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Wang Naidong

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wang Naidong
王乃東
BornJune 15, 1900
Hankow, China
DiedOctober 3, 1995
Hong Kong
OccupationActor
Years active1922-1957
Employer(s)China Lillium Picture, National Resistance Film
Political partyImperial Rule Association, Kuomintang, Hong Kong Peoples Party, Chinese Communist Party

Wang Naidong (王乃東, Lyton Wong, June 15, 1900 – October 3, 1995) was a renowned Chinese actor who is famous for acting in the 1929 film "Don't Change Your Husband". He also gained prominence during the 1920s and 1930s, contributing significantly to the flourishing Chinese film industry of that era. Wang Naidong became one of the most distinguished figures in Chinese cinema during his time.

Biography

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Wang Naidong was born in a decently wealthy Hankowian Family. His father was general Wang Siming, of the Han Green Standard Army. His name, Nai-Dong, meaning resistant to winter, was due to the harsh Peking Winter during the Imperial Mobilization of Shandong, Zhilli and Jehol. His ancestors came from Henan Province, but lived in Hubei, where along with Army work, they had a tea export business. He had 5 siblings, 3 of which were older then him. He was educated at Wuhan No. 7 Western School. He was trained in traditional Chinese theatre by his Madame, Chu Shen-Wei. Due to the drastic fall of fortunes after the Wuchang Uprising, he was forced to move into a smaller 2 bedroom house, from a decently big manor siheyuan. From the ages of 16, he had started performing in the local cabarets and theatres of the city. However, after a while, he had started going into Silent Films. His first movie, "A Night in the Great City" (大都会之夜), was his big breakthrough. He quickly became a “first-pick” actor in the Hubei Silent Film Industry. Wanting to increase the amount of films he would act in, he moved to Shanghai. He acted in many movies, despite the turmoil that was occurring in Shanghai with the arrival of the KMT and defeat of local warlord armies. His famed 1929 movie, "Don't Change Your Husband" became one of the most popular films in Concession-area Shanghai, and he was praised greatly for his act. The movie was able to beat even foreign movies in terms of box office collection, and it was, for a few years in Shanghai, used as a common euphemism for scenarios such as the ones occurring in the movie. Later on, during the 1940s, upon the Shanghai population boom, it was said that old Shanghaimen could be identified by asking about characters from that movie. Wang Naidong had adapted the European name “Lyton”, from his father’s British friend, Officer Lyton Heatherington, who came to China in 1901.[1][2][3]

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Wang Naidong starred in a diverse array of films across various genres, including romance, drama, and action.

One of Wang Naidong's most memorable roles was in the 1934 film "The Goddess" (神女), directed by Wu Yonggang. In this groundbreaking silent film, he portrayed a compelling character opposite Ruan Lingyu, one of China's most iconic actresses. The film delved into themes of poverty, sacrifice, and societal injustice, with Wang Naidong delivering a nuanced performance that resonated deeply with audiences.[4]

As the Chinese film industry transitioned to sound films, Wang Naidong successfully adapted to the new medium, continuing to deliver captivating performances in films such as "Spring Silkworms" (春蚕) and "Song of the Fishermen" (渔光曲).During the 1930s, Wang Naidong's personal life was commonly shared across tabloids and was published, especially his personal marital life and the parties he went to, meeting with the top echelons of Shanghai's high society. He also appeared in the famous jazz song "Jian Yi", which was a Mandopop hit during 1935. Wang also sponsored the famous 1935 case of Shi Jianqiao, murderer of famed Chinese Warlord, Sun Chuanfang.

Escape from Japanese Occupied China

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Shanghai, Lyton's residential area, was invaded by Imperial Japan in the middle of 1937, a month after the Marco Polo Bridge incident. Lyton then escaped to his local Hubei, and then to Canton, due to the Japanese advance.

In October of 1938, the Canton Operation was launched by the Japanese Imperial Army. Lyton launched a legendary escape from Canton, using aliases and sneaking through train lines, under threat of immediate execution due to his rich actor background. Upon sneaking into the Hong Kong Border, he was shot at three times, but managed to go to Hong Kong. However, his efforts were to only grant 3 more years of freedom, as Hong Kong was occupied in December of 1941. He then collaborated with Japanese forces, making movies such as "Signal Fires of Shanghai", a masterpiece of the Wang Jingwei Propaganda department, which, if not for the deteriorating condition in China, would have caused some form of legitimacy.

