Chapter 32 Part Three: One Chant and Three Sighs "The Story of the Red Lantern" Feature Film "The White-haired Girl" Created Tian Hua

The popularity of the opera "White-haired Girl" made the Northeast Film Studio, which was first established at the founding of the People's Republic of China, decide to adapt it into a feature film "White-haired Girl" at the end of 1950, so as to create greater momentum across the country. And universal typical education.Zhang Shuihua, Wang Bin, and Yang Runshen, who are also working at the "Luyi" in Yan'an, re-adapted "Return to the Furnace" based on the opera of the same name by He Jingzhi and Ding Yi, in order to more in line with the expression techniques of film art.

The story film retains the main arias in the opera and the development of the storyline, and emphasizes the simple love between Xi'er and Dachun, so as to arouse the emotional resonance of the audience.Co-directed by Wang Bin and Zhang Shuihua.Wang Bin, also a famous artist from Yan'an Luyi, went to Yan'an, the Holy Land of Revolution, in 1938 to study at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, and later served as the deputy captain of the Propaganda Team of the General Political Department of Yan'an.In the second year, he served as the deputy head of the Experimental Theater Troupe of Lu Xun Academy of Arts, and participated in directing the drama, "The Man with the Gun" and the opera "The White-haired Girl".Since 1947, he has worked as a full-time film director in the Northeast Film Studio.As early as 1930, Wang Bin, who had written film and literary scripts such as "Return" and "Return", directed the first feature film in New China in 1949. With the unique vision of an outstanding film director, he has a discerning eye. Tian Hua, who was an actor in the Art Troupe of the Political Department of the North China Military Region at that time, was selected to star in Xi'er in the movie.

However, Tian Hua, who appeared as a newcomer, did not get the approval of the main creators of the crew, because Tian Hua, who has a simple appearance, does not have the face of a movie actor on camera.Therefore, many people in the crew firmly advocated that Wang Kun should still play Xi'er, and some people even questioned why the whole crew insisted on changing the heroine.However, Wang Bin believes that although Wang Kun’s performance as Xi’er is very good, and his stage performance experience is becoming more and more mature, the shooting of the film is naturally the same as other people’s, and it is logical to take their places. However, this film is not a documentary of stage operas. More than life, higher than life" film performance requirements, the inherent model of stage performances for many years, is the fatal flaw of Wang Kun's difficulty in adapting to film life and artistic performance for a while. Therefore, the feature film of the same name needs a suitable character. In order to completely break the limitations of opera and completely distinguish it from the inherent performance pattern of opera, through the types and types of feature films that are very life-oriented, authentic and artistically appealing, to impress and conquer thousands of people all over the country and even abroad Tens of thousands of audiences, through the film, the audience will naturally be integrated into the plot, and finally achieve the purpose and effect of motivating the audience.Wang Bin resisted all opinions. From Tian Hua's innocent eyes, he saw the inner potential of a future star that could be tapped.Wang Bin mobilized senior photographer Wu Weiyun, and asked him to bring along his new apprentice Qian Jiang. From photography guidance to specific shooting, coupled with Wang Bin and Zhang Shuihua's patient guidance to Tian Hua, Tian Hua, who is quite talented in acting, understood and gradually into a better place.

Tian Hua, formerly known as Liu Tianhua, was born in a poor peasant family in Tang County, Hebei in the summer of 1928. Tian Hua, who was born at an untimely time, was just catching up with smallpox in the village. If you choose the name "Smallpox", you can avoid infection, avoid evil and get rid of disease, and turn bad luck into good luck. This is where Tian Hua's original name comes from.Tian Hua, who grew up in the cruel years of war, joined the children's drama team of the Anti-Enemy Drama Club of the Political Department of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region in 1940 when she was only 11 years old. Since then, she has started her acting career for more than 60 years. The original name "Liu Tianhua" was replaced by the stage name "Tian Hua".

