The Chinese Mirror

Introduction:
 
    As with all major film-producing countries, Chinese filmmakers over the decades have drawn their source material from literary sources, both domestic and foreign.  Our discussions of early films which were adaptations of foreign (i.e. non-Chinese) works prompted the compilation of a list of these, but the list has been expanded to include some later Chinese movies, covering through 1956.

    No claim is made to completeness:  these are just the ones that are credited in Chinese sources as being foreign adaptations, and if possible, the specific source adapted.  In a few instances (as in the first two), the Chinese credits were somewhat vague as to the specific title of the source, providing at most a Chinese translation.

The format is as follows:  

    (1) Year of release in country of production (which often conflicts with Chinese references, which list films by year of production, regardless of release date.
    (2) Title in PinYin romanization.
    (3) Title in Simplified Chinese.
    (4) English title -- if an English release title was confirmed, that took priority; second priority was given to titles commonly used in Chinese and Western histories; if all else failed, I provided my own translation.
    (5) Language of production:  Republican era and PRC sound films are nearly all in Mandarin; Hong Kong productions are noted as HK-C for Cantonese and HK-M for Mandarin, Taiwan films are in Mandarin unless otherwise noted.
    (6) Director name(s) are in Mandarin PinYin, unless more widely known by an alternate form of the name, e.g. and English name, or in Cantonese or Wade-Giles romanization.
    (7) Foreign literary source, with author's name and dates.  

This list will be expanded as further research finds other adaptations.  The latest update: February 9, 2012)       

1920
"Che Zhong Dao" 《车中盗》 (Railway Robbers).  Director:  Ren Pengnian (任彭年).  American detective story, "The Railway Incident" in:  "Badly Beaten/In a Fix" [Exact English title unknown].

1921  
"Hongfen Kulou"  《红粉骷髅》 (Women Skeletons).  Director:  Guan Haifeng (管海峰).  French detective novel, "Ten Sisters of the Insurance Gang" [Exact French title unknown].

1925
"Shui shi Muqin"《谁是母亲》(Who is the Mother?).  Director:  Gu Wuwei (顾无为).  French play《Le Fils naturel》[The Illegitimate Son] by Alexandre Dumas, fils (1824-1895)

"Xiao Gongzi" 《小公子》(The Young Gentleman).  Director:  Dan Duyu (但杜宇).  English children's novel "Little Lord Fauntleroy" by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924). 

"Xiao Pengyou"  《小朋友》 (Little Friend).  Director:  Zhang Shichuan (张石川).  Based on Bao Tianxiao's novel 《苦儿流浪记》 (A Bitter Son's Wandering Notes) which was itself adapted from the French novel "Sans Famille" [Without Family] by Hector Malot (1830-1907). 

1926  
"Yichuan Zhenzhu" 《一串珍珠》 (A String of Pearls).  Director:  Li Zeyuan (李泽源).  French short story "La Parure" [The Necklace] by Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893).  [Remade in 1932, q.v.]

"Kong Gu Lan" 《空谷兰》 (Lonely Orchid).  Director:  Zhang Shichuan ((张石川).  Based on "Yureito" (幽霊塔) [Ghost Tower]  by Kuroiwa Ruikō (1862-1920), the Japanese translation and adaptation of the English mystery novel "A Woman in Grey" by Alice Muriel Williamson (1869-1933).  [remade 1935]

"Chanhui" 《忏悔》(Repentance) [aka "Liangxin Fuhuo" 良心复活》 [The Confession].   D:  Bu Wancang (卜万苍). Russian novel, "Voskresenie" [Resurrection] by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910).  [Remade in 1937, 1938, 1941, 1948 (q.v.)]

"Buru Gui"《不如归》[Better Go Home].  D:  Yang Xiaozhong (杨小仲).  Japanese novel "Hototogisu" 《不如帰》 [The Cuckoo] by Tokutomi Roka (徳冨 蘆花) , pen name of Tokutomi Kenjirō (徳富 健次郎) (1868-1927)].

