This is a list of films produced in the Republican period and initial Communist period of China ordered by year of release in the 1940s.
For an alphabetical listing of Chinese films see Category:Chinese films.
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventures of the Chinese Tarzan | 中國泰山歷險記 | Wang Cilong | Lai Cheuk-Cheuk | Adventure/Romance | Adapted from Tarzan of the Apes |
| The Amorous History of Su San | 蘇三艷史 | Wu Cun | Zhou Xuan | Drama | |
| Baptism by Fire | 火的洗禮 | Sun Yu | Zhang Ruifang, He Weiling |
War | |
| City of Darkness | 黑天堂 | Wu Cun | Zhou Xuan, Gong Jianong |
Drama | |
| Confucius | 孔夫子 | Fei Mu | Tang Huaiqiu | Biographical/Historical | |
| The Country Girl | 鄉下大姑娘 | Wang Yin | Yuan Meiyun | Drama | |
| Dong Xiaowan | 董小宛 | Zhang Shichuan, Zheng Xiaoqiu |
Zhou Xuan, Shu Shi |
Alternate title: The Story of Dong Xiaowan | |
| Drizzling Rain | 瀟湘秋雨 | Zhang Shankun, Bu Wancang |
Chen Yunshang, Mei Xi |
Drama | |
| The Emerald Hairpin | 碧玉簪 | Bu Wancang | Chen Yunshang | Romance | Based on a Yue opera |
| Flower Girl | 花魁女 | Wu Yonggang | Chen Yen-yen, Liu Qiong |
Romance/Costume | |
| The Gardener and the Lady | Wang Cilong | Lu Ming, Wang Yin |
Romance | Based on a folk legend | |
| Ge Neniang | 葛嫩娘 | Chen Yiqing | Gu Lanjun, Mei Xi |
Historical/Drama | Alternate title: Grudges at the End of the Ming |
| Guan Yin, a Bodhisattva | 觀世音 | Yan Youxiang | Zhang Cuihong | ||
| Hongxian Steals the Chest | 紅線盜盒 | Li Pingqian | Gu Lanjun | Historical/Action | |
| Invisible Heroine | 隱身女俠 | Wu Wenchao | Li Lihua | ||
| Legend of the Sui Dynasty | 隨宮春色 | Yang Xiaozhong | Chen Yen-yen, Liu Qiong |
Historical/Romance | |
| Li Xiangjun | 李香君 | Wu Cun | Gu Lanjun | Drama | Based on The Peach Blossom Fan |
| Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai | 梁山伯與祝英台 | Yueh Feng | Zhang Cuihong, Gu Yelu |
Romance/Costume | Based on the Butterfly Lovers |
| Light of East Asia | 東亞之光 | He Feiguang | War | ||
| Living Buddha Ji Gong | 濟公活佛 | Zheng Xiaoqiu | You Guangzhao | Biographical | |
| Meng Lijun | 孟麗君 | Zhang Shichuan | Zhou Xuan, Shu Shi |
Romance/Costume | Alternate title: Magnificent Relationship (華麗緣) |
| The Pearl Pagoda | 珍珠塔 | Fang Peilin | Li Hong, Gu Yelu |
Romance | Sound remake of the 1926 silent of the same title |
| The Perfect Beauty | 絕代佳人 | Wang Cilong | Hu Die | Biographical/Historical | Last days of the Ming dynasty, focusing on the role played by famous beauty Chen Yuanyuan Alternate title: Chen Yuanyuan the Beauty |
| Powder and Sword | 紅粉金戈 | Wu Yonggang | Wang Xichun, Shu Shi |
Historical/Action | |
| Princess Snow White | 白雪公主 | Wu Yonggang | Chen Juanjuan | Fantasy | Live-action adaptation of the 1937 Disney film Alternate title: China Princess Snow White (中國白雪公主) |
| Qin Liangyu | 秦良玉 | Bu Wancang | Chen Yunshang | Biographical/Historical | Based on the life and career of female general Qin Liangyu |
