Revenge of an Actress (1929)

Interesting facts

Revenge of an Actress is a 1929 Chinese silent film. It follows a love triangle between two students and an actress, whereby she seeks revenge for her lover being blinded by her scorned suitor. Initially directed by Bu Wancang, directing was taken over by star Wang Hanlun when Bu proved unreliable; production and editing was also handled by Wang through her Hanlun Film Company. The film was reportedly a commercial success, allowing Wang to retire from the film industry.

Production

Having begun her career with Orphan Rescues Grandfather in 1923 and established a reputation as a tragedienne, the actress Wang Hanlun had failed to receive her salary when working for Shanghai's dominant Mingxing and Tianyi film companies. Frustrated by the situation, as well as what she perceived to be an exploitive time in Singapore, Wang decided to produce one final film before retiring.

Wang purchased a screenplay, then titled Blind Love, from the dramatist Bao Tianxiao for 800 yuan (equivalent to ¥76,000 in 2019). She hired Bu Wancang to handle directing, but after he proved unreliable and spent much of his time gambling on horses, Wang decided to finish the film, now titled Revenge of an Actress, herself.

Once principal photography was completed, Wang edited Revenge of an Actress herself. After purchasing a projector, she spent forty days at home, playing and cutting the film bit by bit until she achieved the finished product. Thematically, the film was a family melodrama, drawing heavily from the Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies school of literature.

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