs in Sinophone Cinema: A Cultural History 1916-1949

Cite this

To Marry or To Write?—Sheng Qinxian and Her (Screen) Writing in 1940s Shanghai

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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GRF: Female Auteurs in Sinophone Cinema: A Cultural History 1916-1949

Cite this