| Qin Xianglian | 秦香蓮 | Wen Yimin | Zhang Cuihong, Wang Cilong |
Crime | Non-musical adaptation of Chen Shimei, one of the cases of Bao Zheng |
| Romance of the Western Chamber | 西廂記 | Zhang Shichuan | Zhou Xuan | Musical remake of the 1927 silent film of the same title | |
| Songstresses | Zhang Shichuan | Zhou Manhua | Romance | Adapted from a novel by Zhang Henshui | |
| Storm on the Border | 塞上風雲 | Ying Yunwei | Li Lili, Shu Xiuwen |
War | First film to show Chinese minority people joining the anti-Japanese resistance |
| Su Wu Herds the Sheep | 蘇武牧羊 | Bu Wancang | Chen Yunshang, Mei Xi |
Biographical/Historical | The story of Han dynasty diplomat Su Wu |
| Tempest Over Taihang Mountain | 風雪太行山 | He Mengfu | Xie Tian | War | Alternate title: Struggle on Taihang Mountain |
| The Vast Sky | 長空萬裡 | Sun Yu | Gao Zhanfei, Bai Yang, Jin Yan, Wang Renmei |
War | "National Defense" film made in unoccupied West China. Alternate English title: Wings of China |
| The Wandering Songstress | 天涯歌女 | Wu Cun | Zhou Xuan | Drama | |
| Yan Xijiao | 閻惜嬌 | Yueh Feng | Mei Xi, Diao Banhua |
Based on a chapter in Water Margin | |
| Yanmen Pass | 雁門關 | Fang Peilin | Yuan Meiyun, Mei Xi |
Historical/War | |
| Youth of China | 青年中國 | Su Yi | Tao Jin, Bai Yang |
War | |
| Yue Fei, a National Hero | 岳飛精忠報國 | Wu Yonggang | Liu Qiong | Historical/War | Story of the Song dynasty general Yue Fei Alternate Chinese titles: 尽忠報國, 精忠報國 |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Girl in Wartime | 亂世佳人 | Zhang Shankun | Chen Yunshang, Liu Qiong |
Historical/War | |
| Between Couples | 夫婦之道 | Zhang Shichuan, Zheng Xiaoqiu |
Zhou Manhua | Drama | |
| The Brother and His Half Sister | 碧海青天 | Yueh Feng | Tong Yuejuan, Gu Yelu |
||
| Charlie Chan Smashes an Evil Plot | 陳查禮大破隱身術 | Xu Xinfu | Xu Xinyuan, Gu Meijun, Gong Qiuxia |
Mystery | A Charlie Chan mystery. Alternate title: Charlie Chan Uncovers the Secrets |
| Die for Love | 返魂香 | Zhu Shilin | Ying Yin | War/Romance | |
| The End of Life | 地老天荒 | Shu Shi | Bai Hong, Murong Wan'er |
Drama | |
| Family | 家 | Bu Wancang, Li Pingqian |
Drama | Adaptation of Ba Jin's novel | |
| Heartbroken | 斷腸花 | Wang Yin | Yuan Meiyun, Liu Qiong |
Romance/War | |
| Life in the Orphan Island | 孤島春秋 | Wu Cun | Gong Jianong, Murong Wan'er, Bai Hong |
||
| Princess Biluo | 碧蘿公主 | Zhu Shilin | Wang Xichun | ||
| Princess Iron Fan | 鐵扇公主 | Wan brothers | Animation | First Chinese animated feature film | |
| Robber in Black | 黑衣盜 | Chen Huanwen | Shangguan Yunzhu | Mystery | |
| Scenes of Turbulent Times | 亂世風光 | Wu Renzhi | Shi Hui, Han Fei |
Drama | |
| Spring Breezes Recall a Dream | 春風回夢記 | Yueh Feng | Tong Yuejuan, Gu Yelu |
Romance |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Girl's Secrets | 小姐的秘密 | Wen Yimin | Lu Luming | Drama | |