"Wei Junzi"  《伪君子》[The Hypocrite]  D:  Hou Yao (侯曜).  French play "Tartuffe" (or "The Hypocrite") by Moliére (Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, 1622-1673).
 
1927
"Dao Minjian Qu" 《到民间去》[Go to the People] - unfinished.  D:  Tian Han (田汉).  Japanese poem by Ishikawa Takuboku (石川 啄木, 1886-1912). 

"Nü Lüshi" 《女律师》 [Woman Lawyer].  D:  Qiu Qixiang (裘芑香), Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  English play "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

"Shiye Dawang"《实业大王》[The Industrial Magnate].  D:  Hong Ji (洪济), Zhou Kongkong (周空空).  French novel "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo (1802-1885).

1928
"Shao Nainai de Shanzi" 《少奶奶的扇子》[The Young Mistress's Fan].  D:  Zhang Shichuan (张石川).  English play "Lady Windemere's Fan" by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900).  [Remade 1939]

"Lu Binhua" 《卢鬓花》[Robin Hood].  D:  Dan Duyu (但杜宇).  English legend "Robin Hood"

"Jiushi Wo" 《就是我》[That's Me].  D:  Zhu Shouju (朱瘦菊).  Chinese translation by Chen Lengxue (陈冷血) of a foreign novel published in China as《火里罪人》 "Guilty Person in the Fire."  I have been unable to identify the foreign source exactly.

"Feixing Xie" 《飞行鞋》 [The Flying Shoes].  D:  Pan Chuitong (潘垂统).  German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, "The May Bird." 《五月鸟》 I have been unable to identify the exact story for this one. 

1930
"Ye Cao Xian Hua" 《野草闲花》[Wild Flower Among the Weeds].  D:  Sun Yu (孙瑜).  Inspired by the French novel, "La Dame Aux Camélias" by Alexandre Dumas, fils (1824-1895) and the American movie "Camille". [Unspecified whether the Nazimova/Valentino version of 1921 or the Talmadge/Roland version of 1927, but probably the latter.]

"Taohua Hu" 《桃花湖》[Peach Blossom Lake].  D:  Zheng Zhengqiu (郑正秋).  According to a film journal article, Zheng based his script on a "popular and complex foreign romantic novel," but the source's actual title is unspecified. (Li Jinsheng, "Lun Zheng Zhengqiu, xia" (论郑正秋,下) (On Zheng Zhengqiu, pt.2) Film Art, 1989:2, p.39.

1931
"Fu-er-mo-si Zhentan An"《福尔摩斯侦探案》[The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes].  D:  Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  Based on several short stories from the English collection of the same title by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930).

"Lianai yu Yiwu" 《恋爱与义务》[Love and Duty].  D:  Bu Wangcang (卜万苍).  Chinese novel of the same title by Polish expatriate writer Stephanie Rosen-Hoa (? - ?).

"Sharen de Xiaojie" 《杀人的小姐》[The Murderess].  D:  Tan Zhiyuan (谭志远), Gao Lihen (高梨痕).  Chinese stage play "Xue Suo Yi"《血蓑衣》[The Bloody Rain Cape], an adaptation of the Japanese play "Ryobijin" 《両美人》by Murai Gensai [村井弦斎], (1864-1927). 
 
"Ya-sen-luo-bin"《亚森罗宾》[Arsene Lupin].  D:  Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  French novel of the same title by Maurice Leblanc (1864-1941).

"Yijian Mei" 《一剪梅》 [A Spray of Plum Blossoms].  D:  Bu Wancang (卜万苍).  English play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

1932
"Yiye Haohua"《一夜豪华》[One Night of Wealth].  D:  Shao Zuiweng (邵醉翁).  French short story "La Parure" [The Necklace] by Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893). 

