The Awful Truth (1950): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1950, The Awful Truth is a drama film directed by Li Ping-Qian.

What it’s about. As China falls into hyperinflation following the end of the war, people fought tooth and nail to get their hands on the only reliable currencies in the world: gold and American dollars. This is a story that shows how seven bars and two thousand US dollars bring together an interesting mix of characters: an opportunistic manager, a materialistic courtesan, a con artist posing as a commissioner of the Treasury, a white-collar worker who will do anything for a promotion, a man who specialises in conning women, a father who marries off his daughter for money and a sorcerer who fakes his magic. In this dog-eat-dog world, the only truth is that everyone is lying for his own gain. Playing the courtesan who longs to be part of high society, Li Lihua steals the film with a feisty performance opposite the amusing Yan Jun, whose con artist character has a tendency to flirt with lyrics from Peking operas.

Who’s in it. The Awful Truth stars Li Li-Hua as Su Man Na, Han Fei as Chang Geng Liang, Yen Chun as Pan Chung Fu and Hsi-Yu Li as Manager Chao, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Awful Truth page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Awful Truth tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.