After her own hard work and potential acting talent, Tian Hua, who has been acting for 10 years and has been in the party for 6 years, successfully portrayed a pure, hardworking, resolute, unyielding and resolute struggle for her ideals when she appeared on the screen at the age of 22. image of Chinese rural working women.After the film was released, the little-known Tian Hua's outstanding performance won warm praise and unanimous applause from audiences at home and abroad.Tian Hua also became popular because of this. The film "The White-haired Girl" not only won the "Special Honor Award" at the 6th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 1951, but also won the "Special Honor Award" in 1957. The first prize for excellent films from 1949 to 1955 awarded by the Ministry of Culture.

The feature film "The White-haired Girl" inherited the essence of the successful opera theme and carried forward the brand-new art form of film performance, which also won the affectionate attention and heartfelt love of the audience.The main actors participating in the performance, such as Li Wanwan who played Wang Dachun, Zhang Shouwei who played Yang Bailao, Hu Peng who played Aunt Wang, Chen Qiang who played Huang Shiren, and other supporting actors participated in the performance. Team of people".When the film was re-released in the late 1970s after the revival of literature and art, due to the needs of the situation at the time, Xi'er in the original version fled to the deep mountains after being insulted by Huang Shiren. Out of hatred for Huang Shiren, she killed herself in the cave. The child who was born—a baby that resembled Huang Shiren, strangled to death and then buried in a pile of rubble was deleted from the original version.

After Tian Hua starred in "The White-haired Girl", she returned to the North China Military Region Art Troupe of her original unit.In 1955, he participated in the performance cadre training class held by the Central Academy of Drama. After graduation, he was assigned to the Anti-Enemy Drama Troupe of the Shenyang Military Region and continued to be an actor. , "A Beautiful Country" and other films, especially in "The Party's Daughter" adapted from Wang Yuanjian's novel "Party Fee", Tian Hua brilliantly portrayed the glorious image of Tian Yumei, an outstanding female Communist Party member, and became her successor to "The White-haired Girl". After Xi'er in ", another glamorous screen masterpiece.Tian Hua was officially transferred to Bayi Film Studio in 1959, and in 1962 was awarded the special honor of being one of the "22 Great Stars" of New China selected by the Ministry of Culture.Later, he starred in and participated in famous films such as "A Beautiful Country", "Seizing the Seal", "Bi Hai Dan Xin", "Doctor Bethune" and "Secret Drawings" in Bayi Factory.

In Tian Hua's home, there is a motto that Tian Hua has regarded as his motto to explore performance skills in his acting career for many years. The result is also. If you are not refined or sincere, you will not be moved, so those who cry strongly are sad but not sad, those who are angry are strict but not majestic, and those who are happy are laughing and at odds. Those who are inside are moved by spirits outside, so the truth is valued." Tian Hua The simple and natural performance style can be seen from this. It is a pity that the famous director Wang Bin, in 1959, co-wrote the film script "Changing the World" with Hu Su and Wu Tian, ​​and when he was the director himself, suddenly fell seriously ill and passed away at the beginning of the next year.On the contrary, Zhang Shuihua, another director of the film, later independently directed films based on famous works such as "Revolutionary Family", "Eternal Life in Fire", "Blue Flower", etc. Most of his films are deep, subtle, refined and concise good at.

Since the film was released nationwide in 1951, the original opera of the same name has become a household name, and it has further produced a strong sensational effect. It is no exaggeration to say that "The White-haired Girl" has created the highest box office record in the history of Chinese movies!The film won the "Special Honor Award" at the Sixth Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 1951, and in 1957 it deservedly won the first prize of the Ministry of Culture's 1949-1955 Excellent Film Award. In 1960, the Chengdu Repertory Troupe of Sichuan Province came to Beijing to report and perform. They also performed the drama "Sichuan White-haired Girl" adapted from the tragic story of Luo Changxiu in real life on the stage of the capital. In terms of the combination of art forms, a useful attempt has been made.