Chapter 24 Mao Zedong praised critics of film

As a result, "Wen Wei Po" launched a "Speaking Out" about film issues. Actress Shangguan Yunzhu published an article saying: "An actor, as the name suggests, naturally cannot leave the screen and the stage. Once the flower of an actor's life leaves the garden where it was cultivated, it will wither. But most of the actors in our factory, especially the actresses, will die in seven years. This is exactly what happened to the actors, among whom there was only one scene on the screen for seven years, or only one or two plays on the stage. Year after year of desolation, the young actors still stay where they are. After seven years of theory learning but no chance to practice, I wonder if I can still act? My heart is blank, and every actor is put on hold and is about to rust !"

Director Chen Liting pointed out: "The director should be the central link in film production." Director Sun Yu asked to respect the audience, respect the director, and respect the art.He said: "Today's audience walks in as a protagonist when they enter the theater. They cannot tolerate tedious formulas and conceptualizations, works without thought and artistry, and we cannot disrespect them. They want politics, but don't political slogan." Director Wu Yonggang pointed out in the article: "Political commentary cannot replace art. People spend time and money, but what they get is not the appreciation of art, but like listening to a report or reading a political commentary. How can such a movie be accepted by a wide audience? Woolen cloth!"

The writer Lao She published the article "Teaching Movies", pointing out sharply: "Today, the people are really hungry for movies, but there are very few good movies, and this is a serious problem. "Is the work of writers respected? I'm afraid not. It seems that everyone has the right to modify the scripts they wrote, and everyone is superior. When the first draft arrives, everyone does it, making major changes... After a major teardown After the major revisions, those benefits are uprooted: if there was 40% of the artistry in the past, even 10% of it will not be found later.”

The discussion went on for more than two months, and Wen Wei Po published nearly fifty articles.At this time, it is necessary to publish a weighty and concluding article.Who should I write for? The most suitable candidate is, of course, Zhong Dianfei, who sits in the red wall and is in charge of films from the Literature and Art Department of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Therefore, Tang Hai, the deputy editor-in-chief of Wen Wei Po, and Yao Fangzao, a Beijing-based reporter, went to visit Zhong Dianfu and asked him to write a concluding article.What about Zhong Dianfei?He has been concerned about this big discussion in Wen Wei Po and has read every discussion article.However, he only agreed to write a review article in the name of a commentator for the "Literary News" and publish it in the "Literary News".Because he was on the editorial board and the director of the Art Department of the "Literary News" at the time, he felt that it would be better to publish it in the "Literary News".

Zhong Dianfu's review article was written, titled "The Drums and Drums of Movies". The "Wen Wei Po" agency knew about it, and suggested that this article be published simultaneously by "Wen Wei Po" and "Wen Yi Bao".Zhong Dianfei agreed.Therefore, the "gongs and drums of the film" sounded simultaneously on December 15, 1956 in "Wen Wei Po" and the twenty-third issue of "Wen Yi Bao". In 1957, "Drums and Drums of Movies" was an article that had as much influence as Fei Xiaotong's "Early Spring Weather of Intellectuals".It is now excerpted below:

It makes sense that the gongs and drums of the movie should start from Shanghai.This is the place where Chinese films are sampled and where famous Chinese film artists gather.After seven years, it is enough to discern what the film, the most popular art, should be.According to past experience, there is no doubt that some things should be lost, but there are also some things that need to be preserved, and the most important thing is the connection between the film and the audience. If you lose this, you will lose everything... The twenty-four articles published by Shanghai "Wen Wei Po" in November can be divided into two categories in terms of the nature of the problem: one belongs to the organization and leadership of the film, that is, the creation is led by the administrative method, and the film is led by the agency. Production; one is the ideological leadership of the film, which is the traditional problem of Chinese film, the problem of narrow subject matter, and the so-called "director-centered" problem.

... Many of our leaders understood very incorrectly what Lenin said: "Film is one of the most powerful tools for educating the masses", "Of all the arts, cinema is the most important to us".Because it is important, I am afraid that it will not be done well, so there is a scene like the scene in the movie "Blessings" where Master Lu Si taught Ah Niu to draw red.Too much concern often becomes too much interference. …At present, there are many experienced film artists who cannot give full play to their creative potential, but can only obey the orders of administrative personnel.Without creation, how can we talk about the prosperity of the film industry!

Artistic creation must guarantee maximum freedom, and must fully respect the artist's style, rather than "smoothing" it.The so-called "director center" refers to the current situation where directors feel that there are too many mothers-in-law and too strict when working on the film crew, and some details of artistic description have to be interfered with.Can Mrs. Xianglin lose the fish in her hand?When will it drop?This is entirely the business of the creative staff, first and foremost the director himself.If such a matter has to be decided by the executive, what do you want the director to do? ...

The sound of "gongs and drums" in the movie caught Mao Zedong's attention. Mao Zedong initially held a positive and encouraging attitude towards this discussion in Wen Wei Po.In March 1957, when Mao Zedong met with famous people in the press and publishing industry, he once said this to Xu Zhucheng, editor-in-chief of "Wen Wei Po": "The criticism of the film this time is very beneficial. However, the film bureau is not open enough, and their articles tend to affirm everything. When people criticize, they close the door tightly. I see the problems raised by most of the criticism articles. For reforming our The movies are very beneficial. I don’t like to watch the current movies. Of course there are some good ones, so don’t deny everything. The Film Bureau must accept any criticisms that conform to the facts, otherwise the film work cannot be improved. 》) The published articles were criticized a lot in the first period, and affirmed a lot in the second period. Now we can organize the articles and unify them. It is wrong for the film bureau to ignore good affirmations and bad criticisms. This time The debate exposes the problem, which is good for both the film bureau and the writers.”①

Mao Zedong's words naturally greatly encouraged the "Wen Wei Po" agency.