These are movie stills
from when she was 16
Some of the prints are no longer available
Most of the film genres were
folklore, romances
supernatural or martial arts
They say she was mostly
given casual roles
or wallflowers, as we call them now
Only after joining Lienhua in 1929
did she have a chance to be in serious films
We share similar fates then?
Ruan killed herself
over half a century ago
but people still remember her as a movie star
Maggie, would you wish to be
remembered half a century later?
That's not
so important to me
But, if people do remember me
it'll be in a different light from Ruan
As she halted her career
when she was at her most glorious
at the age of 25
She is now a legend
Miss Ruan played bad woman
to perfection
Yet I agree with Sun Yu that
she adds a fascinating flavour
the roles of noble ladies
I can't explain the fascination
Let's try
Min-wei, Lienhua is to start a new film "Reminiscences of Peking"
Ruan should have no problem playing a prostitute
Then we push her in "Wayside Flowers"
with a complete role change
She's a chaste songstress
It'd be terrific if we succeed
It means we have another superstar like Hu Tie
She must be better than Hu Tie
Lienhua aims to revive China's
movie industry with good films
But the box office is important
We must have good stars and directors
We've got good directors - Pu and Sun
We'll go to Peking to film snow scenes
for "Reminiscences of Peking"
plus the opening scenes
of "Wayside Flowers"
I'd like to have Ruan Ling-yu as the female lead
and as her own mother
in a double role
In this scene she plays a woman fleeing the famine
In the snow
her little one has nothing to eat
She bites her own finger and
feeds him with her own blood
Can Ruan Ling-yu make the grade?
It's a good film I'll play it if she can't
You'd better try your luck outside, good for you
Director Sun
Director, I'll go and take it up with them
"Reminiscences of Peking", 1930 Directed by Sun Yu. Film no longer available
You're all ingrates
I can be nasty too
Chu Chia-chieh, how dare you?
How dare you? How dare you?
Yen-yen
I'm cursing Ying, not you
Wang Hui-lan,
you have gone too far
I'm a concubine, but I can support this family
or I can ruin it single handedly
Not good enough, once more
OK... Once more
Chu-chu
does childbirth really hurt?
Yes
I remember I kept screaming
during my first birth
I don't want to give birth!
Why? You want to have children?
No, I just want to know how it feels
Did you buy this baby piano for Hsiao-yu?
Yes
How's it going with Ta-min?
Nothing special
I wrote him yesterday
Asking him to stop dating club hostesses
I still get jealous
I've been trying prove something
Something I heard
Go on
Did you get intimate with him
when your mother was their maid?
I met him then. It happened later
I was only 16
It's been four years!
Ever thought of getting married?
His family objected to our marriage
After the death of his parents
we didn't raise the subject again
What on earth does he want?
He kept many horses
when we first met
He took me riding every morning
One day I stared at him riding away
and I realized
he wants a free and easy life
He won't get married and have children
So I adopted her as a safeguard
I'll leave the rest to fate
Chu-chu, maybe because childbirth is painful
a mother loves her children more
You adore Hsiao-yu too
I wonder if I'd love her even more
if she were my own daughter
I believe you would
"Wayside Flowers", 1930 Directed by Sun Yu. Film no longer available
Ruan favourite expressions:
Looking up to the Heaven
in forlorn wordlessness
I didn't think much of her
when I saw a few of her movies
But after having seen all her 6 movies
she struck me as outstanding and life-like
They had silent movies then
It all came down to expressions and motion
I found in her something special
something sexy
Not superficially sexy
It exuded from within
She could be all wrapped up
up to here
but you could feel her coquettish charm
I don't know how to put it exactly
The way she smiled was most enchanting
Remember that village girl in
"Weeping Peach Blossoms"? Yes
It really is soul-consuming
What was it really like between Ruan and Chang Ta-min?
Somehow I feel Chang was immature
in life and feelings
He needed her care in this respect
especially after Ruan became a movie star
with Chang gambling and
his family's dwindling fortune
I mean not just financially
Spiritually she looked after him like a child
A woman could get tired
under such circumstances
and turn to others to care for her
So Tang Chi-shan came along
a mature man, considerate to the fair sex
He readily won her favour
Thank you Don't mention it
Hsiao-yu, don't get dirty you've just taken a bath
Mummy's peeping at us
Hsiao-yu, are you nice?
Yes
Did you miss mummy?
Mummy, come in
It's cold outside, come in
Isn't this scarf beautiful?
Yes
Louder!
It's beautiful!
You only speak Shanghai dialect now No Cantonese?
You really are silly
sending me a mahjong set
I'm more than silly; I'm crazy
Chicken brewed with swallow's nest Take it hot
Thank you, Mummy
I brewed something for Ta-min a few days ago
I threw it away
after waiting for him for 2 days
You could have taken it yourself
I wouldn't have wasted it if it suited me
Power failure!
