Actress & Singer Zhou Xuan in the 1930鈥檚 

cctv.com 07-04-2005 15:25

Wong Kar Wai鈥檚 film, 鈥淚n the Mood for Love鈥 is set in 1930鈥檚 Shanghai and named after a famous song from the era. When the movie came out in 1999, many were reminded of that bygone era in Chinese popular culture. Throughout that decade, Shanghai was at the forefront of China鈥檚 entertainment industry. Its movie business operated along the same lines as the Hollywood of the time. Its stars were expected to be multitalented performers. Zhou Xuan first became famous as a singer and often sang on screen. 鈥淚n the Mood for Love鈥is also known as 鈥淚n Full Bloom.鈥Zhou Xuan鈥檚 version of 鈥淚n Full Bloom鈥could be heard everywhere in the Shanghai of the 1930鈥檚.

Zhou Xuan was an accomplished popular singer in Shanghai. Soon, she was so well known that even film companies became interested in her. At the beginning, the young woman was overwhelmed by all the activity on the set. But before long, she got used to her new profession. Soon, she was completely at ease on the set. Her carefree and playful manner was a topic of conversation in Shanghai film circles for years.

Zhou Xuan had enormous success in her lifetime. By the time she died at thirty-seven, she was one of China鈥檚 highest paid entertainers. But she never let the fame go to her head. In Zhou Xuan鈥檚 short career, she sang many hit tunes and starred in several unforgettable films. Some of these are considered classics in the history of Chinese cinema. 1995 was the centenary of film and the ninetieth anniversary of film in China. Zhou Xuan鈥檚 鈥淪treet Angel鈥was chosen as one of the ten classic Chinese films from the twentieth century. Zhou Xuan was also selected as China鈥檚 most outstanding actress.

Editor:Liu  Source:CCTV.com