1933
"Ai-la-ting" 《爱拉廷》[Aladdin].  D:  Ye Yisheng (叶一声).  From "The Arabian Nights" story "Aladdin and the Lamp."

"The Waif"《苦儿流浪记》.  Based on Bao Tianxiao's novel "A Bitter Son's Wandering Notes," itself adapted from the French novel "Sans Famille" [Without Family] by Hector Malot (1830-1907). Remake of the 1925 version. 

1934
"San Zimei"《三姊妹》[Three Sisters].  D:  Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  Japanese story "New Pearl" 《新珠》 by Kan Kikuchi, pen name of Hiroshi Kikuchi 菊池 寛 (1888-1948). 

1935
"Kong Gu Lan" 《空谷兰》[Lonely Orchid] aka [Orchid in an Empty Valley)].  D:  Zhang Shichuan (张石川).
Japanese novel "Yureito" [Ghost Tower] by Kuroiwa Ruikō (黒岩涙香) (1862-1920), an adaptation of the English mystery novel "A Woman in Grey" by Alice Muriel Williamson (1869-1933). 

1936
"Kuanghuan zhi Ye" 《狂欢之夜》[A Night of Madness].  D:  Shi Dongshan (史东山).  Russian novel "The Inspector General" by Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852).

"Dao Ziran Qu" 《到自然去》[Go to Nature].  D:  Sun Yu (孙瑜).  English play "The Admirable Crichton" by J.M. Barrie (1860-1937). 

1937
"Yao Qian Shu" 《摇钱树》[The Money Tree].  D:  Tan Youliu (谭友六).  Irish play "Juno and the Paycock" by Sean O'Casey (1880-1964).  

"Yongyuan de Weixiao" 《永远的微笑》[Eternal Smile].  D:  Wu Cun (吴村).   Russian novel, "Voskresenie" [Resurrection] by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910). 

"Shipotianqing" 《石破天惊》[Shatter and Batter].  D:  Dan Duyu (但杜宇).  English short story from the "Casebook of Sherlock Holmes" by Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930).  (One Chinese source says the story was "The Problem of Thor Bridge," but written summaries of the plot do not sound like that of the Doyle story.) 

1938
"Yihai Fengguang"《艺海风光》[Vistas of Art].  D:  Zhu Shilin (朱石麟), He Mengfu (贺孟斧), Situ Huimin (司徒慧敏).  Three short stories by English writer Leonard Merrick (1864-1939), but I have not been able to identify the specific ones. 

"Caihuanü"《茶花女》[Camille].  D:  Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  French novel "La Dame aux Camélias" by Alexandre Dumas, fils (1824-1895).

1939
"Shao Nainai de Shanzi" 《少奶奶的扇子》[The Young Mistress's Fan].  D:  Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  English play "Lady Windemere's Fan" by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). 

"Jinyin Shijie"《金银世界》[A World with Money].  D:  Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  French play "Topaze" by Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974).

"Nü Da Si Jia"《女大思嫁》[Two Daughters] (HK-C).   D:  Kwun Siu (君啸) [Mandarin:  Jun Xiao].  French play "Prenez garde à la peinture" ("Wet Paint") by René Fauchois (1882-1962).  [Remade in HK in 1950] -- This play has also been popular on Chinese theater stages over the decades, with at least 8 separate productions between 1934 and 1983, when it was done by the Experimental Theater Company of Beijing.]

1940
"Hudie Furen"《蝴蝶夫人》[Madame Butterfly] (HK-C).  D:   Wong Toi (黄岱)  [Mandarin:  Huang Dai].   American short story of the same name by John Luther Long (1861-1927).  [remade 1948]

"Cong Xin Suo Yu"《从心所欲》[As the Heart Desires] (HK-C).  D:  Chiu Shu-sun (趙樹燊)  [Mandarin:  Zhao Shushen].  Engllsh play  "A Comedy of Errors," by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). 

