Offbeat Prosperity

Film has existed in China’s history for a century. Shortly after film was produced, there were studies about it. Therefore, Chinese film history also has experienced a long period of time with the development of film. However, a systematic study of Chinese films started from Mr. Cheng Jihua’s The History of Chinese Film Development. In recent years, there are many books on the history of Chinese film. These books make a detail introduction for the development of Chinese film history. While the study about "Manying" and "Isolated island" films is not much and they seem to hover outside of Chinese film history. This thesis, titled of Study of “Manying” and “Isolated island” Films’ Influence on Chinese Film Development, simply sorts film development situation from the time when it was born in China to the end of 1940 s, detailed introduces the “neglected” films—“Manying” and “Isolated island” films, analyzes their status and influence in Chinese film history, and hope to make some meager contribution to the development of Chinese film history.This thesis is divided into the following five parts:The first part is an introduction, which introduces the domestic research status of film history and proposed the methodology, significance and value of this thesis.The second part and the third part analyze film development situation before 1937 and after 1945. During these eight years, China was in anti-Japanese War and experienced serious domestic failure. After the victory of anti-Japanese war in 1945, although our country still did not enter into the long-awaited peace, the development of film industry was relatively prosperous. One of the reasons is the influence of “Manying” and “Isolated island” films in this particular time period.The fourth part discusses the films in “Manying” period and introduces the films and filmmakers that have a major impact in film history in this period.The fifth part introduces the “Isolated island” films, including the films which have special significance in film history.The sixth part evaluates the status of “Manying” and “Isolated island” films in Chinese film history.