Runje Shaw
Runje Shaw | |
---|---|
Born | Shao Renjie 1896 Ningbo, Zhejiang, Qing dynasty |
Died | 1975 Shanghai, People's Republic of China | (aged 78–79)
Other names | Shao Zuiweng |
Alma mater | Shenzhou University |
Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, filmmaker |
Known for | Founding Tianyi Film Company |
Spouse | |
Children | 6 |
Relatives |
Shao Zuiweng | |
---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin | Shào Rénjié |
Runje Shaw (1896–1975), also known as Shao Zuiweng (C.W. Shaw) and Shao Renjie, was a Chinese film entrepreneur, producer and director. The eldest of the Shaw brothers, in 1925 he founded Tianyi Film Company (also called Unique Film Productions) in Shanghai, which became one of the top three film production companies in pre-WWII Republic of China, and the beginning of the Shaw Brothers media empire.
Under Runje's leadership, his younger brothers Runde, Runme, and Run Run established branches of Tianyi in Hong Kong and Singapore. Runje retired from filmmaking after Tianyi's Shanghai base was destroyed in 1937 during the Japanese invasion, but his younger brothers, particularly Sir Run Run, rebuilt Tianyi's offshoots in Hong Kong and Singapore, of which Shaw Brothers Studio came to dominate filmmaking in Hong Kong.[1][2]
Early life
Shaw was born in 1896 in
In 1914 Shaw graduated from Shanghai's Shenzhou University with a law degree and worked as a lawyer for the local court of Shanghai. He later went into business, trading textile dyes, silk, paper, etc. He also cofounded the Sino-French Zhenye Bank (中法振業銀行) with several partners and started Huayou Egg Factory, before getting into the theatre business.[3][4]
Film career
In early 1922, Shaw managed the theatre Xiao Wutai (Happy Stage or Laughter Stage) in Shanghai. Among his colleagues were
Tianyi's first film, A Change of Heart, directed by Runje Shaw himself and released in 1925, was highly profitable. A shrewd businessman who understood the audiences' preferences, Shaw was one of the first Chinese filmmakers to make extensive use of traditional literature, legends, and myths.
In 1926, Tianyi released two highly successful costume dramas: The Lovers (Liang Zhu Tongshi, based on the legend of
Under Shaw's leadership, Tianyi was one of the first filmmakers to take the leap from
Besides Shanghai, Shaw also established business operations in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.[2] Just before the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in August 1937, Tianyi shipped its equipment to Hong Kong,[5]: 76 and amalgamated the main operation with its Hong Kong branch, Nanyang Studio.[8] Its studio in Shanghai was destroyed when the Japanese occupied the city, and Shaw closed Tianyi.[7]
Personal life
Runje Shaw was married to actress Chen Yumei, who became Tianyi's number one star after Hu Die defected to rival Mingxing Studio in 1928.[9] In 1934, Chen Yumei was voted the "Movie Queen" by the Shanghai newspaper "Movie Life", likely with the help of Shaw, who reportedly bought many of the votes.[9]: 119 However, in the same year Chen married Shaw and retired from acting.[9]: 120
Retirement
After World War II and the Communist victory in mainland China, Runje Shaw retired from the film industry and stayed in Shanghai.[1] His younger brothers, meanwhile, rebuilt their businesses in Singapore and Hong Kong. Under Run Run Shaw's leadership, Shaw Brothers Studio became Hong Kong's largest and most influential film production company.[2] After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Runje Shaw served as a member of the Shanghai Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He died in Shanghai in 1975, aged 80.[3]
Selected filmography
Shaw's works include:[10]
- Reunion
- Flying General
- Incident in the Pacific
- Deadly Rose
- Compassion
- Fisherman's Girl
- Love and Morality
- Monster of the Secret Chamber
- My Friend, the Ghost
- Patriotic Woman
- Woman of Guangzhou
- Burning of The Efang Palace
- Butterfly Lovers, Part 1
- Butterfly Lovers, Part 2
- Country Bumpkin Tours the City
- Country Bumpkin Tours the City, The Sequel
- Country Bumpkin Tours the City, Part Three
- Life
- Nocturnal Morning
- Unworthy of Love
- Mourning of the Chaste Tree Flower
- Platinum Dragon
- Nightclub Colours
- Humanities
- Lady Mengjiang
- Love Eternal
- Swordswoman Li Feifei
- New Leaf
- Duel Between Monkey King and Gold-Spotted Leopard
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 9780810879133.
- ^ ISBN 9780203195550.
- ^ a b c d "中國電影業的先驅者邵醉翁" [Shao Zuiweng: Pioneer of Chinese film industry]. Government of Zhenhai District. 26 May 2005. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ "About Shaw: The Beginning 1924-1933". Shaw Organisation. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9780415172905.
- ^ Raymond Zhou (8 January 2014). "Movie mogul Run Run Shaw, 107, dies in HK". China Daily. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9781444355970.
- ISBN 9780415546331.
- ^ ISBN 9789862210789.
- ^ "Runje Shaw". HK Cinegamic. Retrieved 15 January 2014.