Wu Yonggang
Encyclopedia
Wu Yonggang (November 1, 1907 - December 18, 1982) was a prominent Chinese
film director
during the 1930s. Today Wu is best known for his directorial debut, The Goddess
. Wu had a long career with the Lianhua Film Company
in the 1930s, in Chongqing
during the war, and in the mainland after the 1949 communist revolution.
province, Wu Yonggang, was one of the major leftist film directors of pre-Communist China. For the early part of his career, Wu was a set designer with Dazhonghua Baihe, before transferring to the Shaw Brothers' Tianyi Film Company. He was eventually noticed by Shi Dongshan
at the newly formed Lianhua Film Company
. His first film from the director's chair, 1934's The Goddess
(under contract with the Lianhua Film Company
), earned both him and the film's star, Ruan Lingyu
, rave reviews. A prolific director, Wu continued to make films well into 1970s until his retirement shortly before his death including Evening Rain
(co-directed with Wu Yigong
) which won Best Picture at the first annual Golden Rooster Awards
.
Today Wu's reputation has only improved. Acclaimed director, Chen Kaige
referred to Wu Yonggang as one of his most admired directors, and named The Goddess as his favorite film of the 1930s.
Cinema of China
The Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. Since 1949 the cinema of mainland China has operated under restrictions imposed by the Communist Party of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
during the 1930s. Today Wu is best known for his directorial debut, The Goddess
The Goddess (1934 film)
The Goddess is a 1934 Chinese silent film released by the United Photoplay Service. It starred Ruan Lingyu in one of her final roles, and was directed by Wu Yonggang....
. Wu had a long career with the Lianhua Film Company
Lianhua Film Company
The Lianhua Film Company was one of two major production companies based in Shanghai, China during the 1930s, the other being the Mingxing Film Company.-Names:...
in the 1930s, in Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
during the war, and in the mainland after the 1949 communist revolution.
Biography
Born in JiangsuJiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
province, Wu Yonggang, was one of the major leftist film directors of pre-Communist China. For the early part of his career, Wu was a set designer with Dazhonghua Baihe, before transferring to the Shaw Brothers' Tianyi Film Company. He was eventually noticed by Shi Dongshan
Shi Dongshan
Shi Dongshan was a prominent Chinese film director throughout the 1920s and 1950s. Shi directed several films that have gained in stature in the intervening years, most notably Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon....
at the newly formed Lianhua Film Company
Lianhua Film Company
The Lianhua Film Company was one of two major production companies based in Shanghai, China during the 1930s, the other being the Mingxing Film Company.-Names:...
. His first film from the director's chair, 1934's The Goddess
The Goddess (1934 film)
The Goddess is a 1934 Chinese silent film released by the United Photoplay Service. It starred Ruan Lingyu in one of her final roles, and was directed by Wu Yonggang....
(under contract with the Lianhua Film Company
Lianhua Film Company
The Lianhua Film Company was one of two major production companies based in Shanghai, China during the 1930s, the other being the Mingxing Film Company.-Names:...
), earned both him and the film's star, Ruan Lingyu
Ruan Lingyu
Ruan Lingyu , born Ruan Fenggen , was a Chinese silent film actress. One of the most prominent Chinese film stars of the 1930s, her death at the age of 24 led her to become an icon of Chinese cinema.- Career :...
, rave reviews. A prolific director, Wu continued to make films well into 1970s until his retirement shortly before his death including Evening Rain
Evening Rain
Evening Rain reflects the fight between Chinese people and the "Gang of Four" during the ten years of turmoil in China. It was directed by Wu Yigong with Li Zhiyu, Zhang Yu, Lin Bin playing the leading role...
(co-directed with Wu Yigong
Wu Yigong
-Biography:Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Wu Yigong enrolled in the directing department of the Beijing Film Academy in 1956. After graduation in 1960, he was appoint as director assistant in Shanghai Haiyan Film Factory....