| A Joyful Night | 一夜銷魂 | Wen Yimin | Lu Luming, Sun Min |
Drama | |
| A Tragic Marriage | 淚洒相思地 | Sun Min | Lu Luming, Shangguan Yunzhu |
Tragedy | |
| College Students | 學府風光 | Wu Wenchao | Zhang Cuiying, Han Lan'gen |
Comedy | |
| Compassion | Various | Ensemble cast | Anthology | Collection of 11 short stories illustrating universal brotherhood | |
| Enemies Behind Every Bush | Zhu Shilin | Yan Jun, Chen Qi |
Drama | ||
| The Fallen Peony | Bu Wancang | Chen Yunshang, Gu Eryi |
Drama | ||
| Fallen Plum Blossoms | 梅花落 | Tu Guangqi | Wang Xichun, He Bin |
Drama | Remake of the 1927 silent film of the same title. Released in two parts. |
| Grand Hotel | 大飯店 | Mei Qi | Lu Luming, Sun Min |
Drama | Remake of the 1932 American film of the same title |
| The Happy Years | 歡樂年年 | Yang Xiaozhong | Chen Yunshang, Mei Xi |
||
| Rainy Night on Cold Mountain | Ma-Xu Weibang | Li Lihua, Huang He |
Adventure | ||
| Romance in Spring | 春水情波 | Huang Han | Hu Feng, Ouyang Sha-fei |
Drama | Remake of the 1933 film of the same title |
| Roses Are Blooming Everywhere | Fang Peilin | Gong Qiuxia, Gu Yelu |
Romance | ||
| Second Sight | 重見光明 | Bu Wancang | Chen Yunshang, Gu Yelu |
Drama | |
| She Lost Her Job | 玉碎珠圓 | Zheng Xiaoqiu | Bai Hong, Han Fei |
||
| The Standard Wife | 標准夫人 | Bu Wancang | Chen Yen-yen, Mei Xi |
Drama | Alternate title: Repentance (懺悔) |
| The Strange Lady | 奇女子 | Wen Yimin | Li Lihua, Lu Luming, Sun Min |
Drama | |
| Two Generations of Women | Bu Wancang | Gu Lanjun, Wang Danfeng |
|||
| Wedding Night | 洞房花燈夜 | Zhu Shilin | Chen Yen-yen, Liu Qiong |
Drama |
| Title | Chinese Titles | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ask for Help | Zhu Shilin | Tu Guangqi, Zhou Manhua |
Comedy | ||
| Daughter of the Fisherman | Bu Wancang | Zhou Xuan | Romance | Yu Jia Nu | |
| Eternity | 萬世流芳 | Bu Wancang, Ma-Xu Weibang |
Chen Yunchang | Drama | Controversial film on the Opium War, produced under the Japanese occupation |
| A Japanese Spy | 日本間諜 | Yuan Congmei | Luo Jun, Feng Fei, many others |
Drama | Adaptation of Amleto Vespa's Secret Agent of Japan. Made in China's wartime capital of Chungking. |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Brave Man Can Make Mountains and Rivers Brave | 氣壯山河 | He Feiguang | Li Lili, Wang Hao |
War | Made in China's wartime capital of Chungking |
| Dream of the Red Chamber | Bu Wancang | Zhou Xuan | Drama | Adaptation of the classic Chinese novel |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodshed on an Oriental Cherry | 血濺櫻花 | He Feiguang | Li Lili | War | |
| My Love, My Homeland | 還我故鄉 | Shi Dongshan | Tao Jin, Zhao Shuyin |
War | |
| Song for the Police | 警魂歌 | Tang Xiaodan | Wang Hao, Zong You Kang Jian |
Alternate Chinese title: 敢死警備隊 |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Orioles | 鶯飛人間 | Fang Peilin | Ouyang Feiying, Chen Tianguo, Yan Su |