Impossible, there's light in the kitchen
The bulb must've been out of order
They insisted on
Chinese goods
Japanese goods are better
Mummy, let me
Mummy, let me hold you
You hold me?
Been back long?
I knew you'd be back today
I wanted to get you something
to cheer you up
You didn't buy it?
I bought it
Chu-chu and I talked about you
Then I thought of buying something for you
So I bought a ring through Mr Lo
It cost $80 only and they said I was lucky
Let me put it on for you
It's too tight
It doesn't look good
Why is your right finger thinner?
You like it?
It's too dear Who says you're lucky?
My change of role went well
they said I was a good protagonist
I must do better than Hu Tie
I must give you something now
for the gifts you sent me
Give me a few horses then
I still can't afford that
Give me money then but in several instalments
Otherwise, I may spend it all at once
Miss Ruan
Miss Ruan, be ready for filming when you finish
Okay
Liu Chiung, shoot!
Liu Chiung, pass!
Liu Chiung
Miss Ruan, you don't know me,
I'm Chen Yen-yen
I played a minor role
when you filmed "Reminiscences of Peking"
I remember you've recently signed a contract with the company
Yes, but I've had no important role
Miss Ruan, they say it takes you one hour to paint your brow
Where did you hear it?
In Peking
I took two hours to paint a brow in Harbin
Yung-kang, Liu Chiung
come here and be introduced
How do you do?
They represent Fu Tang University's student body
Japan took Manchuria
in the "Sept 18 lncident"
Students in Shanghai are parading today
to call for a city-wide strike to boycott Japanese goods
Hope you people at Lienhua can join us
Yung-kang, Liu Chiung let's follow Nieh Erh
Okay
Mr Li, you're a revolutionary, you lead
When I followed Dr Sun
in the North Expedition
I carried a camera, instead of a gun
But I know when the moment comes I must carry a gun
But the time is not yet now
Let me call the Nanking Government now
Nanking?
Think about it
They won't let Japan war with us
We can't wait, can we?
Today we must have a chance
to study it
We can't shoot today
Still can't shoot?
How can we shoot for this kind of audience?
Nieh Erh
we must go on with filming today, right?
But we must show our concern
Min-wei, send some men
to help Nieh and the students
Okay
Back to work
Let's have a discussion
It's settled
Back to work
"Weeping Peach Blossoms", 1931 Directed by Pu Wan-chang From original print
Kwan, how old is Lily Li this year?
76. She's 5 years younger than Ruan
What will I look like at 76?
I was going to ask you
Yesterday I asked Maggie Cheung
Do you hope to be remembered
decades later?
I absolutely do
I hope people would talk about movie stars in the 90's
with me included, whatever the number
You hope to be remembered
Yes
I feel that had Ruan not killed herself
and kept her most brilliant moment
we wouldn't be filming "Ruan Ling-yu" now
We may be interviewing her
and filming another biography
Should a movie star vanish
at the peak of her brilliance?
Don't waste time on such silly questions
I decided...
If I were to be famous...
If I were to be a legend
I had to die when I was most beautiful
I kept that memory in mind (Lily Li, 1990. Actress of the 30's)
when Ruan died and was lying in the coffin
I kept staring and staring at her
till her hair fluttered up
Then I gripped it with my hairpin
Then Hsiao-yu tugged at me saying:
Auntie, why don't you cry?
She wanted me to cry. I couldn't then
The first production between Lily Li and Ruan was "Little Toys"
In our casual chat with her
she emphasized how
Ruan taught her to act in that movie
And they became good friends as a result
Ruan didn't speak Mandarin well
and Lily taught her
Lily also stressed on the affair
between Ruan and Tsai
She did overhear her
hum that "Blue Angle" tune
I think Lily Li saw many things
That was positive
In the course of our extensive research
Not only did Lily Li mention the relationship
between Ruan and Tsai
A writer wrote about it after her death
Had Ruan and Tsai broken that barrier
and put away the mental burden
Ruan wouldn't have died
Sun Yu, 1990 Director of the 30's
We visited him in Shanghai last year
He suffered strokes
before his death
His speech and hearing was bad
He retired a long time ago
He suffered a lot during the Cultural Revolution
He made no films at all after that
When we went to Shanghai for research
this was the only book we had
And we took it back when we left
How many days did he have the book?
No, we showed him the book
on the day of the interview
to jog his memories
to tell us about affairs of the 30's
But he could not put it in words
After the interview, we returned to HK
And he died in less than a month
He was then 91
We regret not having let him
keep the album as a souvenir
Chen Yen-yen, 1991 Actress of the 30's
Ruan had said to me:
Sun, you'd better tell...