) which won Best Picture at the first annual Golden Rooster Awards
Golden Rooster Awards
China Golden Rooster Film Festival also known as Golden Rooster Awards are the most prestigious awards in film given in mainland China, equivalent the China's Academy Awards. The awards are given annually, beginning in 1981. The name of the award came from the year of the Rooster in 1981...
.
Today Wu's reputation has only improved. Acclaimed director, Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema. His films are known for their visual flair and epic storytelling.-Early life:...
referred to Wu Yonggang as one of his most admired directors, and named The Goddess as his favorite film of the 1930s.
Selected filmography
| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 1934 in film -Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade... |
The Goddess The Goddess (1934 film) The Goddess is a 1934 Chinese silent film released by the United Photoplay Service. It starred Ruan Lingyu in one of her final roles, and was directed by Wu Yonggang.... |
神女 | |
| 1935 1935 in film -Events:*Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .*Seven year old Shirley Temple wins a special Academy Award.*The Bantu Educational Kinema Experiment started in order to educate the Bantu peoples.-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:... |
Little Angel | 小天使 | |
| 1936 1936 in film The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon... |
The Desert Island | 浪淘沙 | |
| 1936 1936 in film The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon... |
The Pioneers | 壮志凌云 | Also known as Soaring Aspirations |
| 1938 1938 in film The year 1938 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*January — MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of "Dorothy" in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. Ray Bolger is cast as the "Tinman" and Buddy Ebsen is cast as the "Scarecrow". At Bolger's insistence,... |
Rouge Tears | 胭脂泪 | Wu's remake of his own debut The Goddess for the Xinhua Film Company Xinhua Film Company The Xinhua Film Company , was one of the film companies to capitalize on the popularity of the leftist film movement in 1930s Shanghai, that had begun with the Mingxing and Lianhua Film Companies. It should not be mistaken for the modern-day Xinhua News Agency... |
| 1946 1946 in film The year 1946 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*November 21 - William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives premieres in New York featuring an ensemble cast including Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell.*December 20 - Frank Capra's It's a... |
Loyal Family | ||
| 1947 1947 in film The year 1947 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York.*November 24 : The United States House of Representatives of the 80th Congress voted 346 to 17 to approve citations for contempt of Congress against the "Hollywood Ten".*November 25... |
Waiting for Spring | 迎春曲 | |
| 1947 1947 in film The year 1947 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York.*November 24 : The United States House of Representatives of the 80th Congress voted 346 to 17 to approve citations for contempt of Congress against the "Hollywood Ten".*November 25... |
Decision of a Lifetime | 终生大事 | |
| 1950 1950 in film The year 1950 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 15 - Walt Disney Studios' animated film Cinderella debuts.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:*Ambush... |
The Far Away Village | 遥远的乡村 | |
| 1952 1952 in film The year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.... |
Hasen and Jiamila | ||
| 1956 1956 in film The year 1956 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 5 - The Ten Commandments opens in cinemas and becomes one of the most successful and popular movies of all time, currently ranking 5th on the list of all time moneymakers * February 5 - First showing of documentary films by... |
Qiu Meets the Goddess of Flowers | 秋翁遇仙记 | |
| 1980 1980 in film - Events :* May 21 - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is released and is the biggest grosser of the year .... |
Evening Rain Evening Rain Evening Rain reflects the fight between Chinese people and the "Gang of Four" during the ten years of turmoil in China. It was directed by Wu Yigong with Li Zhiyu, Zhang Yu, Lin Bin playing the leading role... |
巴山夜雨 | Co-directed with Wu Yigong Wu Yigong -Biography:Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Wu Yigong enrolled in the directing department of the Beijing Film Academy in 1956. After graduation in 1960, he was appoint as director assistant in Shanghai Haiyan Film Factory.... |
External links
- A brief biography of Wu Yonggang
- Wu Yonggang at the Chinese Movie Database