||
| The Holy City | 聖城記 | Shen Fu | Bai Yang, Xie Tian, Qi Heng |
||
| The Iron Man | 鐵骨冰心 | Pei Chong | Liu Qiong, Qian Shanzhu |
||
| The Loyal Family | 忠義之家 | Wu Yonggang | Liu Qiong, Qin Yi |
||
| Sparks of the Nation | 民族的火花 | Yang Xiaozhong | Wang Danfeng, Yan Hua |
||
| Spy Number One | 天字第一號 | Tu Guangqi | Ouyang Feiying, He Bin, Zhou Chu |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Along the Sungari River | 鬆花江上 | Jin Shan | Zhang Ruifang, Wang Renlu |
War | |
| Dream in Paradise | 天堂春夢 | Tang Xiaodan | Shangguan Yunzhu | Drama | |
| Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon | 八千里路雲和月 | Shi Dongshan | Bai Yang | Drama | |
| Emperor's Dream | Animation | ||||
| Far Away Love | 遙遠的愛 | Chen Liting | Zhao Dan, Qin Yi, Wu Yin |
Drama | |
| Long Live the Missus! | 太太萬歲 | Sang Hu | Shi Hui, Shangguan Yunzhu |
Romantic Comedy | |
| Night Inn | 夜店 | Huang Zuolin | Zhou Xuan, Wei Wei |
Drama | Adaptation of Maxim Gorky's The Lower Depths |
| Phony Phoenixes | 假鳳虛凰 | Huang Zuolin | Shi Hui, Li Lihua, Lu Shan |
Comedy | |
| Rhapsody of Happiness | 幸福狂想曲 | Chen Liting | Zhao Dan, Huang Zongying |
Drama | Written by Chen Baichen |
| The Spring River Flows East | 一江春水向東流 | Zheng Junli, Cai Chusheng |
Bai Yang, Tao Jin, Shu Xiuwen, Shangguan Yunzhu |
Drama |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Go After an Easy Prey | 瓮中捉鳖 | Fang Ming | Animation | North East Film Studio | |
| Myriad of Lights | 萬家燈火 | Shen Fu | Shangguan Yunzhu, Lan Ma, Wu Yin |
Drama | |
| A Wedding in the Dream | 生死恨 | Fei Mu | Mei Lanfang | Musical/Opera | First Chinese color film |
| Spring in a Small Town | 小城之春 | Fei Mu | Wei Wei, Li Wei |
Romantic Drama | Named the greatest Chinese language film made by the Hong Kong Film Awards |
| Title | Chinese Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge | 橋 | Wang Bin | War | First post-revolution Chinese film | |
| Crows and Sparrows | 烏鴉與麻雀 | Zheng Junli | Zhao Dan, Shangguan Yunzhu, Sun Daolin |
Drama | Post-revolution Chinese film |
| Daughters of China | 中華女兒 | Ling Zifeng Zhai Qiang |
War | Post-revolution Chinese film | |
| Mother | 母親 | Shi Hui | Qin Yi | Drama | |
| Orphan on the Streets | 三毛流浪記 | Zhao Ming, Yan Gong |
Wang Longji, Lin Zhen |
Drama | Kunlun Film Company production, also known as The Winter of Three Hairs. Post-revolution Chinese film |
| Ai le zhongnian (Sorrows and Joys of Middle Age) | 哀樂中年 | Sang Hu | Shi Hui | Drama | |
| Women Side by Side | 麗人行 | Chen Liting | Sha Li, Huang Zongying, Shangguan Yunzhu |
Drama | Also known as Three Women and Female Fighter |
| Year | Total Films[1] |
|---|---|
| 1940 | 59 |
| 1941 | 108 |
| 1942 | 33 |
| 1943 | 1 |
| 1944 | 1 |
| 1945 | 3 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1947 | 39 |
| 1948 | 75 |
| 1949 | 44 |