Li Min-wei the then Production Manager
who was in Peking too
You'd better tell him
not to take this child to Shanghai
Sun answered: "What difference does it make?
The Company needs someone anyway"
She said "The child would take away
half of my territory some day."
At least she had a period of brilliant days
She was most popular in the 40's
Is Chen Yen-yen more famous than Ruan?
They were about the same
I heard my mummy say... she was very young then
Everyone only heard of Chen Yen-yen and Ruan Ling-yu
but seldom of Lily Li and Lin Chu-chu
Try to get Chu-chu to
play a Ruan Ling-yusque role
Don't turn round Your loved one is here too
Who have you brought along?
A club hostess. Never mind her
Don't forget we're going to HK tomorrow
I must return to pack up in a minute
Chu-chu, please take me to Hong Kong
Chang Chih-yun is here
Miss Ruan, I admire you
I've seen all your pictures
I don't like Hu Tie You're more sophisticated
I like Chang Chih-yun. She's decadent
Who's Chang Chih-yun?
She's a veteran. She was a big movie star 10 years ago
I know
She's Tea King Tang's mistress
They say he kept her home
smoking opium
while he went around womanizing
I really can't stand that
Is that true?
Impossible It's true he likes womanising
He's on good terms with us
He has a wife in Canton
but they don't get along
He wooed Li Cho-cho too
Take it easy
it was only a power failure not air raid
Keep cool!
Don't panic
Power's back
Power failure, not air raid
Power failure, again?
Hong Kong, 1932
I want an ice-cream Alaska
Good, good
Queen's Road is no match to 4th Street in Shanghai
You compare the Queen
with whores in a Shanghai street?
I've been in Hong Kong for nearly 10 days
Now Shanghai's fallen and Hong Kong's thriving
It's the cycle
I really can't live in such backward places
I'm so bored in a hotel
Ruan, are you okay?
Chu-chu, so Sir Robert Hotung knows my dad
He promised to make me manager of the SS Shui An
I must really thank you and Min-wei
The Shui An only plies between Macau and Hong Kong
I like Macau
I wouldn't want to go to Africa
If the Japs keep bombing
Lienhua has to move to HK
We should be safe in the French Concession
Bombs have no eyes
Don't be afraid
Ruan, Mr Tang's here
Miss Ruan
Ruan, are you all right?
Yes
Want to go up for a rest?
No, I was thinking of Shanghai
Shanghai's going to be OK
Your mom and daughter are there?
The government dare not wage a full war against the Japs
If the 19th Army loses
talks are the only way out
This may go down as interludes in history
You must embark at 6am tomorrow
Go to bed early
Keep accounts
Nothing to keep?
Enter $80 for Ta-min
his roulette winnings in Macau
Pay me the sum and I'll do it
You're greedy
What have you done today?
Tang Chi-shan took us
yachting around HK lsland
Min-wei finally talked him into joining Lienhua as a partner
When Shanghai calms down he'll return to sign the contract
To revive the Chinese movie industry again?
Did Chang Chih-yun go with you?
He confined her home to smoke opium
That's a rumour only
Did the rumour say that I control you?
I don't control you either
Don't!
Control me
What are you doing?
In fact, I'm not interested
We must create images for the cast
The image is important
The moment I face the camera, I freeze
Consider it acting
Haven't got a way to end it
Nieh Erh, insisted on completing it
A good start
I must make a film about this song
Good
Ruan, you're back?
Ruan, you're back
Director Sun
You're a deserter
Mind your words
Director Pu
Ruan, are you leaving him behind in HK?
He's found work over there
This means he made some contribution
to the Movement
Sorry
I didn't take part in your Movement
Never mind, there are lots of chances in future
These Japs won't leave
Then it's no longer a matter of singing for the Army
or nursing the wounded soldiers in hospital
Right. This time we've decided to fight them
Right, we must fight
Let's sing together
Now cheer up
Tien Han is Tien Han
It's the 1 st progressive movie of Lienhua
You mustn't use the name Tien Han
Why?
He's a subversive
The modern girl in this film
isn't the type who's into cosmetics and cars
She must be independent, rational and brave
A girl of the times should be
concerned about people's welfare
Li Cho-cho, you represent romance
Yen-yen, your role signals purity
But you flee when hit by the revolutionary waves
Yen-yen, you kill yourself because your boyfriend jilts you
Director Pu
Ruan, how are you?
Director Pu, how do I die?
I'll tell you in a minute
What if she comes?
Shall I go and find Tien Han?
He's only a script-writer
Director Pu, do you have a minute?
Sure
Iet's go out for a chat
Ruan, what's the matter?
They say you haven't found the girl
for the Chou role
How about letting me have a go?
