''Lustrous Pearls'' (), also known as ''The Lustrous Pearl'', is a 1927 film directed by Chen Tian for the Huaju Film Company. Starring Zhang Huimin and

Wu Suxin Wu Suxin (, 1925–1931), also credited as White Rose Woo, was a Chinese actress of the silent film, silent era. Trained at the Far East Film College, she completed seven films for the Tianyi Film Company between 1925 and 1927 before migratin ...

, it depicts the machinations of three men who seek to steal two large pearls from a former colleague. One of several modern costume dramas produced by Huaju, it has been read as an exploration of women's empowerment and the construction of the

New Woman The New Woman was a feminist ideal that emerged in the late 19th century and had a profound influence well into the 20th century. In 1894, writer Sarah Grand (1854–1943) used the term "new woman" in an influential article to refer to indepe ...

Plot

In a remote coastal village, four fishermen harvest two large pearls. They are unable to agree how to divide these spoils, and Chang Yungthe eldestthus gives one to his live-in girlfriend Yu Zhiyin and one to his sister Aye Chien for safekeeping. Angered by Chang's unwillingness to split the bounty, his comrades swear revenge. They contact Yang, a retired bandit, who shows an interest in acquiring the pearls. The men abduct Chang, bind him, and strand him on an offshore rock; they also abscond with Aye Chien. Chang is rescued by Yu, who braves the waves to save her beloved. The three villains, meanwhile, are angered to discover that they have only recovered one pearl. As they argue, Chan and Yu arrive at their hideout, free Aye Chien, and recover her pearl. They then escape along the rocky coast, pursued by Chang's former comrades until he scares them away by causing a landslide. Following this failure, Yang breaks into Chang's home and steals the pearls while everyone is sleeping. Chang contacts a friend and asks him to help, but is betrayed and trapped in a desolate ravine. The women, concerned when he does not return, disguise themselves and go searching. Having learned that the plotters intend for Chang to starve to death, they find him in the ravine. One lowers a rope, while the other delays the villains long enough for Chang to escape. Shortly thereafter, the men plant a bomb in Chang's home; the three escape, though Chang is wounded and bedridden. The plotters then kidnap Yang's daughter, promising to release her if she steals the pearls for them. When she does, they renege on their promise and abandon her by the seaside. Yu and Aye Chien find her contemplating suicide, ashamed by her theft, and promise to retrieve the pearls. They return her to Yang. As the plotters fight over their spoils, Yang arrives and defeats them handily. He returns the pearls to Yu, thanking the women for saving his daughter.

Production and release

''Lustrous Pearls'' was directed by Chen Tian for the Huaju Film Company. It was written by Zhang Huimin, who also starred in the film. The role of Yu Zhiyin was taken by

, who also handled make-up. Editing was done by George Loh, while cinematography was handled by Tong Kim Ding (or Tang Jianting; zh, 湯劍廷, j=Tong1 Gim3 Ting4, p=Tāng Jiàntíng, first=j); he also acted in the film. More roles were taken by Liang Saizhen, Ruan Shengduo, Wu Susu, and Zhang Yuepeng. The film used few

intertitle In films and videos, an intertitle, also known as a title card, is a piece of filmed, printed text edited into the midst of (hence, ''inter-'') the photographed action at various points. Intertitles used to convey character dialogue are referred ...

s, though these were presented in both English and Chinese, with translations by Sunders Yuen. The intertitles were designed by Tsiang Yung Tsao and presented in an ornate

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...

style.; Although the film is set in a rural fishing village, various markers of modernity are presented, including European-style riding breeches and concrete structures. Huaju had established a reputation for making such "modern-costume romances", distinguishing itself from competitors that favoured traditional costumes. The style and themes of the film drew inspiration from

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

serials starring

Pearl White Pearl Fay White (March 4, 1889 – August 4, 1938) was an American stage and film actress. She began her career on the stage at age 6, and later moved on to silent films appearing in a number of popular serial film, serials. Dubbed the "Queen ...

, which similarly offered women reaching beyond the domestic to achieve mastery. In her reading of the film, the scholar Zhang Zhen describes ''Lustrous Pearls'' as simultaneously providing a message of empowerment in the construction of the

while warning against the inherent dangers, noting the betrayal of Yang's daughter as well as her attempt at suicide. She describes the film as "emphatically about the mobile, indestructible heroine bodies", whose physical differences with their male peers are obscured through

long shot In photography, filmmaking and video production, a wide shot (sometimes referred to as a full shot or long shot) is a shot that typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surro ...

s of movement and fighting. ''Lustrous Pearls'' was released in 1927. It is nine reels in length.

References

Works cited

* * {{refend Chinese silent films Chinese black-and-white films