雲裳仙子 (1939): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 1939, 雲裳仙子 is a drama and musik film directed by Griffin Yueh Feng.

What it’s about. This is one of the rare gems in early Chinese musical films that still exists today. Nancy Chan plays a naïve young woman who can sing and dance. Under the arrangement of her stepfather, she becomes a star and indulges in the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world before getting married to a wealthy heir in Nanyang. Yet her husband is cruel and unfaithful, leading her to divorce and return to her parents in Shanghai. She is set for a comeback to the stage. Her young daughter suffers from a serious illness. A remake of the Bu Wanchang’s silent film The Light of Maternal Instinct (1933), this film takes cues from Hollywood musicals, resulting in an elegant and lively fusion of camera movement and musical numbers. The film also reflects the harsh reality of China in the 1930s and the pathos of popular literature by combining morals, entertainment and social commentary to show that changes in the idea of femininity is a symbol of progress.

Who’s in it. 雲裳仙子 stars Nancy Wan-Seung Chan, Hong Bai, Lu Luming and Yin Wang, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch 雲裳仙子 page.

If you liked it. Fans of 雲裳仙子 tend to enjoy Die Verurteilten, Der Pate, Schindlers Liste and Der Pate - Teil II.