Ruan, it's unsuitable for you
You've been playing a tragic figure
or a romantic girl
You have a noble personality
That role is neither noble
nor romantic
She's a labourer
and not suitable for you
I can play it well
If I fail, I'll make good your loss
Ruan, she's a stubborn girl, rebellious
She's the revolutionary type
In previous interviews, you mentioned (Shen Chi, 1991. Playwright-novelist)
Ruan was in many progressive movies (Author of "Ruan Ling-yu,
in the later stage Movie Star of the Decade")
Did she volunteer or feel compelled
to take these roles?
Many Chinese movies projected
a social background
and the image of modern girls
Having played mostly
downtrodden, helpless females
She wanted to play a modern role for a change
to meet the needs of the audience
So she offered to act
in "Three Modern Women" herself
She went after that role herself?
She did, and pressed Director Pu for it
Let's dance
I can't resist people being so nice to me
Whoever does
I'll madly reciprocate
Thank you
Why?
You've shown me your weak point
I still have Chang Ta-min
Do I have to be nice
to Chang Ta-min too?
You still have Chang Chih-yun and a wife
What about Li Cho-cho?
I broke with Chang Chih-yun in HK
It'll be harder with my wife
If I dump her just like that
you'd be scared of me
Give me time
"Three Modern Women" Directed by Pu Wan-chang. Film no longer available
Stop!
Is the camera moving at the right speed?
Seems it has to be a bit slower
It'll make the film much longer then
Thanks for the hard work Rush for another take
Thank you
Chin Yen, you play a playboy
in this movie
But not a so called new youth
Look scared when Chou takes you
to see the poor
I was scared
when she took me to the slum
This time I want to show I'm moved
What do you think?
You'll make it then
Ruan, well done, carry on
Director, Boss Tang is here
Mr Tang, how are you?
One more take Mr Tang's here
Let's strive to get it right this time
Good, ready
Lights, props
Ready. Camera!
Master Shen
Many analysts found out that
Ruan's later
progressive roles
contrasted sharply with her real life
What do you think?
Her union with Tang Chi-shan had
everything to do with how she fared then
The circumstances were beyond her control
She saw through him and then
it was a matter of one year
from cohabitation to suicide
There was nothing
she could do
when she found out
he had a previous marriage
It was never in her to fight or resist
She considered
the relationship tolerable
That's Chang Ta-min That's Tang Chi-shan
It was difficult getting these photos
One of them is barely visible
Tang later sank very low in Taiwan
They say he was a cigarette vendor
And he died of old age there
After the suicide many plays and operas in Shanghai
featured the triangular relationship between Ruan, Chang and Tang
calling them "Death of Ruan Ling-yu" or "Fall of A Movie Star"
Chang was invited to appear in person
He later co-operated with a HK movie company
to film "Who's to Blame"
He played himself
I felt then he was hopeless
Family might partly account for it
but he was himself irresponsible
He was only 36
when he died of pneumonia in HK
Ladies and gentlemen
movie critics describe "Three Modern Women"
as a great film heralding
a bright future
Let's take photos together
for a souvenir
Pink Director, come over quick!
Shall I leave you behind?
Sorry, sorry
Who's he?
He's Tsai Chu-sheng
He's just directed a movie titled "A Rosy Dream"
Then Nieh Erh called him
Pink Director
Now they're good friends
Sorry
From now on, all our productions will be blockbusters
It features Fei Mu, Sun Yu Wu Yung-kang, Tsai Chu-sheng
Fei Mu's films are more profound
Like depth charges
Miss Ruan, a photo of you two stars
1 23 Thank you
What do you mean?
Ta-min has agreed to separate from me
on an alimony of $300 each month
That's not too much
It represents one-third of my salary
I'll pay him
That's good news for me
It means he has no more feelings for you
Money alone makes things easier
Shame on a man asking
for separation money
It makes talks easier
I'm sure if I gave him $100 he'd take it
I'll sign a contract with him through my lawyer
Director Fei
I'll translate all the acting theory
of Stanislavski
You should read William Archer's
"Face and Mask"
The Japs are the enemy and the enemy is the Japs
Who's the Nationalist Government trying to fool?
Ruan, the reporters outside told me that
The Government has banned anti-Japanese movies
In our "Little Toys" the Japs are
invariably called the enemy
Is that so?
The enemy's coming, wake up!
Well, Lily, go on
Go now
Miss Ruan, I'm Tsai Chu-sheng
I'll make a new movie
after finishing "The Fisherman's Song"
In any case, I'll cast you in the female lead
Tsai Chu-sheng, aren't you ashamed?
No one will hire you
if your present movie doesn't sell
Don't dream of getting Ruan Ling-yu as your leading lady
Ruan, don't commit yourself
So you can speak Cantonese
I'm a Cantonese too
No
I didn't do well, let's do it again
Hold a moment
Wu Yung-kang, stop the rain
Stop the rain!