“Hun Gui Li Hen Tian"《魂归离恨天》[To Die for Love] (HK-C).  D:  Hui Siu-kuk (许啸谷)  [Mandarin:  Xu Xiaogu].  English novel "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë (1818-1848). 

"Zhongguo Yeren Wang" 《中国野人王》[The Chinese Tarzan] (HK-C).  D:  Hou Yao (侯曜),  Wan Hoi-ling (尹海灵) [Mandarin:  Yin Hailing].  American novel "Tarzan of the Apes" by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950).

"Zhongguo Baixue Gongzhu"《中国白雪公主》[The Chinese Snow White] .  D:  Wu Yonggang (吴永刚).  German fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." 

1941
"Xue Gu Qi You"《雪姑七友》[Snow White and her Seven Friends]  (HK-C).  D:   Yam Wu-fa (任護花) [Mandarin:  Ren Huhua].  German fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." 

"Gu Guo Ren Yao"《古国人妖》[[Ancient Kingdom of Goblins].  The Hong Kong Film Archive lists the English title as "Ancient Kingdom of Human Freaks"].  (HK).  D:  Yip Lui (叶雷) [Mandarin:  Ye Lei ].  Arabian folk tale collection, "One Thousand and One Nights."  Specific tale not specified.

"Fu Huo"《复活》[Resurrection].  D:  Mei Qian (梅阡).  Russian novel, "Voskresenie" [Resurrection] by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910).

1942   
"Si Zimei"《四姊妹》[Four Sisters].  D:  Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  English novel "Pride and Predjudice" by Jane Austen (1775-1815).

1943
“Hongfen Zhiyi"《红粉知己》[Confidantes].  D:  Wu Wenchao (吴文超).  English novel "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855).

"Qing Chao"《情潮》[Tide of Passion].  D:  Griffin Yue Feng (岳枫).  Russian novel "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910). 

"Riben Jiandie"《日本间谍》[A Japanese Spy].  D:  Yuan Congmei (袁丛美).  Italian memoir "Secret Agent of Japan: A Handbook to Japanese Imperialism" by  Amleto Vespa (1888-c1940). 

1946
"Da Leiyu"《大雷雨》[The Storm]  (HK-C).  D:  Chen Kengran ( 陳鏗然).  Based on the Russian play "Groza" (Thunderstorm) by Aleksandr Ostrovsky (1823-1886).

1947
"Xin Tianfang Ye Tan"《新天方夜谭》 [New Arabian Nights]  (HK-M).  D:  Dan Duyu (但杜宇).   Arabian folk tale collection, "One Thousand and One Nights." 

"Huangjin Hu" 《黄金潮》[Gold Fever]  (HK-C).  D:  Kea Tso (左几), Tam Sun-fung (谭新风) [Mandarin:  Zuo Ji, Tan Xinfeng].   Russian novel "The Inspector General" by Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852). 

"Mu yu Zi" 《母与子》[Mother and Son]  D:  Li Pingqian (李萍倩).  Russian play "Innocent as Charged" by Aleksandr Ostrovsky (1923-1886).  

"Jiamian Nülang"《假面女郎》[A Girl's Mask].  D:  Fang Peilin (方沛霖).  Adapted from part of the French novel series "La Comédie humaine" by Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850).  Particular title uncertain, but from Chinese written sources the plot sounds like it might be "La Cousine Bette," transplanted to post-WW2 China.

"Chun Can Meng Duan"《春残梦断》 [A Tragic Love Story].  D:  Maxu Weibang (马徐惟邦), Sun Min (孙敬). Russian novella "Dvoryanskoye Gnezdo" (A Nest of Gentlefolk)  by Ivan Turgenev (1818-1883).

"Yedian"《夜店》 [Night Inn].  D:  Zuo Lin（佐临).  Russian play "The Lower Depths)" by Maxim Gorky (1868-1936). 

1948
"Ya Qi"《哑妻》 [Dumb Wife].  D:  Wu Renzhi (吴仞之).  French play " La Comédie de celui qui épousa une femme