Due to his collaboration with the Japanese, the Kuomintang signed a death warrant: if he ever came back to China, he was to be shot on sight. He was forced to stay in Hong Kong for the rest of his life, as after the Communist revolution, his movies were denounced as bourgeois propaganda and burnt. It was only after the reform and opening-up period of China that he was allowed to visit his ancestral house in Henan, and his old siheyuan in Hankou. [1] [2]

Lyton Wong started working on Cantonese films during and after the Second Sino-Japanese War. His last known film is Sar Kua Chew Ai from 1957.[5] He had also met Ip Man, mentor of Bruce Lee in Hong Kong.

Filmography

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Year English title Original title Role Notes
1923 The Widow Wants to Remarry 古井重波記
1925 Catkin Sorrow 楊花恨
1926 Debt Circles 連環債
Mother's Happiness 兒孫福 Second son
Family's Heirloom 傳家寶 Wu Mutian
Ma Jiefu 馬介甫 Ma Jiefu
Visiting the In-Laws 探親家 Wang Zhiyi
1927 Sex Trap 美人計
Four Heroes of the Wangs 王氏四俠
Redress a Grievance 烏盆記 Liu Shichang's soul
The Miserable Life of Qiu Xiang 可憐的秋香 Qiu Sheng
1928 A Shanghai Dancing-Girl 上海一舞女
That Is Me 就是我
The Ridiculous Swordsman 荒唐劍客
1929 Don't Change Your Husband 情海重吻 Qiping
1934 Floating Flowers 飛花村
Women 女人 Ji Juesheng
1935 New Women 新女性 Dr. Wang
Lady Pear Blossom 梨花夫人
Man at Birth 人之初 Huang Zijing
Burden of Living 生之哀歌
Hero of the Times 時事英雄
Tempest 暴風雨
1936 Bloodshed on a Wedding 新婚大血案
Song of Regret 長恨歌 Yu Peilan
Tomboy 化身姑娘 Yuan Baojun
Tomboy 2 化身姑娘續集
1937 A Mystical Flower 神秘之花
All Loves 滿園春色
Lovers 海天情侶
The Big Robbery No.303 三零三大劫案
Night Rains at Xiaoxiang 瀟湘夜雨
1938 Women 女人
A Pair in Love 鳳求凰
1939 The Love of a Woman 潘巧雲 Yang Xiong
Groans and Struggles 碧玉雄心 Wang Zhiqun
Mysterious Lady 神秘夫人
A Fair Actress 影城記 Guan Peng
Xiang Yu the Conqueror 楚霸王 Zhang Liang
Ape in Disguise 化身人猿
Tomboy 3 化身姑娘第三集
Tomboy 4 化身姑娘第四集
Hong Kong Song Girl 香江歌女
1940 The Adventures of Chinese Tarzan 中國泰山歷險記
The Perfect Beauty 絕代佳人 Li Zicheng also producer
Revolt of the Fishing Folks 打漁殺家
The Gardener and a Lady 薛仁貴與柳迎春
1941 The Marriage Trap 美人計 Liu Bei
A Prostitute and a General 賽金花 Alfred von Waldersee
The Sparrow Flies East and South 孔雀東南飛
Ancient Kingdom of Human Freaks 古國人妖
Song Girl Red Peony 歌女紅牡丹
1943 Under the Roofs of Shanghai 上海屋簷下
Peach Blossom Pond 桃花潭水
Torrent 激流
The Story of Qiu Haitang 秋海棠 Yuan Shaowen 2-part film
1944 The Hero and the Beauty 英雄美人
Love of Fermented Rice 麴海情濤
Return of the Phoenix 鳳還巢

References

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  1. ^ "Actors: Wang Naidong". China-Underground Movie Database. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  2. ^ "List of Male actors from Wuhan - FamousFix List". FamousFix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  3. ^ "曹文宣院士再次呼吁长江休渔十年—新闻—科学网". news.sciencenet.cn. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  4. ^ "The Fool's Honeymoon (傻仔洞房, 1957) :: Everything about cinema of Hong Kong, China and Taiwan". en.hkcinema.ru. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  5. ^ "Sar Kua Chew Ai (傻瓜求爱, 1957) :: Everything about cinema of Hong Kong, China and Taiwan". en.hkcinema.ru. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
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