Add water
Hurry up!
Ming
How many times have we shot?
Five times. The last two is good
Ruan, we got two good shots
Don't shower anymore, it's too cold
What's she doing?
Her father died this way when she was six
You deliberately arranged this shot
Yung-kang, again
Ready
Rain
Costume, go away
Ruan, back to position
Ready. Shoot
Camera!
Dad
"Night in the City", 1933
Directed by Fei Mu. Film no longer available
Cut!
Prepare smoke
OK, take a breather
"Little Toys", 1933 Directed by Sun Yu
Lily, again
Director, what's wrong with me?
Try one more time
More smoke
Ready
Camera. Action!
Cut!
How's it, director?
Something seems wrong
but I can't put my finger on it
Lily, this show is coming to the end
Chu wipes off her mummy's tears with her hand
Then flicks the teardrops away with her little finger
You can't do this well
with your pain
I'm dying after being bombed by the Japs
I should feel great pain
Right, but not completely
Let me think
Make up these
two wounded women
Get the costumes changed
Theirs is next on the program Get ready
I don't get him
Imagine
Chu plays a nice, clever girl
considerate to her mummy
so it's best for her
to mask her pain now
You may try smiling at mummy to comfort her
and lighten her sorrow
Lily, I know how you should act
Me, too
You shouldn't just show your own anguish
I know what I should do now
and what you want
"Mummy, only foolish people cry!"
"Little Toys", 1933 From original print
"Oh, war is here! The enemy comes! ...Cannons!... Bombs!... Landmines!"
"The enemy comes!... Cannons! Bombs! Planes!"
Miss Ruan
I feel you're the best actress in China
Miss Ruan, you're Party A
Mr Chang is Party B
In clause 3, if Party A can't
maintain her livelihood
Party B shouldn't...
Don't worry
Ruan will get on better and better
There won't be one cent less for you
on the $100 monthly for 2 years
Mr Wu
the Ceylon Studio has asked if you want to change your seal ink
Stop bothering us!
If you've no more questions
please affix your chop
You really have a way to extort money out of Yuan
What are you doing?
You're the hostess here Please rehearse how to open it
Mummy
When we're really married
Don't dance, your clothes are creased and you're sweaty
Hsiao-yu, let me take you to see your room
Let's have a family session to see
how to put the furniture
Mummy, come on, go upstairs for a look
Are there many rumours about Ai Hsia's suicide?
It was not suicide
She was killed
She was killed by the society
not 1 or 2 persons
The obscene tabloid reporters
I feel Wei Ming's role
is a mirror of her life
I have seen her several times in Star Studio
I have seen her "Spring Silkworm" and "Bumper Crop"
And "A Modern Woman"
She wrote the script herself
Tsai calls his film "New Women"
because of her death
Were you on good terms with her?
You were on good terms with her?
Yes
She was independent
a good actress and script-writer
She was a modern female
People considered her a bad woman
and criticized her over minor affairs
They wouldn't let her go even at death
This show is designed to expose
the true colours of these people
Wei Ming in the script ended up being a whore
Was Ai Hsia...
People can sometimes be very weak
But we hope to see strong people
Did I bother you?
I think so
Do you enjoy squatting?
Two-thirds of people in China are used to that
They can't help doing it
They squat to wait for the mandarins
and landlords to slap them from behind
They squat to get insulted or for help
They squat for a rest too
I remember
when mummy was tired of work
she squatted too and I squatted beside her
How long have you not squat?
After becoming a movie star
I used to squat the whole day
waiting for shooting
don't sit on high Squat and show me
May I use your toilet?
It's behind the sitting room
I stood long outside and saw Hsiao-yu
going to school mummy going to the market
and him going to work That's meaningful
Anything else?
Your house is beautifully decorated
Show me around
The kitchen's there You've already seen the toilet
Mummy and Hsiao-yu in a room
This room is mine and Chu-shan's
All your furniture have been newly bought, right?
Yes
What about those at the old house?
All sold for a total of $93
and donated to the Bubbling Well Buddhist Society
None left that belonged to us?
No
These were gifts from you but there's no more
Am I no longer in your heart?
Sometimes
But it's not longer vital
Ruan, I'm thinking of doing some business
Could you advance the remaining
few months' allowances to me?
Copying Marlene Dietrich again?
Does it look like her?
Marlene Dietrich
she's a born decadent star
You look healthier than her
I can't imagine how she'd look as a housewife
a factory worker or a woman in distress
But why's everybody saying you look like her?
Let me tell you why
Because I'm sexy playing a woman in distress
Don't be too sexy playing my "New Women"
Fei Mu doesn't mind
my playing a sexy nun for him
Fei Mu is too capitalist
Don't compare me with him
You were a village woman
You made wishes to Buddha
that you'd become a nun
for the safety of your sick son
and husband at war
Now your son's recovered and your husband's safety back
and they're begging you to return
Are you going back or not?
