Three Modern Girls (San ge modeng nuxing) dir. Bu Wancang sc. Tian Han With Ruan Lingyu, Jin Yan, Chen Yanyan Shanghai: Lianhua Film, 1933.

This film contrasts the lives of three women and explores the true meaning of being modern. While each of the three woman characters exhibit a certain traits of modern women, the film makers present Zhou as an exemplary modern woman who lives a simple life style, is close to the working class, does not indulge in personal affairs and devotes herself to the cause of the nation. A college student from Manchuria, Zhang Yu, refuses to marry the girl his parents have arranged for him and runs away from home. The would-be bride, Zhou Shuzhen, feels humiliated, but makes up her mind that she will earn respect from people. Three years later, she graduates from high school with honor. Meanwhile, Zhang has become a movie star in Shanghai. The Japanese invasion of Manchuria drives Zhou and her parents to Shanghai. There, Zhou finds a job as a switch-board operator and learns that Zhang also lives in Shanghai. The Japanese attack on Shanghai in 1932 awakens Zhang's sense of patriotism. He joins the Red Cross to take care of the wounded soldiers. But when he asks his girl friend, Yu Yu to get involved, she declines and tells him that she will be married soon to a Hong Kong business man. Zhang is hurt, but tries to forget Yu by devoting himself to the cause of resistance. During one rescue mission, he himself is wounded and taken to a hospital where Zhou works as a volunteer. When Zhang is in need blood transfusion, Zhou offers hers. After Zhang recovers, he tries to approach Zhou, but she is elusive. As Zhang is frustrated with Zhou's aloofness, Yu comes back from Hong Kong. Her husband has just died of an illness and she wants to resume her relationship with Zhang. Meanwhile, one of Zhang's fans, Chen Ruoying, who lives in a different city, hears about Zhang's injury and comes to visit him in Shanghai. Zhang tells Chen that he is in love with someone else, but as a consolation, offers her an opportunity to star in a film with him. Chen, however, commits suicide during shooting. As his relationship with Zhou makes progress, Zhang shows her the glamour of Shanghai, whereas Zhou takes him to see the dark side of the city. During a strike at Zhou9s company, Zhou is the representative of the striking workers. In a fight with the police, she is injured and fired from her job. But she has earned Zhang's admiration.

Big Road Boatman Crossroads Godness Little Toys Mulan Joins Army New Woman New Year's Coin Orphan Island Plunder of Peach Sing Song Girl Singing Midnight Song of China Song of Fishermen Spring Silkworms Street Angel Three Modern Girls Twin Sister Wild Flowr

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