You worried only about your family
husband and son
But now in this ethereal world
you experience peace and quiet you never had before
Are you going back or not?
All that I need is your peaceful expression
"The Sea of Fragrant Snow", 1934 Directed by Fei Mu. Film no longer available
Cut. OK
I'm crying! OK?
You weep peacefully without emotion Great
360, make up quickly
Okay
Lily
You should said Lily Li
If you're keen to learn Mandarin
speak it from now on
Okay, Lily Li
Right
Everybody at Lienhua said
during yesterday's shoot
you really broke down in tears
They nearly cried with you in sympathy, did they?
Were you preoccupied?
Never
Acting is like madness
Actors are madmen. I'm one of them
I'm not a madman
Director Tsai
Where's Ruan?
Inside
My script's ready
Ruan, hold back your tears
Keep some for me
What for?
Tsai, when will "New Women" be shot?
Soon
Splendid
Hurry up!
I win!
Now don't keep me company
Go up to accompany my daughter
Mummy, I promised to take your loss
And the losses of Sai-chen
Sai-san and Mrs Chou too
I've one principle
I won't let girls suffer
You're a good fellow
What are you doing?
That's your true face, isn't it?
If both Sai-chen and I were courtesans
which one would you take? Say it
What did you say?
You saved this prostitute from the police
and are threatening her now
Smiling obscenely you say
"How are you going to repay me?
Don't go away."
How are you going to repay me?
Don't go away
Ruan, you know you can't
get out of this rascal's clutches
Sad in heart, you put on an icy face
You walk from here to the table
and sit on it
You tell Chang Chih-chih to pass you a cigarette
You flick it once with a finger
and Chang lights it for you
Chang
you light it for her insinuatingly
A minor favour
It is a man's common trick
to seduce a girl
Director, one more time
I can't do it
"The Goddess" 1934 Directed by Wu Yung-kang
Ruan
sitting on the table means resistance
and so does smoking
The whole posture is resistance
But you're too weak-willed and you know it
This should be visible from your eyes
How's it?
Got any cigarettes?
"How are you going to repay me? Don't go away"
"I want to retaliate. Help me!"
Cut!
Ruan, not good enough Listen to me once more
You were forced into prostitution
to save your own daughter
but those tabloid reporters didn't pity you
They even scandalized you
You thought of killing yourself but you want to live now
You want to accuse, to hit back
Show all this in your face, understand?
Just do as you've just done
Again
Ready
Camera
Action!
I want to live, I want to retaliate
Cut!
Not enough, not enough
I want you to get stronger
Remember what you said to me
You have much in common with this role of Wei Ming
Imagine the unfairness
surrounding your livelihood
Vent all your sad feelings
Iike volcanic eruptions
I'll run the subtitles in your
face: "l want to live..."
One word bigger than the other
I want to see your expressions
one stronger than the other
There should be no reservations
Can you do it?
Just do as you've just done
One more time
Back to position
"New Women" 1935 Directed by Tsai Chu-sheng
Ready
Ready, shoot
Ready
Ready, shoot
Camera
Action!
I want revenge!
Help me! I want to live!
I want to live!
Sister
Cut!
OK, pack up
Pack up
Ruan
Cut!
Keep this
Tony, you forgot to lift up the bed sheet to see Maggie
"Help me!"
"I want to live!"
Did reporters drive her to her death?
What is this?
That's too much. That's an insult to us. Let's go
That's unacceptable!
The Shanghai Press Union is making a final plea
or the ultimatum, to your studio
Your studio's "New Women"
is libelling our reporters
You must issue a notice in newspapers to apologize to all the press
and ensure it won't happen again
Some shots insulting reporters
should be deleted
Cut, cut, cut the whole part of it!
After the cut, no one will see
them sponging in ballrooms
History will give an account of it
Miss Ruan
Do you really want to cut it?
The show will be banned if we don't
Don't cut it!
About that segment
Miss Ruan, we must lobby
through various channels
The film can't be released without cuts
But the cuts may arouse public opinion
which would surely be on our side
The final victory belongs to us
I heard the Kuomintang was
behind the whole thing
behind Reporters' Union as well as Chang
The Kuomintang didn't come out into the open
It was handled through the Association
through its Kuomintang members
The movie "New Women"
was not complimentary to the press
The press wanted
to attack the movie
But it could not find
a good excuse
They turned to Ruan Ling-yu
who was notorious for her private life
They said Ruan was unsuitable to play
the role of a new woman
Did the Association
urge Chang to sue Ruan?
The two events proceeded at the same time
Eat bread, be nice
What's up?
See for yourself
"Chang Ta-min sues Ruan & Tang For"
"Love and Cohabitation"
"Crime of Adultery"
You're late. Speak now
This is a matter of life and death
You won't die betting on one race less
Why do I mean so much to you now?
Ta-min, why are you doing that?
I'll sleep over here
I now sleep alone
now bring a hostess back
They bothered me with questions about you
and about things between you and me
Aren't things good for us now?
When everything is known I can save my breath
I never do anything bad behind you
When you were in Foochow
I only danced and ate with Tang Chi-shan
Enough
Ta-min, have I done anything unfair to you?
We made everything clear in
the solicitor's office
I even advanced
all the money you asked
Did someone instigate you to hurt me?
Who could've done that?
Money could!
Look, I'm still in love with you
I don't love you
Who knows I'd have come here?
Who did you tell this to?
Who did you conspire with to hurt me?
I'll take you out through the back door
Coming
What do you think of this court case?
They say her mummy was a maid at the Changs
Before she was a maid?
"The Goddess" is all about her mother
I see
Miss Ruan
Hello, Miss Ruan, what would you have?
Wait
Okay
You made it too loose
I only want to ask you one thing
Would you take me away?
Let's go together to Hong Kong
We still have to come back
Yes
We'll return only after getting married
If only you don't mind leaving your wife and mistress
You said you'd ask me one thing only
I still have something to do here
This is OK. Let's watch the next reel
Okay
Get the next one
Do you think Tsai Chu-sheng
had to stay in Shanghai because
he was timid or because he was a Communist?
Personally, I think he had
no courage or guts
He dared not love or hate
Was it true love between him and Ruan?
I'd like to ask her about it
In fact, many have raised this question
When researching, Lily Li told us
she often saw Ruan in the makeup room
when filming "New Women" and
heard her hum that "Blue Angel" tune
But she realized the delicate affair
between Tsai and Ruan only after her death
I feel Ruan Ling-yu's death was
linked with romantic news about Chang Ta-min and Tang Chi-shan
If she and Tsai dared to go
on with their affair
would she have taken another course? I think not
Why didn't they have the courage to?
Because of their romantic news
They were having enough bad press
Right, if another rumour spread
So the problem is she was a movie star
To an ordinary girl
a love triangle was common place
Even a quadrangular one wouldn't have raised a ripple
You keep your tears and joy private
and to the extent of suicide
But she was a movie star and a public figure
The pressure in that era was
especially heavy
Yes
As an artist, I hate to be maligned
Rumours are as horrible in any age
It's still just as scary now
A movie star doesn't need to make her private life public
What an ordeal
if the public twists the facts
and turn black into white
When your private life
spills into public domain
you feel you're being stripped of everything bit by bit
that's the most traumatic experience
So I fully understand how Ruan felt then
I'm very happy
She killed herself under such circumstances
Would you do the same if you experienced it today?
I think my first reaction...
People may think I try to play it cool
I may be sad but it's my business
But I won't let them know it
I wouldn't take my own life
If I died, it would be for myself
not because of other people
What would you wear day after tomorrow?
Day after tomorrow?
It's the hearing
I won't attend it
I' ll wear a black coat and a dark green necktie
to match your new gown
Damn, I mean to show to the Shanghai people
that we're a pair of noble adulterers
We're adulterers
You've a wife and have an affair with Chang Chih-yun and me
You're an adulterer
I'm an adulteress, because
I followed you knowing you're married
To get dressed beautifully makes no difference
We must part if we don't get married
If we don't part you're still an adulterer
even though we win over Ta-min
Shut up!
Mummy, what's the matter?
A young lady claiming to be your
ex-classmate wants to see you
Did he hit you?
No
Did he hit you?
No
Jui-chen, why stand outside? Come in quick!
Sorry, I'm already late for an appointment
Tomorrow's Women's Day
You promised to lecture
in my school
Don't back out anymore
I know you must be in court day after tomorrow
You can stand out
and pour out all your grievances
as a warning to young female students
I'm also to blame
Pour it all out
our weak points and pride
and desire to eke out an existence
I'll pick you up with a car at 10am tomorrow
That won't be necessary I'll go by myself
Good, be sure to attend don't let the youth down
I'm also a youth
But you're Ruan Ling-yu
See you tomorrow
Goodbye
Auntie, goodbye
Hello, who's it?
Chu-chu, hang on please
It's Chu-chu
Hello, Chu-chu
A party? I would never forget that
Chi-shan's beside me. Let me tell him
Chu-chu wants us to attend
her farewell party for Skiner
Chu-chu, we won't fail
Will they all attend?
I must look as beautiful as possible then
Only then can I bewitch them
Is that so?
Good
Just as the microphone is adjusted perfectly
Her boss walks in
he sees her cord
pulls it and she falls off her chair
Just as the microphone is adjusted perfectly
Her boss walks in
he sees her cord
pulls it and she falls off her chair
I'm going to the USA to see them shoot talkies
They started with that not long ago
So they often make slips
Thank you, Mr Skiner
Let's all thank Mr Skiner for
installing this microphone for us
Next time I can talk on the screen
I can speak Mandarin
Miss Ruan thanks you on our behalf
for establishing the sound synchronizing department
She should be the first star to speak
on screen in Mandarin in the next movie
She just studied Mandarin for more than 8 months
But please keep it to yourself It's a secret
Tomorrow is Women's Day
My ex-classmate is now
the headmistress of a girls' school
She's invited me to lecture
I have the lecture ready I'll speak in Mandarin
Lily, listen
Okay
Classmates
Iet's celebrate Women's Day today
What's the idea of this Festival?
To celebrate us girls for rising up
from a centuries-old men-dominated history
No, no, we'd better speak Shanghaiese
You women are standing up
and we men are falling down
When women stand up
it doesn't necessarily mean men are falling down
We can stand up together in this large world
You're right, Director Fei
Fei Mu, you really are a nice guy
What about me? Can I be called good?
She asked me if she's good
I told her, "all your friends believe you're good regardless
of what others say"
I'm mainly of the opinion you're too nice
He's the director who taught me how to resist
Drinking means resistance
Resist!
Come up for a smoke and drink
I forgive you for not casting me in "The Road"
Ten days ago I wanted her to inscribe
something on a friend's souvenir album
and she promised to come up with something good
It's now too late
She only embroidered "sun" on my hat
when she was filming "Little Toys"
Ruan, you've kissed every one of them?
Not with the girls though
Director Pu
You transformed me twice
making me a movie star
and making me a female revolutionary
If I could change you once more...
I kissed him the longest
because he's the most shy
I was too excited when filming the last scene in "New Women"
I broke up sobbing
He was so shy that he dared not take off my blanket to see me
They're all looking at us
I've learnt one thing
since coming to society
If you're rich and powerful
none dare say anything bad about you in your presence
When not in your presence?
You can't hear it
People will say I committed suicide out of guilt
But I was guilty of nothing
This is my woman
Death means nothing to me
Still I'm afraid of malicious gossip
Chi-shan, without me
you can do anything you like
I'm very happy
Chi-shan, I'm sorry to have made you suffer
May my spirit, if any bless you forever
Chi-shan, after my death people may say
you were a devil toying with females
and I was a girl without a soul
But I wouldn't be around then
You have to bear the burden
Mummy
After taking the congee
go to bed. It's late
Please take care of mummy and darling
Please use the $2,050 Lienhua owed me
as living expense for them
Please take good care of them
Go to bed early
I love you more than my own child
It's all right
Mummy, sleep
If I died now
people would think I was dreading punishment
What guilt do I have?
I didn't do anything wrong to Chang Ta-min
but he returned evil for good
People might even think I did him a wrong turn
What else can I do
except to die?
I'm not afraid of death
My only fear is the malicious gossip
Ruan Ling-yu March 7, 1935, midnight
Chi-shan
I never thought we'd part so soon
but please don't be sad
I am sorry to make you suffer
May my spirit, if any, bless you forever
Lienhua owes $2050 in wages
Chang Ta-min, you've forced me to death
Don't try to cry or repent
now that things have reached such a stage
Yet I do regret having become
the prize sought by both of you
But it's too late now
Chi-shan, l' m your second Chang Chih-yun
Only you can tell who'll be me tomorrow
Without me, you can do anything you like
I'm at peace. Ling-yu
Chi-shan
Do you love me?
What's the time? Sleeping like a dog
What did you ask me?
Cut. OK
Now, in this shot of Fei Mu's
Director, I don't seem to have said to Ruan
"Get up and smoke, get up and drink"
It's for the show at Li Min-wei's party
not this
We don't know if Wu Yung-kang had said this
We wrote this
This is our only photo
Her private life and hardship
are hardly known
None of her colleagues
helped her in her lawsuit
A sentimental girl like her must've
taken a pessimistic view of life
She never turned herself into a cold
and shrewd woman
She took a serious view of life
When she got half-drunk
she'd ask her friends :
"Can I be considered good?"
Come on, everybody, ready
Ready
Be serious
Ready
Take 3
Action
Auntie Li, why don't you cry?
Site of Lienhua Studio, 1991 (United Chinese Photoplay Ltd.)
Cut
Maggie's breathing, breathing
Maggie, one more time Take a breath first
Again
Ready
Roll
Action
Cut
OK
Ruan Ling-yu (1910 - 1935) Original name: Yu-ying; pet name: Feng-keng
Family from Chunshan prefecture, Kwangtung Born in Shanghai; age 25